DR. MARK J. RUSSO, MD, MS
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(732) 235-7231
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Expert in Complex Aortic Disease, Valve Surgery, ​TAVR, and Mitraclip. 
                                               

Mark J. Russo, MD, MS

-  Chief, Cardiac Surgery
-  Director, Structural Heart Disease
-  Associate Professor of Surgery
​Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

​

Contact

Expertise

Dr. Russo is Chief of Cardiac Surgery; Director of Structural Heart Disease; and Associate Professor of Surgery at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
​
An internationally-known expert in the treatment of heart valve disease, Dr. Russo is one of the few heart doctors in the U.S. skilled at open, minimally invasive, and catheter-based therapies. He specializes in complex and reoperative  aortic and valvular surgery.  Dr Russo is among the most experienced transcatheter (ie TAVR and Mitraclip) surgeons in the U.S, and he has taught these novel procedures to hundreds of other physicians throughout the world.  He is also an experienced heart transplant surgeon, participating in over 500 successful organ transplants.  

To achieve the best possible patient outcomes, Dr. Russo uses leading edge technologies including minimally-invasive, transcatheter (eg TAVR, Mitraclip, and Watchman), and hybrid approaches; valve-preserving techniques; and advanced cardio-pulmonary perfusion.  He is a thought leader in minimalist and rapid recovery approaches, which focus on using least invasive cardiac treatments, minimizing pain, and remote monitoring, to minimize hospital stay and ensure the f
astest possible recovery for patients. 
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Dr. Russo in the News

RWJ - Sameday discharge after Heart Valve Surgery
NJBIZ - Dr Russo named a Healthcare Hero ​ 
USAToday - Cutting Edge Cardiac Fixes ​
The Patch - Toms River Senior Gets Life-Saving TAVR
Healthgrades - TAVR dont hesitate
Back in the Game -  Ex NFLers Heart Transplant
Unforgettable Heart - Miracle Transplant Saves A Life

Recent Broadcasts featuring Dr Russo

'sPBS - Heart Disease on OnCall: Health + Medicine 
TCTMD - Expanded TAVR Indications
Medical Necessity - New cardiac therapies 
TVT -  The Rise of Telemedicine
Miracle Transplant - 34yo home after new heart
HeartValveVoices - "Options for Heart Valve Pts" 
MendedHearts - Dr. Russo discusses Aortic Stenosis 
SCAI/CAIC - TAVR during the Pandemic
WOR Radio's Whats your Wrinkle
 - TAVR

Commonly Performed Procedures 
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Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive valve surgery is a specialized approach to treating heart valve disease that avoids the need to "crack the chest."  This method uses sophisticated instruments to perform the surgery through a smaller incision at the side of the chest and offers the patients less pain and faster recovery.  We perform nearly all of our isolated valve surgeries minimally invasively.
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Aortic Aneurysm Repair
An aortic aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of main blood vessel in the body. The risk of  aortic catastrophe, including dissection and rupture, increases dramatically with an aneurysm.  Surgery may be recommended when the aorta is larger than 4.5-6 cms. Factors including family history, lifestyle, and need for other heart surgery guide decisions about surgery.​
TAVR
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), also known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is a minimally invasive approach to the treatment of aortic stenosis.  In most patients, it requires no incision and typically patients are discharged within 1 day.  Dr Russo is among the most experienced TAVR surgeons in the US.
Coronary Artery Bypass
Heart Transplant
Mitraclip
A "bypass" or "cabg" surgery is the most commonly performed heart surgery.  It is necessary when the coronary arteries, which provide blood to the heart become narrow preventing sufficient blood from passing  through, and thus depriving the heart of oxygen and nutrients. RWJUH has CABG outcomes that exceed national benchmarks. 
When other treatments are insufficient, a heart transplant is a surgical procedure offered to patients with the most severe damage to the heart.  RWJUH is one of a limited number of centers in the US that offer advance heart failure surgery, including heart transplant.  Dr. Russo has participated in 500+ successful transplant surgeries.
.The MitraClip procedure does not require opening the chest or stopping the heart. Instead, through a vein in the leg, a thin tube (called a catheter) is guided to the mitral valve The MitraClip device is a small clip that helps your mitral valve to close more completely.  Dr. Russo is among the highest volume Mitraclip operators in the Northeast.​

To schedule an in-person or telemedicine consultation with Dr. Russo,

p
lease call 732-235-7231 or send an email.

Research

Dr. Russo has coauthored more than 200 published manuscripts, abstracts, and textbook chapters focused on improving health care quality, outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease.  His specific areas of interest include the adoption and diffusion of novel cardiac therapies, the application of artificial intelligence in clinical decision making, large dataset analysis, and the application of less invasive therapies and rapid recovery strategies.

​Dr. Russo holds leadership roles for numerous national and international clinical trials. ​The findings of his work have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the Lancet, the Journals of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Circulation and reported by major media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek.

Awards

For his work, Dr. Russo has received awards from leading professional organizations, including:
  • ​American Heart Association (AHA) 
  • European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 
  • Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
  • Thoracic Surgery Directors Association (TSDA)
  • Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE)
  • Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Dr. Russo was the 2nd recipient of the President's Award from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the largest organization of thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons in the world.  In addition, he has been named a Healthcare Hero by Horizon Blue Cross and a Finalist for New Jersey Physician of the Year by NJBIZ.

Background

Dr. Russo is a graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA.  He received an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Rochester--where he also served as Captain of the Varsity Baseball team and Commencement Marshall as the member of the graduating class whom “most embodies the ideals of the College.” He later obtained a Master's in outcomes research from Dartmouth Medical School. He earned his Medical Doctorate from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City; as a medical student, he received the Deans Awards "in recognition of remarkable intelligence and exceptional patient care abilities, and thereby promise for the future of medicine."  He completed residencies in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City; at Columbia, he was awarded the Blakemore Prize for "best body of research by a graduating resident." He also completed Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships at Columbia University and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-National Institutes of Health.

​Previously, he was Assistant Attending-in-Cardiothoracic-Surgery at New York/ Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia. Most recently, he was Co-Director of the Aortic Center, Director of Cardiac Surgery Research, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

Dr. Russo is a Diplomate of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS).  He is a member of the STS and American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS); a Board member for the patient advocacy group, Heart Valve Voice; and he is one of only 65 surgeons in the world with membership in the prestigious 21st Century Cardiothoracic Surgical Society. 
​

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To schedule an in-person or telemedicine consultation with Dr. Russo,
​
p
lease call 732-235-7231 or send an email.

PBS: Heart Disease OnCall
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Miracle transplant at RWJUH
Newest heart valve options
Appointment - 732-235-7231
​Patients:   We are committed to providing you with an appointment within 7 days of your request. For your convenience, Telemedicine Consults are available.   If you have questions in the meantime, please   Ask Our Experts.
Patient   Appointments   -  732-235-7231

​ Physicians:   Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks, to assist in the care of your patients and to facilitate urgent, emergent and elective transfers at the local, regional, national and international levels​
RWJUH Transfer Center   -   732-427-5725
About Dr. Russo
Telemedicine
Aortic Aneurysms
Minimally Invasive Surgery
TAVR
Mitraclip
Clinical Trials

2nd Opinion
Ask Dr. Russo
Getting a second opinion can provide peace of mind and confidence that you have been diagnosed appropriately and understand of all your treatment options. 
​Send your non-urgent questions regarding your aortic,  heart, and vascular conditions via email.

Mark J Russo, MD, MS
 Chief, Cardiac Surgery

Director, Structural Heart Disease
Associate Professor of Surgery
​
​Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson
University  Hospital 
​125 Paterson St
​New Brunswick, NJ  ​08901

Office: 732-235-7231
Fax:   
732-235-8963​
Expert in Complex Aortic  Disease, Valve Surgery, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repalcement (TAVR) , and Mitraclip
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(c) Mark Russo 2020
Dr. Russo performs the full range of cardiac surgery including  Coronary Artery Surgery - Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts; Bypass Surgery;  CABG;  Coronary Artery Surgery; Reoperation; Off Pump Bypass Surgery; Off Pump Heart Surgery; Valve Surgery - Aortic Valve Repair; Aortic Valve Replacement; Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement ; Reoperatve Heart Valve Surgery;;  Endovascular and Hybrid Aortic Surgery;  Transcatheter Valve Surgery - TAVR, TAVI, ViV, MVIV, valve-in-valve; Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair; Mitral Valve Replacement; Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery​; Aortic Surgery - Aorta Surgery; Aortic Dissection; Complex Aorta Surgery; Valve Sparing Roots, Heart Surgery for Marfan Syndrome; Aortic Root Aneurysms; Ascending Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Arch Aneurysms; Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms; Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms; Aortic Dissections, including Type A Dissections and Type B Dissections; Native Aortic and Prosthetic Graft Infections, including Endocarditis; Congenital Aortic Disease, such as Marfan's syndrome and Loeys Dietz; Transplant Surgery - Heart and Lung.  He was trained by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Craig Smith and Eric Rose.  Read about Matt Millen undergoing Heart Transplant