COLUMBIA THYROID CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
Job Titles:
- Division Administrator, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Core
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- Director, HR & Academic Affairs
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- Administrative Assistant, Cardiothoracic Surgery
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- Medical Assistant, Colorectal Surgery
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- Clinical Coordinator II, Breast Surgery
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- Director, Clinical Trials
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- IT Support Specialist, Finance
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- Bariatric and General Surgery
Dr. Goel completed his medical degree and internship in India, followed by residencies in West Virginia and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. He completed his first fellowship at the Department of Plastic Surgery/Burn at Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, and a second fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery.
His appointments prior to arriving at Columbia include Attending Surgeon at WestMed Medical Group and at Harlem Hospital Center. Dr. Goel received the 2014 Attending Teaching Award at Harlem Hospital Center, and was named Outstanding Resident Teacher three years in a row at Montefiore Medical Center (2005 - 2007). Dr. Goel has a special interest in abdominal wall hernia repair and bowel wall reconstruction.
Ayodeji O. Nubi, MD, is a board-certified surgeon specializing in open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted general surgery. He completed his surgical residency training at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla and Advanced Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Prior to arrival in the United States, Dr. Nubi completed a surgical residency in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Nubi has specific advanced training in acute care/ emergency general surgery, trauma, and critical care in the surgical setting. He has been in established hospital-based and elective practice in Pennsylvania and New York prior to his arrival to Columbia University. He is a published author, most recently having contributed to the textbook Pathophysiology and Management of Thoracic Injury.
As part of the Center for Advanced Surgery, Dr. Nubi sees patients at the NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester. He is known for his compassionate and patient-centered approach to care, citing "when patients return home feeling better than when they arrived in the hospital as the best part of being a surgeon".
Dr. Nubi grew up in Nigeria, where he completed his undergraduate degree in medicine and surgery at Olabisi Onabanjo University. In his spare time, Dr. Nubi participates in tennis, soccer, and snooker- all sports he still actively enjoys.
Job Titles:
- Access Center Manager, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Cardiac Quality Mgmt Specialist, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, GI / Endocrine Surgery
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- Regulatory Coordinator, Liver Transplant
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- Administrative Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
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- Receptionist, Vascular Surgery
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- Medical Biller, Cardiothoracic Surgery
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- Program Supervisor, Colorectal Surgery
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- Certified Medical Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
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- Clinical Coordinator III - NP, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Dr. Taback is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist. His interests include minimally-invasive breast surgery and melanoma care. Dr. Taback has received multiple awards for his commitment to patient care. Read full bio.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Clerk, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Secretary, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Secretary, Thoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Assistant, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator, Vascular Surgery
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- Practice Manager, Education
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- Financial Coordinator, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Vascular Surgery
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- Marketing Director, Strategic Communications
Job Titles:
- Cardiac Quality Mgmt Specialist, Cardiothoracic Surgery
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- Program Coordinator, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
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- Financial Coordinator, Finance Office
Job Titles:
- Senior Secretary, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Danielle Robbins, RN, MS, FNP-BC is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Coordinator specializing in bariatric surgery. Danielle previously worked at New York-Presbyterian-Weill Cornell as an Operating Room Nurse. She received her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Binghamton University and completed her Master of Science degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Pace University. Danielle is committed to promoting the medical needs, comfort, and emotional well-being of patients while delivering comprehensive, quality care.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, General Surgery Residency Office
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Physician Aide / Secretary, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Secretary, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Bariatric Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator II, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Breast Surgery
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- Billing Manager, Pediatric Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator, Pediatric Surgery
Dr. Arith Reyes is a board-certified surgeon specializing in breast cancer and benign breast diseases. She performs all aspects of breast surgery including breast conservation (lumpectomy), mastectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy, and axillary lymph node procedures.
Job Titles:
- Certified Surgeon - Scientist
- Director, Interventional Endocrinology Program / Program Director, Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Program Director, Endocrine Surgery Research Program
Dr. Jennifer H. Kuo is a board-certified surgeon-scientist nationally recognized for her expertise in the surgical treatment of thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal diseases. Dr. Kuo is an accomplished, high-volume surgeon in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including trans-oral thyroidectomy and robotic adrenalectomy. She is one of the leading international experts in ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules and spearheaded the new Interventional Endocrinology program at Columbia. Dr. Kuo also serves as Program Director of the Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Program and the Endocrine Surgery Research program. Her research focuses on the use of predictive algorithms to improve and optimize care for endocrine patients, and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the safe adoption of new technology in surgical care. She serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Surgical Research, and serves on the Editorial Board for The World Journal of Surgery and VideoEndocrinology. Her commitment to excellent, innovative, and personalized care has been repeatedly recognized by Super Doctors and New York Magazine's Top Doctor Awards.
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Surgical Science
Dr. Sun is a board-certified breast surgeon trained in minimal invasive nipple sparing mastectomy, skin sparing mastectomy, intraoperative radiation therapy and various frontline localization skills. She is also an active researcher, with an interest in Asian American breast cancer disparities. Dr. Sun can conduct surgical consultations in Chinese as well as English.
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research
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- Admin Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Trainee Grant, American Thyroid Association, Victoria, British Columbia, 2017
Job Titles:
- Director, Columbia Vascular Lab Svc
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- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CT Residency
Job Titles:
- Medical Biller, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator, Vascular Surgery
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- Administrative Assistant, Pediatric Surgery
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Director, Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Program
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- Digital Project Director, New Media
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- Administrative Coordinator
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- Administrative Assistant, Colorectal Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Biller, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Manager, Cardiac Quality, Cardiothoracic Surgery
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- Senior Secretary, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, Cardiothoracic Surgery
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- Administrative Coordinator, Surgery Development Administrator, John Jones Surgical Society
Job Titles:
- Surgery Program Coordinator, Medical Education
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- Clinical Coordinator II - RN, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Technician a, Surgical Science
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Chief, Endocrine Surgery
Dr. James Lee is an internationally recognized endocrine surgeon who specializes in the care of patients with thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disorders. Dr. Lee is the Chief of Endocrine Surgery and the Edwin K. and Anne C. Weisskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology at Columbia University and the Physician Director of the Endocrine Service Line at the NY Presbyterian Hospital. He serves as Co-Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Thyroid Center, Parathyroid Center, and Adrenal Center. He has been rated as one of the Best Doctors in America and is one of the highest volume endocrine surgeons in the country. Dr. Lee received his medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed his residency in General Surgery at Columbia and went on to a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Lee is actively involved in the leadership of Endocrine Surgery at the national and international level. He serves on the Executive Council of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and Standing Faculty of the international Endocrine Surgery University. He co-created the inaugural Postgraduate Course in Endocrine Surgery at the American College of Surgeons and is a featured lecturer in the biannual Masters of Endocrine Surgery Course. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters, including the AAES Parathyroidectomy Guidelines which sets the international standard for the care of patients with parathyroid disease. He is also the Co-Editor of Surgical Endocrinopathies and the Founding Figures which details state of the art care for patients with endocrine disorders as well as the rich history of discovery in the field. Dr. Lee has given over 100 invited lectures and visiting professorships at institutions around the world. He has travelled extensively to teach other endocrine surgeons advanced techniques such as minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy. He has mentored dozens of clinical and research fellows over his career, many of whom are now leaders in their own institutions and abroad.
Dr. Lee also serves as the Vice Chair of New Media in the Columbia University Department of Surgery and Chair of the ColumbiaDoctors Communications Committee. In this role, he oversees the digital strategy for multiple groups across the medical center with the mission of providing the highest quality education on health and wellness to the global audience.
Job Titles:
- Systems Engineer, Computer Operations
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- Vice Chair, Department of Surgery
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- Executive Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
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- Director, Adolescent Weight Loss Surgery
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- Receptionist, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Billing Compliance Assistant, Finance Office
Jonathan Yeh is an experienced Physician Assistant with a career span of over 11 years. For the past 5 years, he has worked as a Physician Assistant at the Center for Liver Disease and Abdominal Transplantation at Columbia University medical Center in New York.
He received his Master's of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Prior to pursuing his career as a Physician Assistant, he was a business professional, taking various responsibilities in retail and pharmaceutical industry in Taiwan and the U.S. Jonathan received his Master in Business Administration from Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.
With extensive experience in the corporate world, he entered the healthcare arena with a desire to help less fortunate fellow world citizens. He now acts as a healer, counselor and facilitator to help patients with liver diseases. He is also involved in clinical research, and assists transplant evaluations.
He is a native Mandarin speaker, and has an excellent command of Cantonese.
Job Titles:
- Jose Ferrer Professor, Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Section Chief, General Thoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Manager of Billing Operation, Finance
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- Junior Faculty Award, 2019
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator II - RN, Colorectal Surgery
Job Titles:
- Associate Research Scientist, Surgical Science
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- Jose Ferrer Professor, Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, Colorectal Surgery
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- Certified by the American Academy Nurse
Lauren Kemph is certified by the American Academy Nurse Credentialing Center as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Columbia University School of Nursing in New York, NY. During her time at Columbia University, she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. She also received the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nursing Graduate Scholarship.
She began her career at the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Columbia University Irving Medical Center when she was the awarded the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Nurse Practitioner Clinical Hepatology Fellowship.
Currently, she is a faculty member at Columbia University School of Nursing.
Job Titles:
- Biller, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clerkship Coordinator, Medical Education
Job Titles:
- Administrative Manager, CME Office
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Surgical Science
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Kidney / Pancreas Transplant
Dr. Wiechmann is a board-certified surgeon specializing in breast cancer,who has been recognized with honors by the Breast Cancer Alliance, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and the Society of Surgical Oncology. Read full bio.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Physician
- Chief, Division of Clinical Hepatology
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
Lucrezia Scarampi is the Bariatric Dietitian at the Center for Advanced Surgery. She received her Master's degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and completed her dietetic internship through Stony Brook University. She is fluent in both Spanish & Italian, which helps her effectively serve our culturally diverse patient population. Lucrezia combines her passion for food and nutrition with her commitment and dedication to helping her patients lose weight and live healthier, more fulfilled lives.
Job Titles:
- Bariatric and General Surgery
Makram Gedeon, MD, is a double board-certified bariatric and colorectal surgeon specialized in minimally-invasive approaches to colorectal and bariatric surgery. Dr. Gedeon is part of both the Colorectal Surgery team at several locations throughout New York and New Jersey and the Center for Advanced Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester and Hudson Valley.
Dr. Gedeon received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 2002 before completing an internship in surgery at the Mayo Clinic and a general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern. He has undergone two fellowships - one in minimally-invasive surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern and another in colon and rectal surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian. Following his residency training, Dr. Gedeon spent ten years in a busy community hospital practice in Bristol, Connecticut, where he helped start and grow the practice's weight loss surgery program and served as its medical director until the end of 2018.
Clinically, Dr. Gedeon is interested in the application of minimally-invasive and robotic surgery to treat colorectal diseases and obesity, specializing in bariatric surgery and revisions. His research focuses include surgical technology and clinical outcomes. He is fluent in English, Arabic and French.
Job Titles:
- Center Director, Surgical Director
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Preauthorization Coordinator
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- Practice Manager, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
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- Coordinator, Wound Healing
Dr. Silva specializes in minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery. He is known as one of the early adopters of the gastric sleeve technique and is among the most experienced surgeons in the New York area in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. He received advanced training in laparoscopic surgery at Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL. He completed his medical training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey / Robert Wood Johnson.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Colorectal Surgery
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Coordinator, Medical Education
Job Titles:
- Lab Manager, Surgical Science
Job Titles:
- Program Manager for Research Compliance and Quality, Clinical Research Core
Job Titles:
- Division Administrator, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Liver Transplant
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- Office Manager, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Billing Manager, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Director, Center for Innovation and Outcomes Research
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Chief, Section of Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Secretary, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Medical Secretary, Thoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator II, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Surgical Director, Lung Transplant Program
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, Breast Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Assistant / Admin Assistant, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Secretary, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Fellow, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Senior Secretary, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, Transplant
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Technician B, Clinical Research Core
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Director of Budget and Finance, Finance Office
Job Titles:
- Manager, Dept of Quality & Patient Safety
Job Titles:
- Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator II, Research
Job Titles:
- Practice Associate III, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Research Coordinator, GI / Endocrine Surgery
Job Titles:
- Front Desk Receptionist, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Chief, Division of Breast Surgery
Dr. Rao is a world-renown breast cancer surgeon and researcher. She has expertise in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Rao has received multiple accolades from patients and the medical community for her research and surgical skill. Read full bio.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Columbia University Medical Center
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist ( Electrophysiology ), Surgical Science
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Core
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator II, Thoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Practice Administrator, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations for HeartSource, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Chairman 's Office
Job Titles:
- Biller, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Bariatric Surgery
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- Research Assistant, Pediatric Surgery
Job Titles:
- Technician, Surgical Science
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Academic and Faculty Affairs
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CT Residency
Job Titles:
- Cardiac Quality Mgmt Specialist, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Breast Surgery
Dr. Ugras is a board-certified breast surgeon whose practice is dedicated to the treatment of benign and malignant breast diseases. She performs all aspects of breast surgery, including breast conservation (lumpectomy), mastectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy, and axillary lymph node procedures. Read full bio.
Job Titles:
- Billing Coordinator, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Chief, Division of Pediatric Transplant Hepatology
Job Titles:
- Office Manager, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Instructor in Surgery, GI / Endocrine
Job Titles:
- Chief, Adult Cardiac Surgery Section
Job Titles:
- User Service Consultant, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Director, Research Administration and Special Projects, Finance Office
Job Titles:
- Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at NewYork - Presbyterian Westchester
Job Titles:
- Special Events Coordinator, CME Office
Job Titles:
- Financial Project Manager, Finance Office
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator, Research and IS
Job Titles:
- Chief, Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant
Job Titles:
- Division Administrator, Breast Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Assistant, Breast Surgery
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator II, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Medical Secretary, Liver Transplant
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Core
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator III - NP / PA, Plastic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Division Administrator, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Job Titles:
- Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Core
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Assistant, General Surgery
Job Titles:
- Aortic Center Clinical and Research Coordinator, Vascular Surgery
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager, Abdominal Organ Transplantation
Job Titles:
- Database Coordinator, Cardiothoracic Surgery