Montefiore Medical Center transplanted its 300^th heart, marking a major milestone since the program’s inception in 1999. With the best one-year patient survival rates for both pediatric and adult heart transplants in New York City, Montefiore also claims the best three-year patient survival rates for adult transplants in the City. This data is according to the most recent reports from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient (SRTR), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Montefiore’s pediatric one-year survival rates are also recorded at 100% in this recent SRTR report. As a leader and innovator, today, Montefiore kicks-off its 3^rd Annual BronxHeart Symposium, a comprehensive course presented by Montefiore’s Division of Cardiology and the Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery.                                    

“For nearly 20 years, Montefiore’s heart transplant program has continued to grow and excel, achieving highly competitive patient survival rates while also sustaining our commitment to access to healthcare for all,” said Robert E. Michler, M.D., professor and chairman of cardiothoracic & vascular surgery, professor and chairman of the department of surgery, Samuel I. Belkin Endowed Chair, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “We are also proud of our leadership role in the field of heart surgery as evidenced by our work as principal investigators in major national clinical trials and this week’s BronxHeart Symposium.”

The BronxHeart Symposium invites global thought leaders in the field to educate colleagues on the latest developments in heart failure, transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support.

“Heart failure is a global epidemic affecting more than six million patients in the United States alone,” said Ulrich Jorde, M.D., section head, heart failure, cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, vice chief, division of cardiology, professor of medicine, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Our two-day course, led by 32 leaders in the fields of cardiology and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, will highlight current clinical practices, as well as the latest advanced therapies for the treatment of heart failure.”

Montefiore’s excellence in treating heart failure, as evidenced by the 300^th heart transplant and BronxHeart Symposium, has a long and accomplished history; its first adult heart transplant was performed in 2001, and its first pediatric one in 2009. The longest living Montefiore heart transplant patient to date recently celebrated his 15^th “birthday,” the anniversary of his transplant surgery. With the 300^th heart transplant, Montefiore performed its second bloodless heart transplant, using no blood transfusions: a major innovation in transplant care. Montefiore performed its first bloodless heart transplant in October 2014.

“Because our program continues to offer patients of all backgrounds the opportunity to live a healthier life, our annual volume of heart transplants continues to grow,” said Daniel Goldstein, M.D., professor and vice chairman of the department of cardiothoracic surgery, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care. “We are committed to using our expertise to turn lives around and give people hope. Using bloodless surgery is just one of the techniques we use to meet the needs of our culturally diverse population.” 

This year, Montefiore is celebrating 60 years of performing heart surgery. The Center’s first open-heart surgery in 1957 was the beginning of a long history of clinical excellence including developing and using the world's first transvenous pacemaker system in 1958, and performing the first coronary artery bypass operation in 1960. Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care has become a nationally recognized destination for heart and vascular care.

To learn more about the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care, visit www.montefiore.org/heart and follow us on Montefiore’s social media pages: Twitter @MontefioreNYC, Facebook, and YouTube.