Cardiothoracic Surgery near Newark, NJ

Care Philosophy: It takes a significant amount of multidisciplinary coordination of care to deliver cutting-edge cardiac surgical therapy to the patients and the communities we serve. Under our experienced physician leadership team and direction, our department has performed at a remarkably high level for many years. Innovative technologies and techniques are responsibly implemented with the patients' best interests in mind. Our commitment to doing so distinguishes the cardiovascular service line here at RWJBH System. I am proud to lead a team that provides the best possible therapies for the widest selection of patients while still maintaining excellent outcomes.

Biography: Dr. Andrew J. Kaufman, an expert in advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery and thoracic surgical oncology, is the Director of The Thoracic Surgery Airway Program and The Asian Thoracic Surgery Program at Mount Sinai, as well as the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program. He attended New York University School of Medicine for medical school and general surgery training. He completed a two year research fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and was awarded a national TSFRE Research Fellowship Grant and the Chairman's Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research. Dr. Kaufman went on to complete his residency on the Thoracic Surgery track in cardiothoracic surgery, specializing in thoracic surgery, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/New York Hospital Weill-Cornell Medical Center as the Memorial Fellow in General Thoracic Surgery where he received the Alumni Foundation Award for All-Around Clinical Excellence. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Kaufman especially enjoys spending time with and getting to know the people he meets in the office and hospital. He is dedicated to the compassionate care of people and their families across all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Having lived and studied in China for two years, Dr. Kaufman is fluent in Mandarin and conversational in Cantonese. His background in Asian language and culture inspired the development of the Asian Thoracic Surgery Program at the Mount Sinai. The program focuses on providing the most advanced multidisciplinary care for the Asian community with the goal of integrating community outreach, patient education, and scientific research to provide comprehensive care in this important New York City population. Dr. Kaufman is clinically focused on advanced minimally invasive and lung sparing surgery for thoracic malignancies. These specialized cancer operations conserve lung tissue and preserve respiratory function with faster recovery times. Andrew has published and presented widely on his lung sparing techniques of Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) segmentectomy for early lung cancers as well as pleurectomy and decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma. His research interests are focused on combining clinical, pathologic, and genetic data to better understand lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers. Dr. Kaufman works closely with the Interventional Pulmonary Division to locate and mark small early cancers with Navigational Bronchoscopy in order to facilitate VATS lung sparing segmentectomy. This collaboration is also essential to The Thoracic Surgery Airway Program, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the trachea and airways, such as tracheobronchomalacia and tracheal stenosis, utilizing both surgical and interventional techniques. In his spare time, Dr. Kaufman enjoys spending time with his wife and two terrific daughters. He is an avid cook, guitarist, and tennis player.

Biography: Dr. Ravi Karanam is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Karanam's current role is as Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program at RWJBarnabas Health. Dr. Karanam has been a member of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center since 1984 and the Department of Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center since 1996. He received his medical degree from HKES Medical College in Gulbarga, Karnatake, India. His postdoctoral training included pediatrics, general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at hospitals in both India and the U.S., including New York University Affiliate Hospital, Sound Shore Medical Center, New Rochelle, NY, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Karanam's areas of special interest and expertise include aortic surgery; aortic allograft and autografts; minimally-invasive valve, bypass and arrhythmia surgery; transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR); video-assisted thoracic surgery and trans-myocardial laser revascularization.

Biography: Dr. Frederic Sardari is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Sardari's current role is as Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and as Vice Chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Sardari received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC; and he completed his residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California. His areas of interest include Minimally-Invasive Valve Surgery, Trans-catheter Valve Replacement(TAVR); and the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Dr. Sardari has been involved in overseas medical missions for many years. He has lectured and performed surgery in Latin America, China, and the Middle East. Prior to his current role, Dr. Sardari was Associate Staff Surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Ohio.

Care Philosophy: As a surgeon specializing in adult congenital and advanced heart failure, my focuse is on providing you with the best care possible. I believe in combining surgical expertise with compassion and a holistic approach to healing. I understand that you are not just a medical case but a unique person with individual needs. I work closely with a team of specialists to make sure you receive comprehensive care. I stay updated on the latest advancements in surgery to give you the best possible outcome. Your well-being, both physically and emotionally, is my priority. I want you to feel empowered and supported throughout your journey to better health.

Biography: Jesus Gomez-Abraham, MD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Gomez-Abraham is the Associate Director Surgical Director of the Lung Transplantation Program. In this role, he will help RWJBarnabas Health's Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Programs. Dr. Gomez-Abraham earned his Medical Doctorate from University of The Andes in Merida, Venezuela. He then completed General Surgery Residencies at North Shore Long-Island Jewish Health-New York Beth Israel System and at Drexel University Hospital. Subsequently, completing a Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Gomez-Abraham spent the last five years at Temple University as a transplant and ventricular assist device surgeon, leading it to become the largest heart and lung transplant program in the US over the last two years. Dr. Gomez-Abraham's areas of clinical expertise include CAD-CABG surgery, Aortic and Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement, Arrhythmia surgery, ECMO, VAD-MCS-Total Artificial Heart surgery, Heart Transplantation and Lung Transplantation.

Biography: Dr. Persida Drotar, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in Jersey City, NJ. Dr. Persida Drotar, MD is affiliated with Jersey City Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Margarita Camacho is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Camacho's current role is as Surgical Director for RWJBarnabas Health's Heart Transplant Program. Prior to joining Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2005, Dr. Camacho served as Clinical Associate at the Cleveland Clinic where she received the Charles Bryan Award for clinical excellence. She received her medical degree from New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY and completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 2012, she was honored by The Executive Women of New Jersey, and received the 2014 Healthcare Professional of the Year Award from the New Jersey Hospital Association. She is President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Medical Women's Association, Vice President-elect of the New Jersey Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and has been named several times to Castle Connolly's Top Doctors lists. She lectures nationally, including to Washington D.C. policy makers. Dr. Camacho is past chair of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on End-stage Cardiopulmonary Disease and past President of the Society of Women in Thoracic Surgery.