Dear colleagues and prospective residents,

The Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Rush continues to thrive with the addition of Michael Liptay, MD, and Anthony Kim, MD, in the new Division of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Liptay has joined the department as division head. He comes to Rush from the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare system, where he was the busiest thoracic surgeon in the Chicago area specializing in minimally invasive approaches to the management of thoracic disease. Dr. Liptay completed his thoracic training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University. He brings a unique professional profile with expertise as a busy clinical thoracic surgeon as well as an extraordinary record of academic accomplishment as a clinical scientist and researchers in the field of thoracic oncology. He has pioneered intraoperative sentinel lymph node mapping in lung cancer and is the principal investigator of a national trial studying the technique.

Dr. Anthony Kim returns to Rush after completing an advanced fellowship in minimally invasive approaches to thoracic disease at Cornell University Hospital in New York. He joins William Warren, MD, director of thoracic surgery, and L. Penfield Faber, MD, to establish Rush University Medical Center as one of the premier thoracic surgery centers in the Midwest.

These recent developments enhance our tradition of excellence in cardiac care, surgical education and research, and herald our commitment to create an outstanding environment to train future generations of cardiothoracic surgeons.

As a resident, you will be involved in exciting clinical programs including:

• Minimally invasive thoracic surgical techniques such as video-assisted lobectomy
• An active mechanical circulatory support program using the latest technology such as the DeBakey LVAD and Thoratec CentriMag system
• An active surgical program for end-stage heart disease, including heart transplantation and innovative gene therapies
• The development of a center of excellence for the treatment of aortic disease
• A fully integrated cardiothoracic surgical program at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County

Each of these programs positions the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Rush as a leader in the field. We look forward to introducing you to this very exciting clinical and academic environment in the future.

Sincerely,

Robert S. D. Higgins, MD, MSHA
The Mary and John Bent Professor and Chair
Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Rush University Medical Center