James R. Taylor Jr., MD, FACS, and Harold A. Fernandez, MD, have joined Stony Brook Medicine as professors of surgery at Stony Brook University School of Medicine and co-directors of Stony Brook University Heart Institute. Dr. Taylor will also serve as chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Dr. Fernandez will serve as deputy chief of the Division.
Citing their excellent outcomes and high patient satisfaction rates, Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, MACP, senior vice president, Health Sciences, and dean, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, said, “The addition of Drs. Taylor and Fernandez as co-directors will continue Stony Brook Medicine’s development into one of the finest Heart Institutes in the country.”
Dr. Taylor is one of the highest-volume cardiac surgeons in New York State, and one of the safest, as indicated by risk-adjusted mortality statistics published by the New York State Department of Health Cardiac Surgical database. His cardiac surgical experience includes coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, thoracic aortic disease and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
“The Stony Brook Heart Institute is committed to delivery of advanced cardiac surgical techniques and high-quality patient care,” Dr. Taylor said. “Our goal is to construct cardiac surgical procedures designed to address the unique clinical problems of individuals and thereby provide the best possible outcome for each patient.”
Dr. Fernandez has trained at some of the finest medical institutions in the world, including Princeton University, Harvard Medical School and MIT. “My scientific and clinical training over many years has given me the opportunity to make my childhood dream of helping others a reality,” he said. “Despite the state-of-the art surgical skills that I can offer my patients, I still feel that my most important quality is my desire to provide personal and compassionate care to all my patients and their families.”
Dr. Taylor most recently served as vice chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Hospital and chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by residencies in general and cardiothoracic surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where he served as chief resident. He completed a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the same institution and joined St. Francis in 1991. He is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery.
Dr. Fernandez came to the United States at age 13 as an undocumented immigrant from Colombia and within 10 years received his BS degree in molecular biology from Princeton University. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, followed by a residency in general surgery and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at New York University Medical Center. Board certified in cardiothoracic surgery, he was director of the Division of Heart Failure Surgery at St. Francis Hospital.
For the past four years, Drs. Taylor and Fernandez have been recognized by Castle Connolly as New York Metro Area’s Top Doctors. In addition, the State of New York Department of Health has recognized Dr. Taylor for his outstanding surgical results, measured as risk-adjusted mortality rates for valve, bypass and valve/bypass surgery combined, and Dr. Fernandez for his outstanding surgical results, measured as risk-adjusted mortality rates for bypass surgery.
Both Drs. Taylor and Fernandez will continue their clinical practices at Stony Brook Heart Institute. Their clinical expertise includes surgery for all forms of adult heart disease, including minimally invasive surgery, valve repair surgery, aneurysm surgery and thoracic surgery and minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
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