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Best Cardiothoracic Surgeons in St. Louis

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated November 22, 2024

Introduction to Cardiothoracic Medicine in St. Louis

Definition and scope of cardiothoracic medicine

Cardiothoracic medicine is a specialized field focusing on the surgical treatment of diseases affecting the heart, lungs, and other organs within the chest cavity.

This medical specialty encompasses a wide range of procedures, from coronary artery bypass grafting to lung transplantation.

Cardiothoracic surgeons play a significant role in managing complex cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, often providing life-saving interventions.

The landscape of cardiothoracic care in St. Louis

St. Louis is home to several renowned medical institutions, including Barnes Jewish Hospital and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, which are at the forefront of cardiothoracic care.

The city boasts a high concentration of skilled cardiothoracic surgeons, many of whom are affiliated with these top-tier hospitals.

According to the provided data, St. Louis offers access to numerous board-certified cardiothoracic specialists with impressive educational backgrounds and extensive experience in the field.


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List of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in St. Louis

DN

Dr. Dilip Nath

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 454-6165

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

American Board of Surgery

BELLEVUE HOSPITAL CENTER / MEDICAL COLLEGE (Medical School, 2000)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

General Surgery

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

VP

Dr. Varun Puri

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(636) 916-7123

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

All-India Institute of Medical Science / Ansari Nagar (Medical School)

English

Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Memorial Hospital Belleville

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Amit Pawale

Dr. Amit Pawale

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Residency Hospital, 2015)

BronxCare Health Systems (Internship Hospital, 2010)

Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (Medical School, 2001)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AA

Dr. Aaron Abarbanell

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 454-6165

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

American Board of Surgery

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN / MEDICAL CENTER (Medical School, 2006)

English

University Hospital-University Health System

General Surgery

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AF

Dr. Andrew Fiore

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 577-8000

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY / HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER (Medical School, 1977)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Akinobu Itoh

Dr. Akinobu Itoh

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(617) 732-5500

English

Brigham and Women''s Hospital

Kent Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Keith Naunheim

Dr. Keith Naunheim

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 977-3650

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Academic Faculty ()

University Chicago Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1985)

University Chicago Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1979)

University of Chicago Hospitals (Internship Hospital, 1979)

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Medical School, 1978)

The Johns Hopkins University (Undergraduate School, 1974)

English

SSM Health St. Clare Hospital-Fenton

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

SSM Health St. Mary''s Hospital-St. Louis

Thoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

TL

Dr. Timothy Lancaster

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(734) 936-4000

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

DK

Dr. Daniel Kreisel

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-6021

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of PA Health System (Residency Hospital)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Marc Moon

Dr. Marc Moon

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(832) 355-9910

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Stanford University (Fellowship Hospital)

Med College Wis (Residency Hospital, 1995)

Med College Wis (Internship Hospital, 1989)

Wayne State University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

JP

Dr. Joseph Platz

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(618) 899-3900

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

SSM Health St. Clare Hospital-Fenton

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

SSM Health St. Mary''s Hospital-St. Louis

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

ME

Dr. Melanie Edwards

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(734) 712-5500

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Cedars Sinai Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2013)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine (Fellowship Hospital, 2008)

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Harvard Medical School (Residency Hospital, 2006)

Beth Israel Deaconess Hosp-Harvard Medical School (Internship Hospital, 2002)

Loma Linda University (Medical School, 2001)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2001)

English

Chelsea Hospital

Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital

Trinity Health Livingston Hospital

Thoracic Surgery

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

SS

Dr. Shuddhadeb Shuddhadeb

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 653-5000

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

Christian Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

SG

Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

McGill University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1993)

English

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

PE

Dr. Pirooz Eghtesady

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 454-6165

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of California at Berkeley (Medical School, 1993)

English

St. Louis Children''s Hospital

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Stephen D'Orazio

Dr. Stephen D'Orazio

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(239) 624-4299

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

St Louis University Health Sciences (Fellowship Hospital)

St Louis University Health Scis Center (Internship Hospital, 1989)

Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Medical School, 1988)

English

Downtown Baker Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Mauricio Villavicencio Theoduloz

Dr. Mauricio Villavicencio Theoduloz

5.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(507) 718-5036

English

Spanish

Mayo Clinic - Rochester

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Transplant Surgery

BK

Dr. Benjamin Kozower

4.9

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Washington University School of Medicine (Fellowship Hospital, 2002)

University of Connecticut (Internship Hospital, 1998)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine (Medical School, 1997)

University of Rochester (Undergraduate School, 1993)

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

BM

Dr. Bryan Meyers

4.7

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-8598

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Chicago (Medical School, 1986)

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Memorial Hospital Belleville

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Ralph Damiano

Dr. Ralph Damiano

4.6

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7327

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Duke University Hospital (Residency Hospital, 1988)

Duke University Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1988)

Duke University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1980)

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

CH

Dr. Charles Huddleston

4.6

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 268-4183

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Vanderbilt University (Medical School, 1978)

English

SSM Health St. Mary''s Hospital-St. Louis

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children''s Hospital

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Trevor Axford

Dr. Trevor Axford

4.4

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 647-8269

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Brigham and Womens Hosp/Boston Children's Hospital|Brigham and Womens Hosp/harvard Med School (Fellowship Hospital, 1995)

Brigham And Womens Hosp/harvard Med School (Fellowship Hospital, 1993)

Brigham And Womens Hosp/harvard Med School (Residency Hospital, 1992)

Brigham and Womens Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1987)

Washington University St Louis (Medical School, 1986)

English

SSM Health St. Clare Hospital-Fenton

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

SSM Health St. Mary''s Hospital-St. Louis

Cardiothoracic Surgery

GP

Dr. George Patterson

4.3

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-6025

Queen's University Faculty Of Health Sciences (Medical School)

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Memorial Hospital Belleville

Cardiothoracic Surgery

JL

Dr. Jennifer Lawton

4.3

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(410) 955-2800

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 1999)

Pa St U/Milton S Hershey Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1999)

Hahnemann Universtiy - Philadelphia (Medical School, 1992)

English

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

HR

Dr. Harold Roberts

4.1

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 747-1315

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Beth Israel Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1990)

University Of Maryland Medical System (Residency Hospital, 1986)

University Of Maryland Medical System (Internship Hospital, 1982)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine (Medical School, 1981)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiovascular Surgery

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Michael Del Rio

Dr. Michael Del Rio

4.1

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English, German, Spanish

Phone

(641) 494-5300

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Cornell University (Medical School, 2005)

Birmingham Children's Hospital|Loma Linda University Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1996)

Maimonides Medical Center|Medical College Va|Uc (Residency Hospital, 1991)

Children's Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1987)

English

German

Spanish

Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center

Shasta Regional Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Nabil Munfakh

Dr. Nabil Munfakh

4.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Arabic

Phone

(314) 355-3003

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University Ky Hosps (Residency Hospital)

Med College Va (Residency Hospital, 1993)

Med College Va|University Ky Hosps (Residency Hospital, 1993)

Massachusetts General Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1993)

University Ky Hosps (Internship Hospital, 1986)

SOUTH BAYLO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE AT LOS ANGELES (Medical School, 1985)

English

Arabic

Alton Memorial Hospital

Christian Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AC

Dr. Anne Cahill

3.4

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(417) 347-5001

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Medical College of Wisconsin (Medical School, 1994)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MP

Dr. Mayank Patel

3.0

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(573) 814-6000

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Augusta University Medical College of Georgia (Medical School, 1998)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

LH

Dr. Laurence Hutchinson

2.3

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(573) 458-7800

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Texas Heart Institute|Washington University (Fellowship Hospital, 1996)

Duke|Ochsner Clinic (Residency Hospital, 1978)

Duke University|Med College of Wisconsin (Internship Hospital, 1976)

Washington University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1975)

English

Washington County Memorial Hospital

Phelps Health

General Surgery

Emergency Medicine

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MC

Dr. Michael Crittenden

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 652-4100

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Georgetown University School of Dentistry (Medical School, 1979)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

RN

Dr. Ruben Nava-Bahena

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Montreal (Medical School)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Memorial Hospital Belleville

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

TM

Dr. Takashi Murashita

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(573) 882-6955

KYOTO PREFECTURAL MEDICAL COLLEGE (Medical School, 2004)

English

University of Missouri Health Care

Cardiothoracic Surgery

NM

Dr. Nader Moazami

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

TEACHERS COLLEGE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (Medical School, 2010)

English

NYU Langone Hospital-Manhattan

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MS

Dr. Matthew Schill

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Washington University (Medical School)

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CL

Dr. Christopher Lawrance

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(217) 545-8000

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

Springfield Memorial Hospital

HSHS St. John''s Hospital

Decatur Memorial Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

OJ

Dr. Orlando Petrucci Jr

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 454-6165

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

TT

Dr. Tsuyoshi Takahashi

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

English

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MP

Dr. Michael Pasque

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-6237

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA / HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER (Medical School, 1978)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WJ

Dr. William Gay Jr

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 747-1315

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Duke University Hospital (Residency Hospital, 1970)

Duke University Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1962)

Duke University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1961)

English

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

SP

Dr. Sunil Prasad

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(585) 544-6550

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

KK

Dr. Kunal Kotkar

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 362-7260

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AL

Dr. Anh-Thu Le

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(417) 820-3960

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

Mercy Hospital Springfield

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

JM

Dr. Jacob Miller

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 454-2358

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Indiana University School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

St. Louis Children''s Hospital

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CT

Dr. Corinne Tan

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 268-4180

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

American Board of Surgery

English

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children''s Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MM

Dr. Muhammad Masood

N/A

St. Louis, MO

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(314) 355-3003

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

SOUTHWEST COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINEHEALTH SCIENCES (Medical School)

English

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Selecting a Cardiothoracic Specialist in St. Louis

Factors to consider when choosing a doctor

Board certifications and specializations

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery certification
  • Additional certifications such as American Board of Surgery

Experience and education

  • Years of practice in cardiothoracic surgery
  • Fellowship training at reputable institutions
  • Ongoing professional development and research

Hospital affiliations

  • Connection to major medical centers like Barnes Jewish Hospital
  • Access to advanced medical facilities and technologies

Patient ratings and reviews

  • Star ratings from platforms like Healthgrades
  • Number of patient reviews
  • Consistency of positive feedback

Resources for researching doctors

Online directories and rating platforms

  • Utilizing Healthgrades for comprehensive doctor profiles
  • Checking other reputable medical review websites

Hospital recommendations

  • Contacting cardiothoracic departments of major St. Louis hospitals
  • Inquiring about top specialists in the field

Referrals from primary care physicians

  • Seeking recommendations from trusted general practitioners
  • Discussing specific cardiothoracic needs with primary care doctors

Top-Ranked Cardiothoracic Surgeons in St. Louis

Dr. Marc Moon

Qualifications and Experience

  • Board certified by American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • Educated at Stanford University, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Wayne State University School of Medicine
  • Over 30 years of experience in cardiothoracic surgery

Patient Satisfaction

  • Perfect 5-star rating based on 10 patient reviews
  • Highly regarded for surgical expertise and patient care

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with Barnes Jewish Hospital
  • Specializes in Cardiothoracic Surgery and General Surgery
  • Contact: (832) 355-9910

Dr. Benjamin Kozower

Expertise and Credentials

  • Board certified in both Surgery and Thoracic Surgery
  • Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine
  • Extensive training includes University of Connecticut and University of Rochester

Patient Reviews

  • Impressive 4.9-star rating from 11 patient reviews
  • Recognized for surgical skills and patient care

Practice Details

  • Multiple hospital affiliations including Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
  • Specializes in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • For appointments: (314) 362-7260

Dr. Varun Puri

Professional Background

  • Board certified by American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • Educated at All-India Institute of Medical Science
  • Expertise in both General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery

Patient Satisfaction

  • Perfect 5-star rating based on patient feedback
  • Known for exceptional surgical outcomes

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with multiple hospitals including Missouri Baptist Medical Center and Barnes Jewish Hospital
  • Offers services in both Missouri and Illinois
  • Contact number: (636) 916-7123

Additional Considerations for Choosing a Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Importance of patient-doctor communication

Language considerations

  • Highlight multilingual doctors like Dr. Michael Del Rio (English, German, Spanish)
  • Emphasize importance of clear communication for complex procedures

Approachability and willingness to answer questions

  • Suggest patients consider doctors' bedside manner
  • Recommend scheduling initial consultations to assess communication style

Location and accessibility of the doctor's practice

Proximity to patient's residence

  • List major hospitals in St. Louis area (e.g., Barnes Jewish Hospital, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital)
  • Discuss importance of considering travel time for follow-up appointments

Ease of scheduling appointments

  • Mention availability of contact information for top-rated doctors
  • Suggest inquiring about wait times for non-emergency procedures

Insurance and financial considerations

Verifying insurance acceptance

  • Advise patients to check with their insurance providers
  • Recommend confirming coverage with the doctor's office directly

Understanding potential out-of-pocket costs

  • Suggest discussing cost estimates for procedures
  • Mention possibility of payment plans or financial assistance programs