Q: You recently performed the first robotic heart surgery at the hospital. How does that technology change things for patients?

We are the only hospital in Suffolk County to perform robotic cardiac surgery. Traditionally, open-heart surgery is done by opening up the breastbone and spreading the ribs apart to access the heart. But in a robot-assisted coronary bypass procedure — we use a da Vinci Xi robot — we can harvest an artery through small incisions on the side of the chest. Then we can make another very small incision and connect that new bypass artery directly to the heart. This minimally invasive approach helps with reduced blood loss, less trauma to the tissue and a quicker recovery.

Patients are very interested in the idea of a less invasive approach to heart care. Right now, we’re focusing on robotic bypass procedures at the hospital’s Entenmann Family Cardiac Center, but we’ll explore a robotic approach in mitral valve repair procedures as well. We’re excited to build on our strengths with this new technology to better serve our community in Suffolk County.

Q: What motivates you to go to work every day?

The first time I watched heart surgery as a surgical resident, I was fascinated, and that fascination never left me. I still get very excited when I see the heart and think about what we can do — the fact that we can fix an organ that’s so complicated.

In this field, many patients come in with a heart condition that could be potentially catastrophic, and we’re able to fix it within a few hours. Once our patients recover, they feel much better, and they live longer. It’s a privilege to affect someone’s life in that way. I love getting letters from patients who thank me for helping them make it to their grandchild’s wedding or another event. It’s very touching. I read every one of those letters.

Q: You’ve been a part of Northwell Health for nearly 20 years. What do you like about working here?

I’ve been very fortunate to work with an extremely talented team of people who are always looking to improve patient care. What’s great about Northwell and the new Northwell Cardiovascular Institute is that when we set out to do something, we all come together to make it happen. Implementing the robotic cardiac surgery program took a lot of planning, training and support from both the administration and our entire team. With that kind of collaboration, it’s exciting to think about what we can accomplish.