Internationally Renowned Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Serve Newborns and Children Throughout the New York Region

NEW YORK (June 11, 2015) – Giles Peek, M.D. has been named chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, and co-director, Pediatric Heart Center at Montefiore Health System and professor in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Peek is an internationally renowned pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon with extensive experience in newborn and complex pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. His surgical outcomes are among the finest in the United Kingdom and the world.

“The field of congenital heart surgery is rapidly evolving to focus on earlier and complete correction of heart defects in newborn children. These delicate and complex operations require a special surgical talent at the cutting edge of skill and technology -- Dr. Peek is in a class by himself,” said Robert E. Michler, M.D., surgeon-in-chief, professor and chairman, Department of Surgery, professor and chairman, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and co-director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care.  “Montefiore has built a team of experts, and Dr. Peek is an outstanding leader for that team.”

Dr. Peek is recognized for his expertise in providing early definitive repair for the most complex congenital heart defects. He is an authority in the care of complicated newborn heart defects such as transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, complex aortic arch and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary atresia, aorto-pulmonary arterial collaterals and congenitally corrected transposition, among other complex lesions. 

“It is my privilege to help lead the team that cares for children who are born with heart defects from throughout the New York region,” said Dr. Peek.  “I look forward to offering novel therapies for these precious children.”

Named by The London Sunday Times as one of Britain’s Top 100 Children’s Doctors, Dr. Peek was the head of the congenital heart service and director of the Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal ECMO Program, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester.  Dr. Peek brings unique expertise in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiac and respiratory failure.  He led one of the largest and most successful ECMO programs in the United Kingdom. His research focuses on the development of devices to repair or replace organ function in patients with lung or heart failure.  Dr. Peek is a highly sought-after international lecturer and a frequent contributor to the most prestigious professional journals. He was the first chairman of the European Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (EuroELSO).

Dr. Peek received his medical degree from Kings College, London, England, and completed residencies in adult general surgery and pediatric and adult cardiothoracic surgery at Groby Road and Glenfield Hospitals, the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and the Royal Brompton Hospital, National Heart and Lung Institute in London.  He was selected for the country’s only pediatric and congenital cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. He also completed a clinical research fellowship at the University of Leicester.  A fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dr. Peek is board certified in congenital cardiothoracic surgery and critical care medicine.