Source: NJ Today.Net
The Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has now performed more than 1,000 heart transplants – milestone achievement reached by only 11 other hospitals in the United States.
“Newark Beth Israel is at the forefront of delivering comprehensive cardiac care and innovative research and this enviable milestone is a testament to our cardiac, surgical and medical teams who have dedicated themselves to building a program that consistently delivers clinical excellence, said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., President and CEO, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.
“This exciting milestone further solidifies our national footprint and reflects the world-class cardiology and cardiac surgery services at RWJBarnabas Health. As the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in New Jersey we are proud to offer these services to residents throughout the region,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health.
The transplant program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is led by an interdisciplinary team of physicians: Dr. Mark J. Zucker, Director, Cardiothoracic Transplant; Dr. Martin Strueber, Director of Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgery and Mechanical Circulatory Support; Dr. Margarita Camacho, Surgical Director of Heart Transplant; Dr. Jose C. Mendez, Medical Director of Heart Transplant; Dr. Claudia G. Gidea, Medical Director, Ventricular Assist Device Program; and Dr. Roh Yanagida, Surgical Director, Lung Transplant Program.
The Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program is one of the busiest in the region and maintains survival outcomes that are on par with the national average; and wait times for heart transplant that are less than the national average, less than 2 months at Newark Beth Israel versus approximately an 8 month wait time, nationally.
“When I joined Newark Beth Israel in 1987 the program and the successful national organ transplantation process that we have today was in its infancy. Thanks to advances in the field and the expertise of our team, we have saved thousands of lives and we are continuing to find new ways to meet the needs of our heart failure patients,” said Mark J. Zucker, MD, JD, Director of Cardiothoracic Transplant, who developed the current program at Newark Beth Israel.
Dr. Margarita Camacho, Surgical Director of Heart Transplant and a renowned transplant surgeon who has performed more heart transplants than approximately 98 percent of transplant surgeons across the country said, “I’m extremely proud of our team and the seamless care we provide patients from the time they come to us for treatment until the moment they walk out of our hospital with a new heart. Our team approach and dedication to excellence have enabled us to reach this coveted milestone.”