Meet Our Team
We invite you to learn more about the capabilities of our nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgery team. Each physician brings a wealth of impressive credentials, clinical expertise and extensive experience to Montefiore and strengthens our commitment to provide patients with the most effective heart care available.
ADULT CARDIAC SURGERY AND TRANSPLANTATION
Robert E. Michler, MD
Surgeon-in-Chief, Samuel I. Belkin Chair and Co-Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care, Montefiore
Professor and Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Michler and his cardiothoracic surgery team are advancing the use of minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery procedures including coronary bypass, aortic and mitral valve repair procedures, autologous myoblast and stem cell injection therapy for heart failure, and surgical robotics. The work of his team led to FDA approval for selective cardiac robotic procedures including mitral valve repair and coronary bypass surgery. View Dr. Michler's full profile.
Daniel Goldstein, MD
Director, Mechanical Assistance Program and Co-Director, Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapy, Montefiore
Associate Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Goldstein's research interests lie in the understanding of left ventricular recovery following institution of mechanical support in patients with advanced heart failure. He is also actively involved in the evaluation of new ventricular assist device technologies, both in the laboratory and in clinical trials. He is a lead investigator in NIH-supported studies evaluating the interactions between the body and mechanical circulatory support devices. View Dr. Goldstein's full profile.
Lari A. Attai, MD
Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Montefiore
Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Attai is an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and is Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He was the first resident to graduate from the training program in June 1965 and has been on the faculty for over 40 years. Dr. Attai has been involved in the training of approximately 80 graduates of the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Thoracic Surgery Residency Program. He served as Chief of the Thoracic Surgery Service at Montefiore from 1972 until 1980.
Ricardo A. Bello, MD, PhD
Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Montefiore
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Bello is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon and a skilled researcher. He is experienced in all aspects of adult cardiac surgery, with emphasis on coronary artery bypass surgery, cardiac transplantation, minimally invasive valve repair and surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. His research focuses primarily on understanding the mechanisms of heart failure and devising innovative surgical treatments, including the use of stem cells to repair damaged heart muscle. Dr. Bello also studies clinical outcomes in cardiac surgery with the goal of providing the best therapies for each patient. View Dr. Bello's full profile.
David A. D'Alessandro, MD
Surgical Director, Cardiac Transplantation, Montefiore
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. D'Alessandro is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with a particular interest in heart transplantation and mechanical support for patients with advanced heart failure. His research focuses on evaluating ventricular assist devices and developing methods for improving clinical outcomes in cardiac surgery. View Dr. D'Alessandro's full profile.
Joseph J. DeRose, MD
Director, Adult Cardiac Surgery, Weiler Division and Director, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Montefiore
Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. DeRose has a particular research and clinical interest in robotic cardiothoracic surgery. He was involved in the first robotic biventricular pacemaker, thymectomy and atrial septal defect repair in the world. His clinical practice is devoted to minimally invasive and alternative approaches to complex cardiovascular disease. His research interests include ventricular mapping for biventricular pacemaker insertion, robotic coronary artery bypass grafting, the use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries and thoracoscopic mitral valve surgery. View Dr. Derose's full profile.
ADULT GENERAL THORACIC
Robert C. Ashton, Jr., MD
Director, Thoracic Surgery, Moses Division and Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery, Montefiore
Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Ashton is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery at Allegheny General Hospital as well as a residency in thoracic surgery and fellowship training in cardiovascular research at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Ashton strengthens the scope, quality and leadership of Montefiore's general thoracic surgery and thoracic surgery oncology programs.
Steven M. Keller, MD
Director, Thoracic Surgery, Weiler Division, Montefiore
Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Keller is a highly qualified, board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with extensive experience in thoracic oncology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians and has served on several national committees for the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the College of Chest Physicians. At an administrative level, Dr. Keller is involved in ensuring that patients at Montefiore receive the best of care. He maintains an active clinical and research interest in adjuvant therapy for lung cancer and treatment for hyperhidrosis. View Dr. Keller's full profile.
PEDIATRIC CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY AND TRANSPLANTATION
Francois Laçour-Gayet, MD
Chief, Pediatric, Montefiore
Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Laçour-Gayet has earned an international reputation as a leader in complex neonatal heart surgery, complex biventricular repair and the Fontan procedure in treating congenital heart defects. In addition to performing up to 250 pediatric heart operations a year, Dr. Laçour-Gayet has an ongoing research interest in evaluating and improving the quality of care in pediatric heart surgery, and is the creator of the Aristotle Complexity Score that is now used around the world. He also is in the process of perfecting an artificial right ventricle for patients with failing Fontan circulation.
Samuel Weinstein, MD
Director, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Montefiore
Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Weinstein's clinical areas of focus are congenital heart surgery, adult congenital heart repair and aortic surgery for Marfans disease. In addition, Dr. Weinstein has extensive experience with patients requiring Fontan revision for arrhythmias. He takes annual trips to Latin America with Heart Care International, of which he is an active board member. He oversees the Gift of Life/Rachel Cooper Program at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, which helps to treat children from less advantaged countries with congenital heart disease in the United States. View Dr. Weinstein's full profile.
