As one of the first cardiac surgery departments in the United States, we’ve provided outstanding cardiac surgical care for more than 70 years. Our expert team of heart surgeons work with your cardiologist, cardiac nurses, other BMC specialists, and—most importantly—you and your family to provide the highest quality care and ensure the best possible outcomes. ### Cardiac Surgery - [Contact Us](#contact-us) - [Conditions We Treat](#conditions-we-treat) - [Treatments & Services](#treatments-services) - [Our Team](#our-team) - [Patient Resources](#patient-resources) - [Research Overview](#research-overview) ## Contact Us [ 732 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118 3rd Floor, Suite 3A BMC, Preston Family Building ](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/732+Harrison+Ave,+Boston,+MA+02118) [617.638.7350](tel:617.638.7350) Monday-Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM [ ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/c83f92e3-15e1-4e47-b414-b196caa1fbe3/Preston_wide_project2?io=transform:fill,width:300,height:200&format=jpg) ](/visiting-us/preston-family-building) ## Conditions We Treat - [Coronary Artery Disease](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/coronary-artery-disease) - [Cardiac Arrhythmias](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/cardiac-arrhythmias) - [Heart Valve Disease](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/heart-valve-disease) - [Endocarditis (Infected Heart)](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/endocarditis-infected-heart) - [Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm) - [Complications of Heart Attacks ](/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/complications-heart-attacks) ## Treatments & Services Our cardiovascular surgeons are specialized in using advanced technologies to perform a wide range of state-of-the-art heart operations. Below you will find information about a few of the most common procedures. ### Maze Procedure The Maze procedure is a surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation, which can often be done using minimally invasive techniques. To perform the surgery, the surgeons use radiofrequency energy, or freezing, to create an intricate “maze” pattern of scar on the upper chamber of the heart muscle. [Read more](/content/maze-procedure) ### Heart Valve Surgery Some malfunctioning heart valves can be repaired while others must be replaced. For select patients, repair and/or replacement of a heart valve is feasible through a minimally invasive approach. [Read more](/content/heart-valve-surgery) ### Ventricular Aneurysm Repair The heart is made up of four chambers, the two upper chambers are called the atria and the two lower chambers are the ventricles. A ventricular aneurysm occurs when one of the ventricles has a weakening and is expanded and bulged like a balloon. [Read more](/content/ventricular-aneurysm-repair) ### Ventricular Aneurysm Repair [Read more](/content/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm-repair) ### Ventricular Septal Defect Repair Following a heart attack, a small number of patients will develop a ventricular septal defect, a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the ventricles. Repair involves opening the chest and placing a patch that is sutured in place to cover the hole between the two ventricles. [Read more](/content/ventricular-septal-defect-repair) ## Our Team ### Cardiac Surgeons ### [Morgan T. Harloff, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/morgan-t-harloff-md) Cardiothoracic Surgeon ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/09286a14-6f0f-478b-9c80-4dcffd56dc34/Morgan-Harloff_264_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Alexandros Karavas, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/alexandros-karavas-md) Chief of Cardiac Surgery ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/16b5d61c-f9f3-45c1-847f-4d5385df8a6d/Alexandros-Karavas?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### Advanced Practice Providers ### [Adrienne Berkowitz, PA-C](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/adrienne-berkowitz-pa-c) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/f1a9a5f7-9c94-470b-af30-c7cac72a3436/Berkowitz-Adrienne-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Charlene Dearden, PA-C](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/charlene-dearden-pa-c) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/0222e670-1c3d-40be-ac1c-5b0f24c593af/Dearden-Charlene-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Jacqueline Lasley, PA-C](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/jacqueline-lasley-pa-c) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/9d32dc37-927f-4dd6-8c9d-7f7fe8074745/Jacqueline-Lasley_rev-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Oluwakemi (Kemi) Olotu, NP ](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/oluwakemi-kemi-olotu-np) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/4bff7b8b-ae79-494d-8639-b24336645297/Oluwakemi_Olutu_131-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### Inpatient Physician Assistants Sudeshna Chaudhuri, PA-C Amanda Gilmartin, PA-C Melanie Herrold, PA-C Todd Steinwagner, PA-C Eric White, PA-C ## Patient Resources [### In Advance of Your Surgery In advance of your surgery there are a few steps you can take to prepare. Learn more about what you can expect. ](/departments/cardiovascular-center/cardiac-surgery/patient-resources/in-advance-of-your-surgery) [### Day Before Surgery It is important to have nothing to eat or drink after midnight on the day before surgery. You may take your medications as instructed with a sip of water the morning of surgery. ](/departments/cardiovascular-center/cardiac-surgery/patient-resources/the-day-before-your-surgery) [### Day of Surgery Your actual admission to the hospital will most likely be on the morning of your surgery. You will receive a letter and a phone call to confirm date and time. ](/departments/cardiovascular-center/cardiac-surgery/patient-resources/the-day-of-your-surgery) [### After Your Surgery Once you are ready to leave the SICU, you will be transferred to a floor where the nurses are specialists in caring for the postoperative cardiac surgical patient. An important part of your recovery is increasing your level of activity and preparing for discharge. ](/departments/cardiovascular-center/cardiac-surgery/patient-resources/after-your-surgery) [### Planning for Discharge Your Physician and the entire Cardiothoracic Surgical Team will work with you and your family to identify your discharge needs. A Discharge Planning Nurse will meet with you to evaluate your needs and options for discharge. ](/departments/cardiovascular-center/cardiac-surgery/patient-resources/planning-discharge) ## Research Overview In addition to providing high-quality patient care, our cardiac and thoracic surgeons are engaged in a range of research activities designed to improve care and quality of life for their patients. Research on endocarditis, aortic dissection during pregnancy, ventricular septal defects, robotics for lung surgery, and earlier screening tools for lung cancer, are among the projects currently under way. Our faculty are also actively involved in improving care for older patients, recently writing a chapter for physicians on the treatment of heart valve disease in the elderly.