NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center is proud to announce new leadership appointments within Cardiac Surgery, reflecting the institution’s continued commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in cardiovascular care.
Arnar Geirsson, MD, named Chief of Cardiac Surgery
Arnar Geirsson, MD, an internationally recognized cardiac surgeon and leader in mitral valve repair and robotic cardiac surgery, has been named Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian, and to work alongside such an exceptional team,” said Dr. Geirsson. “I look forward to expanding our advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for patients while continuing to bring them the highest quality, safest, most compassionate cardiovascular care available.”
Under Dr. Geirsson’s leadership, the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program has experienced rapid growth and recently surpassed its 300th robotic heart surgery, placing it among the largest and fastest-growing programs in the nation. The program has achieved outstanding outcomes, including a 99% success rate for mitral valve prolapse repair and a 99% rate of repair without conversion to sternotomy. As Chief, Dr. Geirsson will now lead a multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive surgical care for a full range of heart disease.
Dr. Geirsson joined NYP/Columbia in 2023. Raised and educated in Iceland, he completed his general surgery training at Yale University and his cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served as Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and later Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Yale. His research spans both basic and clinical science, with a focus on mitral valve prolapse and valve disease.
Hiroo Takayama, MD appointed Vice Chair for Cardiac, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery
Hiroo Takayama, MD, an internationally recognized cardiac surgeon and leader in complex aortic valve and thoracic aortic surgery, has been appointed Vice Chair for Cardiac, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery.
“I am pleased to step into this role and to continue working alongside an outstanding team of surgeons, clinicians, and researchers,” said Dr. Takayama. “Together, we will further advance our mission to deliver unparalleled patient care across cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgery.”
In his role as Vice Chair, Dr. Takayama will provide strategic and clinical leadership across divisions, supporting program growth, surgical innovation, and academic excellence. He will also continue to serve as co-Director of the Aortic Center at NYP/Columbia.
Dr. Takayama has more than 20 years of experience caring for patients with complex cardiac and vascular disease and has contributed to the care of more than 4,000 patients. He performs approximately 300–350 cardiac and aortic operations annually and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tokyo and completed his surgical training at the University of Washington Medical Center, followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Andrew Goldstone, MD, named Director, Section of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery
Andrew Goldstone, MD, has been appointed Director of the Section of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery, bringing deep clinical, research, and personal insight to the care of patients with congenital heart disease.
“I am honored to lead the Section of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery and to work alongside an extraordinary team dedicated to advancing care for patients with congenital heart disease,” said Dr. Goldstone. “My goal is to deliver highly personalized, evidence-based surgical care while continuing to expand our understanding of complex cardiovascular disease across the lifespan.”
In his role as Director, Dr. Goldstone will lead a multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive surgical care for patients with congenital heart disease, from birth through adulthood. His clinical expertise spans neonatal surgery, complex biventricular repair, pulmonary artery reconstruction, and the surgical management of heart failure. He is deeply committed to an individualized approach to care, informed by both clinical experience and his personal perspective as a parent of a child who required chest surgery at birth.
Dr. Goldstone trained in pediatric heart surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, graduating first in his class, and holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research from Stanford University.
Together, these leadership appointments underscore NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia’s dedication to advancing cardiovascular care through surgical excellence, research innovation, and patient-centered leadership.