Holli Jakalow, MD

Dr. Hiroo Takayama is Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart and vascular problems. As the Director of the Aortic Surgery Program and co-Director of the Aortic Center, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and the Marfan Clinic at NYP/Columbia, Dr. Takayama has contributed to the care of over 4,000 patients by performing a variety of aortic and cardiac surgical procedures, approximately 300-350 operations every year. Dr. Takayama is internationally recognized for his work on complex aortic surgery (minimally invasive aortic surgery, valve-sparing aortic root replacement, aortic valve repair, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair), hybrid aortic surgery (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair), myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure surgery. He is a leader in outcome research in aortic diseases and heart failure. He has published more than 300-350 manuscripts in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and has authored numerous book chapters about heart disease. Dr. Takayama attended University of Tokyo for Medical School, did his internship at University of Tokyo, general surgery residency in University of Washington Medical Center, and cardio-thoracic surgery fellowship in New-York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Tarah Pua is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Pua graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College with a B.A. in Biochemistry and went on to complete her medical degree at NYU School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University where she earned the American Association for Gynecologic Laparoscopists Award for excellence in minimally invasive procedures in her chief year and the Barton Memorial award for service to the department in research and patient care. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. Following that she also completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Pua interests include chemotherapy trials and targeted therapies for gynecologic malignancies.

Dr. Christine Rohde is the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Columbia. She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 2000. Following her medical school education, she began her general surgery training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After three years of general surgery training, Dr. Rohde accepted a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency position at Montefiore Medical Center. Interested in microsurgery, Dr. Rohde completed a microsurgical fellowship at New York University Medical School’s Institute of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery in 2006. Her research focuses primarily on outcomes of plastic surgical interventions, particularly as they relate to cancer reconstruction and post-surgical care. In 2013, Dr. Rohde graduated from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with a Masters in Public Health, focusing on comparative effectiveness research. A highly skilled clinician, researcher and teacher, Dr. Rohde is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, specializing in microsurgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, body contouring, cosmetic surgery, and breast, trauma, and cancer reconstruction. She has numerous publications and presentations in the field of plastic surgery, and is a frequently-requested speaker. She has also been seen on the Carol Alt FoxNews Show, “A Healthy You” and WABC, discussing her research and breast cancer reconstruction.