Hello! My name is Dr. Paul Stelzer and I am a cardiac surgeon having graduated from Columbia University in 1972.
To date, I have performed approximately 4,500 cardiac surgeries, of which 3,000 involved heart valve procedures. I regularly perform surgery at hospitals including The Mount Sinai Hospital.
I believe my greatest strength as a surgeon is:
"Dr. Stelzer's extensive technical expertise, which leads to excellent results, combined with a humanistic patient centered approach to medicine are what set him apart in the field of aortic root surgery.
A 1972 Columbia P&S graduate, Dr. Stelzer completed general surgery training at Roosevelt Hospital and then Cardiothoracic surgery at New York Hospital/Cornell in 1981 where he was on the faculty until 1985. He then spent four years at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center on the surgery faculty before returning to New York's Lenox Hill Hospital where he was in practice until 1996. Beginning in 1996 he served as a senior cardiac surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York until joining The Mount Sinai Medical Center in April, 2007.
Valvular heart disease has been Dr. Stelzer's primary interest with particular emphasis on the aortic valve and aortic root. His experience with the Ross Procedure now exceeds 22 years with well over 450 cases which ranks as one of the largest and longest in the world.
With his extensive series of Ross Procedures and extensive additional experience using aortic homografts and stentless porcine valves, Dr. Stelzer has done over 1000 aortic root replacements with biological devices. He has lectured extensively on these subjects around the country and in Europe where he has served as visiting surgeon on multiple occasions."
Specific to cardiac surgery, my specialties include:
Ross Procedure
Aortic Root Surgery including Stentless Porcine and Homograft Replacement
Aortic Valve Sparing Root Surgery
Relative to heart valve research, I have the following interests:
Clinical Results of Ross Procedure
Investigator for Stentless Porcine Valves
Diastolic Dysfunction and Aortic Disease
I have relationships with each of the following insurance companies:
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
Aetna
United Healthcare
To help you learn more about me, I have uploaded the video below. To watch the video, simply press the play button and please make sure the volume on your computer is turned up.
Here is what my patients say about me:
"Wonderful bedside manner, very caring, was always there for you, before surgery and after. I am very thrilled with the outcome. It was my 3rd open heart valve surgery and Dr. Paul Stelzer did two of them."
"Dr. Paul Stelzer is an amazing person and even better Surgeon. I can't even find words to describe him! It has been 7 months and I feel great, everything is well so far. Thank you Dr. Paul Stelzer."
--Steven Ramirez
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, David Procedure, 02/16/2011
"Dr. Stelzer is the most caring medical professional I've ever met. The cardiac/thoracic aspect was painless even though it involved seven CABGs. Thanks to Dr. Paul Stelzer, the surgery eliminated all breathing difficulties. I now have the vital signs of an 18 year old. There has been an eight-month complication in my foot (which was not my surgeon's fault). It could have required toe amputations but did not because of excellent angioplasty in the leg and superb nursing care -- especially from my wife who is not a nurse."
--James Conneen
Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, 11/01/2010
"Dr. Stelzer was excellent."
--Manuel Manotas
Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Ross Procedure, 09/22/2010
"I can't imagine a better surgeon or a better person than Dr. Paul Stelzer."
--Madeleine Farkas
Aortic Valve, Ross Procedure, 09/01/2010
"Dr. Stelzer was a terrific surgeon and provided great bedside manner and communication to myself as well as my family."
--Steven Meier
Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 07/21/2010
"I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Paul Stelzer. He is highly regarded professionally and goes out of his way to be empathetic and supportive with patients. (If anything, he tries a bit too hard.) My operation was a complete success."
--Richard Hibbard
Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, 07/15/2010
"Dr. Paul Stelzer is the most caring, compassionate and skillful heart surgeon in the world! I was most fortunate to have him as my surgeon and I can not thank him enough. God has truly blessed Dr. Stelzer and I deeply appreciate his dedication to all his patients."
--Mary Ann Terpenny
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Mitral Valve, Ross Procedure, 07/12/2010
"I couldn't have been happier with Dr. Paul Stelzer as my surgeon. From the first phone call with him, I knew he was the surgeon for me. His surgical skills were matched by his bedside manner. I am very pleased with the results and how fast I recovered and was back running....literally, just over a month. "
--Vince Kelley
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Valve Replacement, Ross Procedure, 12/04/2009
"My experience with Dr. Paul Stelzer was excellent. He correctly identified a mismatch issue with my earlier stented porcine replacement valve(done by another surgeon)that had until then eluded effective diagnosis. He replaced the previous vale and my aortic root with a complete homograft valve and root. All prior mismatch issues were eliminated. His skill, bedside manner, general availability and communication were excellent. "
"I traveled to New York for aortic root repair and valve replacement with Dr. Stelzer on the recommendation of my cardiologist. He explained the procedure prior to the surgery, tried to repair my valve and then replaced it when the repair would not hold, and managed my care after surgery when I had complications that forced me to stay for nearly 3 weeks following it. He was always patient and took the time to explain the effects of the treatments and made sure I was responding as expected. He also helped us deal with the insurance company and a rehabilitation hospital so I could be transferred to an appropriate facility close to my home "
--Robert Penn
Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 10/16/2008
"MY EXPERIENCE WITH DR. PAUL STELZER WAS EXCELLENT. VERY NICE PERSON. VERY HAPPY WITH RESULTS."
--ELIAS ZAIDMAN
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Ross Procedure, 05/07/2008
"Dr. Paul Stelzer can't be beat. He is the most kind human being and so talented. His bedside manner is unbelievable. He goes over and above to make sure you are calm and reassured. He was there before I was put to sleep, when I woke up, and came to see me many, many times while in the hospital. "
--Elizabeth Devaney
Aortic Valve, Median Sternotomy, Ross Procedure, 02/27/2008
"Excellent experience, very dedicated and passionate about the Ross Procedure in older patients. Dr. Paul Stelzer has great bedside manner and very happy with results."
--JOHN CASSIDY
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, Ross Procedure, 10/10/2007
"Dr. Paul Stelzer is very informative and patient. As good an experience as one can imagine given the circumstances."
--Jason Madlin
Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Ross Procedure, 06/06/2006
"Dr. Paul Stelzer is extremely professional, caring and dedicated heart surgeon. He performed my open heart surgery with the replacement of 2 mechanical heart valves. I will have Dr. Stelzer in my heart forever. Time flies but I will never forget Dr. Paul Stelzer. I'm Ok after so many years!!!"
