Minimally Invasive Heart

Minimally Invasive Heart Providing the most innovative minimally invasive approaches to treat heart disease

Two robotic cardiac procedures completed by 4:30 pm!!That’s what happens when preparation, precision, and exceptional te...
12/17/2025

Two robotic cardiac procedures completed by 4:30 pm!!
That’s what happens when preparation, precision, and exceptional teamwork come together.

Proud of this outstanding OR team which has been working seamlessly to push the boundaries of what’s possible in robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

This is not about speed alone.
It’s about efficiency without compromise, patient-centered innovation, and building a system that consistently delivers complex care at the highest level.

Grateful to be part of a team that keeps pushing the envelope—together.

Truly energized after being part of our annual Canadian Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) Conference in Canmore ...
12/14/2025

Truly energized after being part of our annual Canadian Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) Conference in Canmore 🇨🇦🏔️

This meeting continues to be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with our growing MICS community, witness a thriving and mature minimally invasive ecosystem, and engage in open, constructive, and collegial dialogue. The atmosphere of camaraderie and willingness to share experiences—successes and challenges alike—remains one of the defining strengths of this conference.

I was particularly thrilled to share the implementation of a robotic approach within our already robust MICS program, developed together with Dan Burns. Seeing the level of interest and the thoughtful discussions around robotics in the Canadian context was incredibly encouraging and speaks to where our field is heading.

Equally exciting was seeing how our simulation platform for minimally invasive mitral surgery has now become a regular and integral component of the educational experience for trainees. Watching learners engage, practice, and refine complex skills in a safe and structured environment reinforces how essential simulation has become for the next generation of cardiac surgeons.

Looking forward to building on this momentum—together.

I was truly excited to support Dr. Gustavo Orellana Sampedro and the outstanding team at Clínica Kennedy in Ecuador as t...
11/25/2025

I was truly excited to support Dr. Gustavo Orellana Sampedro and the outstanding team at Clínica Kennedy in Ecuador as they successfully launched their minimally invasive mitral valve repair program.

From planning to ex*****on, this was an inspiring demonstration of commitment, teamwork, and technical excellence. Watching the team embrace advanced MICS techniques and deliver such an impressive outcome was incredibly rewarding — and a testament to their vision for elevating cardiac care in the region.

This collaboration reflects the broader mission we pursue at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto : sharing expertise internationally to expand access to cutting-edge mitral techniques and support the growth of high-quality MICS programs worldwide.

A heartfelt thank you for the warm hospitality — both in and out of the OR. These moments of partnership, learning, and friendship are what make global surgical collaboration so meaningful.

Looking forward to continued work together and to seeing this and many more programs in Latin America flourish for the benefit of patients in the region !!

HLVSMH
Unity Health Toronto
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
LACES - Latin American Association of Cardiac and Endovascular Surgery
St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
TLN Media Group

Honoured to be recognized by  magazine alongside my friend and colleague Dr. Daniel Burns. This milestone—Toronto’s firs...
11/14/2025

Honoured to be recognized by magazine alongside my friend and colleague Dr. Daniel Burns. This milestone—Toronto’s first robotic cardiac surgery program—is the result of an extraordinary team effort.

Grateful to our incredible cardiac surgery, anesthesia, nursing, ICU, perfusion teams and hospital leadership whose dedication makes innovation possible every day. And a heartfelt thank you to our donors—your generosity truly drives progress and transforms patient care.

Proud of what we’ve achieved together, and excited for what’s ahead as we continue pushing the boundaries of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery. 🫀✨

Thrilled to be back at   in San Francisco — one of the most inspiring gatherings for those of us passionate about shapin...
10/27/2025

Thrilled to be back at in San Francisco — one of the most inspiring gatherings for those of us passionate about shaping the future of heart care ❤️‍🩹

Honoured to join again as faculty and to co-chair with Dr. Steven Bolling a session dedicated to the next frontier of transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement.

It’s always amazing to see how rapidly innovation is transforming what’s possible for our patients — and to share ideas with so many brilliant colleagues pushing boundaries every day.

I am incredibly proud to share our feature in The Globe and Mail, which highlights the transformative work happening at ...
09/28/2025

I am incredibly proud to share our feature in The Globe and Mail, which highlights the transformative work happening at St. Michael’s Hospital .

Our team is strongly committed to rewriting the future of cardiac surgery through minimally invasive and robotic techniques.

This milestone represents not just a clinical achievement, but also a testament to the power of collaboration — between surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, hospital leadership and so many dedicated colleagues, as well as the support of our donors and community partners - such as CIBPA Toronto - who make this vision possible.

As we continue to grow and expand these innovative programs, we remain focused on one goal: bringing world-class, patient-centered cardiac care to the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
The Globe and Mail - Company
HLVSMH
Unity Health Toronto
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
TLN Media Group
Italpasta

What an incredible experience to join the Edwards Global Cardiac Surgery Residents & Fellows Program as faculty this yea...
09/22/2025

What an incredible experience to join the Edwards Global Cardiac Surgery Residents & Fellows Program as faculty this year!

It was inspiring to connect with brilliant surgeons from around the world and explore cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of cardiac surgery.

A special highlight was leading our Minimally Invasive Mitral Surgery session, using the new simulator from Archetype Biomedical — a game-changer for teaching and advancing mitral surgery techniques.

Grateful to be part of this journey and to see the next generation of cardiac surgeons embrace innovation with passion and skill!

What an amazing day at the 32nd Annual Nick Barbieri Charity Bocce Tournament! 🌞🎯So grateful to LiUNA Local 506 and GCAT...
08/15/2025

What an amazing day at the 32nd Annual Nick Barbieri Charity Bocce Tournament! 🌞🎯

So grateful to LiUNA Local 506 and GCAT for their incredible generosity — $50,000 to our Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program at St. Michael’s Hospital Unity Health Toronto, part of an incredible $200,000 total donated to causes that make a real difference. ❤️

Huge thanks to Carmine Principato and family, John Mandarino, Joseph & Victoria Mancinelli, and the entire LiUNA team for the warm hospitality. And to my teammates Bob Sacco, Tony Cipriani & Anthony Pullano — what a blast sharing the court with you!

🚀 Exciting Milestone for Our Robotic Cardiac Program at St. Michael’s Hospital !!Together with my partner Dr. Daniel Bur...
08/02/2025

🚀 Exciting Milestone for Our Robotic Cardiac Program at St. Michael’s Hospital !!

Together with my partner Dr. Daniel Burns , we are proud to share a major development in our cutting-edge robotic cardiac surgery program. While robotic mitral valve procedures have been a cornerstone of our program, we are now thrilled to expand its scope to include atrial septal defect (ASD) closures.

This advancement is the result of a remarkable collaboration with our Adult Congenital Interventional Cardiology team, under the leadership of Dr. Sami Alnasser , and reflects our shared commitment to advancing minimally invasive solutions for complex structural heart conditions.

Notably, this marks the first robotic ASD closures performed in Toronto—a true milestone that highlights both our clinical innovation and multidisciplinary teamwork.

A heartfelt thank you to our anesthesia colleagues, OR and ICU teams throughout the perioperative care pathway who made this achievement possible. Your expertise and dedication continue to push the boundaries of what we can offer our patients.

(Image with patient’s permission)



Unity Health Toronto
HLVSMH
St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
University of Toronto

Thrilled to share that we have successfully performed the first left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion procedure in Canad...
07/18/2025

Thrilled to share that we have successfully performed the first left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion procedure in Canada using the Penditure device at St. Michael’s Hospital !

This marks another major step forward in expanding the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation — and reinforces our team’s leadership in innovative and minimally invasive strategies.

Grateful for the unwavering support of our incredible hospital, colleagues, and multidisciplinary team who make this kind of progress possible. Onward!

(Image with patient’s permission)



Unity Health Toronto
HLVSMH
St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Medtronic

It was a true pleasure to visit Prof Matteo Cameli  and Università di Siena to deliver an international lecture on imagi...
07/08/2025

It was a true pleasure to visit Prof Matteo Cameli and Università di Siena to deliver an international lecture on imaging-guided mitral valve repair. I’m deeply grateful to the colleagues in the Division of Cardiology and the wonderful students for their warm welcome and the engaging discussions we shared.

Opportunities like this highlight how collaboration and knowledge exchange across institutions and countries can drive innovation and ultimately improve patient care. I look forward to strengthening these connections and exploring future research and educational initiatives together.

HLVSMH
Unity Health Toronto
St. Michael’s Hospital
BRAINandHEART
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
University of Toronto

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to CIBPA Toronto for their incredible support and generosity through the Mend...
05/16/2025

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to CIBPA Toronto for their incredible support and generosity through the Mending Broken Hearts Event.

Your commitment to bridging community and medicine is truly inspiring. The donation provided as a result of this event will directly support our ongoing efforts at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto to advance minimally invasive cardiac surgery and improve outcomes for patients living with complex heart conditions.

This meaningful contribution is more than financial—it’s a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to innovate, collaborate, and elevate cardiac care.

To the CIBPA Toronto leadership, members, and all who made this evening possible: thank you for believing in our work and helping to make a lasting difference.

Looking forward to continuing growing awareness and driving innovation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery !!!

Also - huge congrats to Andrea Rigamonti, MD, FNCS for such a well deserved recognition and to my friend and partner Bobby Yanagawa for his honorary Italian status ..!!

HLVSMH
St. Michael’s Hospital
St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation
Unity Health Toronto
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
University of Toronto

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Toronto, ON

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Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
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