AblationforCardiacArrhythmias near Paramus, NJ

Biography: Christopher Irobunda, MD, is an Associate Professor at CUMC and an interventionalist. He is also Vice Chair of the Faculty Development focusing on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the Department of Medicine. He trained as a general and interventional cardiologist. Dr. Irobunda has been a full-time faculty since 2003. He obtained his MD/PhD in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. His PhD was in Molecular Pharmacology, specifically on the cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate/beta-adrenergic signal transduction system. He subsequently completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, followed by his General and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship here at Columbia University Medical Center. After completing his medical training and research study, he shifted his concentration to patient care and the education of aspiring young physicians. Dr. Irobunda is ardently dedicated to uncompromised patient care and teaching. His primary focus is individualized patient care and patient advocacy. Given his training as a medical scientist, it is hardly surprising that he is a keen diagnostician. He has a penchant for complex cardiac issues and other medical problems that can sometimes mask or aggravate the cardiac disease. His aptitude for unraveling these medical conundrums has led to medical diagnoses for patients who have come to him for second and even third opinions. However, above all else, his true genius is his ability to relate to his patients with intelligence, curiosity, patience, compassion, and humor. His ability to waylay even the most apprehensive of patients with his aura of reassurance and understanding has garnered him a continually growing medical practice. Again and again, individuals will refer family members and friends because of the empathy and level of care constantly provided. Indeed, his unceasing diligence has led him to become a physician member of Columbia University Medical Centers Patient Facilitated Services, an organization directed at patient satisfaction and outreach. Dr. Irobunda has also been the primary cardiologist for patients undergoing liver transplant evaluations at New York Presbyterian since 2004. When not in his private practice, he takes great pleasure in helping train the new influx of physicians in the only ethical way to practice medicinepatient-centered care. Dr. Irobunda has been a Supervisor and Attending Faculty for the Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine for First Year Medical Students at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons since 2011, a program that endeavors to instill exceptional patient-doctor communication and trust. He encourages future medical practitioners to listen to the patient and learn to interpret and analyze the information being imported; to realize that the seemingly insignificant details sometimes lead to the culprit of an individual's illness. He has been a lecturer with International Postgraduate Organization for Knowledgetransfer, Research, and Teaching Excellent Students (IPOKRaTES) in Europe. IPOKRaTES offers opportunities for physicians from a plethora of countries to observe and gain instruction regarding differing methods in patient care practices. Since the summer of 2012, Dr. Irobunda has become involved in New York Presbyterian Hospital's Lange Youth Program, which seeks to prepare and enumerate the rigors of medical school for high school students. Dr. Irobunda is active in numerous community outreach organizations-Abyssian Baptist Church (NY), JP Morgan Chase Employee Education Program, Riverside Church Seniors, and Sister to Sister: The Women's Heart Health Foundation, to name a few. He seeks to educate the public on cardiovascular issues and ways to make everyday lifestyle modifications to help reduce these risks. In addition to being an interventional cardiologist who can perform angioplasties and stent placements, he emphasizes the prevention and treatment of heart disease through diet, exercise, and medical therapy.

Care Philosophy: We are committed to delivering the best care and an exceptional patient experience. We are devoted to providing services that are patient-centered and compassionate, and care for you as a person.

Biography: Dr. Johanna Contreras, MD is a Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist who practices in New York, NY. She is 50 years old and has been practicing for 27 years. Dr. Johanna Contreras, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside.

Biography: Luigi Pirelli, MD earned his medical degree from the University of Milan, Italy. He completed his cardiac surgery training at the University of Milan and New York University. Dr. Pirelli's expertise include transcatheter valve therapies and surgical valve repairs.

Biography: Dr. Elaine Wan is the Esther Aboodi Associate Professor of Medicine in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Columbia University Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She is trained in Internal Medicine, Clinical Cardiology and is an invasive cardiac electrophysiologist. She is the Director of Electrophysiology Research and oversees all electrophysiology clinical trials. She performs implantation of cardiac devices including pacemaker and defibrillators, as well as ablation of arrhythmias. Dr. Wan is a physician-scientist and focuses on development of novel treatments for heart failure, vascular dysfunction and arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. She is a translational researcher also interested in development of innovative imaging modalities to improve ablation delivery. Dr. Wan is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. Dr. Wan is on the Board of Trustees of the Heart Rhythm Society. She is the Chairperson for the NIH Study Section of Imaging Technology Development. She is also the Chairperson-elect for the American Heart Association Committee on Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. Dr. Wan is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including NIH R01s, R03, K08, the 2016 American College of Cardiology Young Investigator Award First Place in Molecular Cellular Cardiology, 2016 Young Physician Investigator Award from the American Society of Clinical Investigators, 2016 Cardiostim/Europace Best Young EP Presentation (Nice, France) and the 2008 American Heart Association Women in Cardiology for Clinical Excellence.She is the recipient of several competitive research grants including NIH NHLBI K08 Mentored Career Development Award, NIH NHLBI R03 Small Grant Program and NIH NHLBI R01 to study the use of 3D mitochondrial dysfunction imaging in cardiac arrhythmias. She is also a recipient of the American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant, grant support from the Foundation of Gender Specific Medicine, Columbia University Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholars Program, and Columbia University Provost's Grants Program for Junior Faculty who Contribute to the Diversity Goals of the University. She is vice co-chair of the Heart Rhythm Society Digital Health Committee and a member of the American Heart Association Committee on Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias. She has published over 100 manuscripts in high impact journals such as Nature Medicine, Circulation, Science Translational Medicine, Circulation Research, Journal of Clinical Investigation and Journal of American College of Cardiology. She has written 3 book chapters and given invited talks around the world.

Biography: Dr. Susan Hecht, MD is an Internist who practices in New York, NY. She has been practicing for 44 years. Dr. Susan Hecht, MD is affiliated with Newyork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Biography: Joseph Tenenbaum, MD is the Edgar M. Leifer Professor of Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Dr. Tenenbaum is deeply committed to fulfilling the privilege of practicing and teaching medicine. Dr. Tenenbaum' first commitment is to bring the best of modern medicine with the finest art of the classical caring of medicine to heal those who are sick, provide remedy for suffering, and to promote health. His second is to those who come to train; to afford the best experience in realizing one's potential, to present the best examples of medical caregiving. The Columbia University Medical center's Division of Cardiology has flourished in its commitment to education, teaching, and research through a similar focus.