Dr. Donald Williams, renowned South Florida Heart Surgeon, Moves Practice to Miami Health System

8/25/2008

One of South Florida’s top heart surgeons is moving his practice to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to join the rapidly growing cardiovascular powerhouse at the University of Miami Health System (UHealth).   Donald B. Williams, M.D., is leaving Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach after 19 years and bringing his two partners to be part of the UHealth team.

William O’Neill, M.D., executive dean for clinical affairs, says the Miller School is "excited and pleased to welcome the most recognized and experienced cardiothoracic surgery practice in South Florida to the University of Miami Hospital."  O’Neill, a renowned interventional cardiologist, says incorporating Williams and his team into the UM faculty "will be a major pillar in a growing and superior cardiac center.  Their expertise, in addition to the other great talent we have assembled, will quickly place the cardiac program at University of Miami Hospital among the nation’s top-tier programs."

Signing on Williams and his colleagues is another major building block as the Miller School and University of Miami Health System establish a formidable center of excellence in cardiovascular clinical care and research.  Programs already in place and growing are interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and diagnostic imaging at University of Miami Hospital.  In addition, acute stroke intervention, heart failure and transplantation will be expanded in partnership with Jackson Memorial Hospital.  The Miller School’s Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute has also opened two clinical trials using stems cells to repair damaged hearts.

In his 19 years at Mount Sinai, Williams has gained a reputation as one of the top cardiac surgeons in the area.  His specialties are coronary bypass, valve repair and aortic surgery.  Williams has published a number of studies in such journals as the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.  He has ongoing studies in prosthetic valve replacement and mitral valve repair, and has published authoritative studies on coronary bypass and valve replacement in the elderly.

Williams, who will be a professor of medicine at the Miller School, says he is moving to the University of Miami Health System because of the opportunity "to be involved with a new hospital and its development as a top-notch tertiary cardiac care facility."  His clinical practice will be based at University of Miami Hospital.

Joining him is Roger G. Carrillo, M.D., who will be an associate professor of medicine.  In his nearly 16 years at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Carrillo has distinguished himself as an expert in surgical electrophysiology.  His specialty is laser lead extraction, using a catheter-based technique for removing infected or fractured leads in cardiac pacemakers.  A longtime investigator of cell phone-pacemaker electromagnetic interference, Carrillo has published nearly three dozen abstracts and studies in renowned medical journals such as The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Andres Medina, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon who emphasizes minimally invasive approaches, is moving from Mount Sinai with his colleagues because of the "exciting opportunity" he sees at the University of Miami Health System.  Medina is one of the few surgeons in the area performing thoracoscopic lobectomy, a procedure using laparoscopic instruments on a viewing monitor to remove an entire lobe of the lung, without opening the chest.  It can be performed on select lung cancer patients. The procedure, which Medina will be performing at University of Miami Hospital, means smaller incisions and quicker recovery for patients.

Medina, who has been at Mount Sinai for two years, sees UM as a "fertile environment for further developing cardiothoracic surgery" because of the caliber of physicians already onboard.  After doing his residency and fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Medina says coming back as an assistant professor is a "homecoming of sorts."

Alan S. Livingstone, M.D., professor and chairman of the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, is enthusiastic about having the three surgeons join the UHealth System.  "This continues to build on the longstanding relationship we have had with them as they have been involved with training our cardiothoracic fellows since they started practicing in Miami."

The three physicians are bringing much of their support staff when they begin their new practices at University of Miami Hospital on September 15th.  New and existing patients should call 305-243-2363 or 1-800-432-0191 to schedule an appointment.