New Cardiac Surgery Chief Strengthens University’s Commitment to Innovation and Patient-Centered Care
Giving people with cardiac disease access to the most effective treatments possible inspires Amit Patel, M.D., M.S., the newly named Chief of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Patel’s career is built on a foundation of bringing the latest advances in cardiac interventions and therapeutics to the clinical setting. Many patients, including those with more complex and/or advanced heart disease, can benefit from his skill and expertise as he begins his new post at the University of Miami Health System.
Dr. Patel’s expertise focuses on advanced heart surgery for coronary disease, valve repair and replacement, heart failure, thoracic aortic surgery. He provides both open surgical reconstruction and trans-catheter interventions, specializing in endo-graft placement and matrix therapies. The evolving role of stem cell therapeutics and genetic advances are a focus of his research.
A Patient-Centric Approach
Importantly, Dr. Patel’s motivation remains patient-driven, focusing simultaneously on new advances that decrease post-procedure pain, reduce length of hospital stay and restore patient quality of life. In addition, he and his team offer appropriate candidates access to cutting-edge treatments and innovative techniques through participation in clinical trials.
“Dr. Patel’s expertise will bring a new dimension and scope to the care of cardiac patients in the South Florida region by incorporating the latest advances in minimally invasive and hybrid techniques to coronary revascularization, heart valve reconstruction, and the treatments for thoracic aortic dissections and aneurysms,” said Omaida C. Velazquez, M.D., professor and Chair of the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery at the Miller School of Medicine.
Previously, Dr. Patel was professor of surgery and Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He was born in Dallas and received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University, he did his internship and residency in surgery at Baylor University Medical Center and completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.