Edward Felix Lin, MD

Dr. Nicholas J. Shea is the Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Co-Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Stamford Health. He is an assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University and a member of the faculty at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the division of cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in mathematics and economics. He received both his medical doctorate and a Master of Science in biomedical engineering from Columbia University. Dr. Shea trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center at New York- Presbyterian Hospital. He performs procedures in all areas of adult cardiac surgery. He has expertise in mitral valve repair, complex aortic arch and root disease, multi-arterial coronary bypass surgery, and the use of mechanical support for high-risk procedures. Dr. Shea’s approach to clinical practice emphasizes each patient’s unique story, needs, and clinical situation. He believes in the value of personalized care and attention, from a patient’s first office visit through their entire hospital stay and follow up. He focuses on ensuring patients have a full understanding of their disease while offering solutions that utilize state-of-the-art techniques. He has published extensively on surgical management of aortic disease, heart failure, surgical innovation, and structural valve disease. Dr. Shea is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Heart Association, the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the New York Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Geirsson is a renowned cardiac surgeon and the Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and Director of the Surgical Heart Valve Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. With an upbringing and medical education in Iceland, he honed his skills in General Surgery at Yale University and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania between 1998 and 2007. During his tenure at Yale as the Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery from 2007 to 2013, he made significant contributions to the field. Dr. Geirsson then returned to Iceland from 2013 to 2016, serving as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik. Driven by his passion for innovative approaches, he returned to Yale in 2016 and was appointed as the Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery in 2017. Dr. Geirsson's clinical practice focuses on minimally invasive cardiac surgery and valve surgery, specializing in robotic mitral valve repair and aortic valve repair. He achieved notable milestones by performing the first minimally right thoracotomy mitral valve surgery at YNHH in 2009 and the first robotic mitral valve surgery at YNHH in 2018. Moreover, his research endeavors encompass both basic and clinical science, concentrating on mitral valve prolapse and aortic aneurysm disease. With his expertise, dedication, and commitment to advancing cardiac surgery, Dr. Geirsson continues to make significant contributions to the field and improve patient outcomes.

Luigi Pirelli, MD, earned his medical degree and completed his cardiac surgery training at the University of Milan in Italy, followed by additional surgical training at New York University. He is a cardiac surgeon specializing in transcatheter valve therapies and surgical valve repair. Dr. Pirelli has particular expertise in minimally invasive approaches to complex valvular disease and is committed to collaborative, patient-centered care.