Stamford Health, known for its award-winning cardiac care through the Heart & Vascular Institute, has expanded its relationship with Columbia University to offer treatment and expertise from Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s nationally recognized heart surgeons. As a result of this new relationship, five of Columbia University’s top surgeons, all of whom are part of the #4 cardiac surgery program in the country, will see patients at Stamford Health and operate on those patients at Stamford Hospital, which has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report and by the American Heart Association. The surgeons will perform both scheduled and emergency heart surgery at Stamford Hospital.
The prospect of heart surgery can be daunting, even more so for those who need to travel for care. This expanded relationship brings world class care from Columbia’s top surgeons to lower Fairfield County, enhancing the services delivered in the area and making access more convenient for patients and their families.
“As an academic medical center, Columbia has a mission to spread the expertise of its faculty and improve standards of care everywhere. Collaborating with Stamford Health gives Columbia the opportunity to better serve lower Fairfield and give patients more options close by. We are pleased to expand our reach through a trusted community partner that shares our dedication to excellence and a person-centered approach to care,” said Michael Argenziano, MD, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Columbia.
Stamford Health has collaborated for nearly a decade with Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as a teaching affiliate. This relationship with Columbia University Irving Medical Center expands on that relationship, building on the high-quality cardiovascular services already in place at Stamford Health.
This relationship unites the clinical expertise of Stamford Health’s very own, nationally recognized doctors Michael Coady and David Yuh with Columbia surgeon and four of his colleagues, Isaac George, Yuji Kaku, Hiroo Takayama, and Koji Takeda.
“These surgeons are equally passionate about providing patient-centered care and excellent clinical outcomes,” said Michael Coady, MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Co-Director of the Heart & Vascular Institute. “Columbia has chosen Stamford Health as a major destination for their surgeons to care for patients because of the tremendous ongoing success already provided at the Heart & Vascular Institute,” added Coady.
“I am thrilled to welcome the leadership and clinical expertise of our participating Columbia heart surgeons,” remarked Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health. “This relationship, like those we have with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) for Orthopedics and the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, exemplifies Stamford Health’s commitment to bringing the nation’s best clinical programs to Fairfield County. We can confidently say we have brought some of the world’s best cardiac surgeons here to treat patients right here at Stamford Health,” added Silard.
“We look forward to collaborating with the Stamford Health team as we build a sustainable cardiac surgery program that provides lower Fairfield County with the very best in complete, comprehensive heart care,” said Dr. Argenziano.
This announcement marks the expansion of Stamford Health’s strategy to collaborate with world-class organizations for patient care. In addition to this new relationship with Columbia, Stamford Health offers best-in-class services through relationships with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Orthopedics at Stamford Health and the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center’s collaborative partnership with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.
Stamford Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute is the only comprehensive heart and vascular program in Lower Fairfield County - offering cardiology and surgical services including general cardiology, non-invasive testing, cardiac rehabilitation, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, structural heart disease and valve care, open heart surgery and vascular surgery. Stamford Health uses state-of-the-art technology such as cardiac MRI imaging and multi-detector CT coronary angiography, all in a single care environment. To learn more about cardiac surgery at Stamford Health, contact 203.276.4400.
About Stamford Health
Stamford Health is a non-profit independent healthcare system with more than 3,700 employees committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the system’s 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 40 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation.
Stamford Health is known for its expert, person-centered care through its many recognitions and partnerships. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Stamford Hospital as a High Performing Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rated Stamford Hospital as a five-star hospital for Overall Quality. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has granted Stamford Hospital Magnet Status, which recognizes superior patient care with the highest level of safety, quality and patient satisfaction. Stamford Hospital is a Planetree Gold-Certified Person-Centered Hospital of Distinction, and one of only seven in the world to attain that distinction.
Stamford Health is also a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Stamford Health and Hospital for Special Surgery have created a premier center for specialty orthopedic care right in Stamford, CT. Additionally, in 2020, Stamford Health’s Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center entered into an expanded collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.
Dedicated to being the community’s most trusted healthcare partner, Stamford Health puts patients first to build long-lasting relationships. For more information, visit StamfordHealth.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides patients with the expertise of more than 1,800 highly regarded physicians, surgeons, dentists, and nurses, coupled with the prestige of one of the nation’s oldest and finest universities. Columbia offers comprehensive interdisciplinary care, providing services in more than 230 specialties and subspecialties to patients from around the country and the world.
Columbia’s approach to patient care springs from its unparalleled historical legacy of clinical excellence and is further informed by and honed through the application of cutting-edge research. Columbia providers move effortlessly between the latest treatments, such as advanced robotic surgical techniques, and the traditional tried-and-true applications of personalized health care. This combination translates into a high-tech and high-touch hallmark of patient care at Columbia.