About Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy,
Heart Valve Surgeon

Hello! My name is Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy and I am a cardiac surgeon having graduated from Universite de Montreal in 2000. To date, I have performed approximately 2,500 cardiac surgeries, of which 1,800 involved heart valve procedures. I regularly perform surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Read more...

Video About Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy

69 Patient Reviews for
Dr. El-Hamamsy

"My name is Camryn Dimarco, I’m a 23-year old from Kansas City, Missouri and this is my story of how my life changed forever with the most incredible people.

My journey began in August 2022 when I started Nursing school. It was during one of our units of learning about heart conditions where I started to think it was more than anxiety. That very day I called the local hospital and scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as I could get in.

At my first visit, they did an EKG, a stress test, and lab work. Everything came back “normal”. But I knew something was off so I kept pushing for more. Over the next month or so, I had an MRI, TEE, and an echocardiogram. That’s when they found it and diagnosed me with aortic regurgitation at just 20 years old. It was terrifying and I didn’t know what this would mean for my life at the time.

We soon met with a surgeon at The University of Kansas Health System who walked us through all the surgical options. One which stood out most for my life expectancy which was the “Ross Procedure”. It seemed like the most reasonable path to consider.

We soon started researching this procedure and surgeons who did it, which is where we came across Dr. El-Hamamsy. After reading everything about him, we called his office and scheduled for an in person visit in March of 2023.

When we met Dr. El-Hamamsy and his team, we immediately knew this was the surgeon I wanted to do my open heart surgery. He explained the Ross Procedure in every detail. Every risk, every benefit, every step, and took the time to make sure my parents and I felt informed and comforted about it. As someone whose faith is a cornerstone of their life, I was very deeply moved when he spoke about how the living tissue of the valve and the body’s design are testaments of creation. In that moment, we felt peace. We knew we were exactly where we were meant to be for this.

From that first meeting in 2023 until my surgery in July 2025, we stayed in close contact. I had echocardiograms every 6 months and MRIs yearly, all shared with Dr. El-Hamamsy. We also had a few FaceTime meetings and phone calls to check in. What made my case unique, however, was that my valve wasn’t dilating the way most patients do. It was staying small and not within surgical intervention parameters yet. Yet my symptoms were quickly worsening, and finally it was time to do it.

My Ross Procedure surgery was on July 2, 2025. It was the most surreal, emotional, and challenging experience of my life. The day before my surgery, at my pre-op appointment, I met the full care team. Every single one of them treated with me with such warmth, empathy, and compassion. I felt seen, heard, and safe.

The morning of my surgery, I had one request that Dr. El-Hamamsy would come to the pre-op bay and say a prayer with my parents and I. And he did without hesitation made it happen. In that moment, he gave us a gift no surgeon is trained to provide, peace of mind and heart. His presence, his calmness, his overwhelming kindness… it all reassured me that I was In the hands of someone truly so special.

The Ross Procedure went perfectly. In the OR he discovered that I had a bicuspid valve that either split or fused at some point, creating the illusion of a normal aortic valve. None of which any scan or test had shown him. The timing couldn’t have been more miraculous. And I couldn't have asked for a more skilled, talented, competent, or compassionate surgeon to be holding my life in his hands literally and figuratively.

He came to see me that night and continued to check in on me every day during my hospital stay. He and his team are simply the best people in the world. I cannot imagine going through this journey without them.

To Dr. El-Hamamsy, I can’t thank you enough for saving my life and for giving me a second chance. I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for showing me miracles do happen. ❤️‍🩹"

-- Camryn Dimarco, Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Valve Replacement, Ross Procedure, 07/02/2025

"Recently, I had to correct a congenital heart issue that I've been facing since birth, but was only diagnosed in 2007.

A bi-cuspid aortic valve reduces the efficient flow of blood through the heart, in some cases dialating the left ventricle. Back in December, I had an MRI that confirmed my case required surgical intervention.

Here I am, two weeks post-op, thankful for Ismail El-Hamamsy and the team at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for a very successful Open Heart surgery.

Dr El-Hamamsy and team is absolutely the place for any aortic valve operation. Dr El-Hamamsy deliberately walked me through all my options and backed each one with data and evidence. He is also the best person to talk with; empathetic, nice, and caring, Dr El-Hamamsy is the complete package. Ultimately we set up a prioritized order for operation type (correction, Ross, bioprosthetic) and I went in with the confidence that he will do his best to accomplish the least invasive that would give me long term outcomes. Not many surgeons can offer all these choices.

During my procedure and stay, Dr. El-Hamamsy was assisted by his team, who included Dr. Chen, Dr. Williams, Dr. Vincent, and Dr. Sun. All of which cared about my recovery and brightened up my day. They are some of the most capable surgeons that I really wouldn’t mind going on a ski trip with; nice, kind, and intelligent.

The last person on the team Is the program coordinator, Leemor. Without Leemor the keys to the aortic valve kingdom would not exist. She is kind, patient, and really worked to ensure I could see the team (huge insurance fiasco). Her care for patients is above and beyond anyone you’d see in the world, especially for Heart Surgery.

Overall, a very positive experience, looking forward to seeing imaging that returns me to unrestricted function."

-- Dylan Neidorff, Aortic Valve, Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, 02/24/2025

> See 67 more patient testimonials

My Specialities &
Clinical Interests

My heart surgery specialties include:

  • Ross procedure
  • Valve-sparing aortic root replacement
  • Aortic valve repair

In addition, I have research and clinical interests specific to:

  • Aortic aneurysms and connective tissue disease
  • Long-term outcomes of aortic reconstructive surgery
  • Innovative aortic surgical approaches

Education, Training & Certificates

Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy, heart surgeon, graduated from Universite de Montreal in 2000.

After medical school, Dr. El-Hamamsy completed an extensive Cardiac Surgery Residency at University de Montreal, within the Montreal Heart Institute, in 2006.

Then, Dr. El-Hamamsy completed a special doctorate program, The Living Aortic Valve, under the supervision of world-renowned heart surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub, at the Imperial College London in the United Kingdom.

Dr. El-Hamamsy is one of the leading Ross Procedure specialists as he recently completed his 400th Ross Procedure.

Schedule Appointment
with Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy, MD

To schedule an appointment with Dr. El-Hamamsy, you can:

The office of Dr. El-Hamamsy is located at 1190 Fifth Avenue, New York City, NY 10029. To get driving directions to this office, please click the map below.



> Click for driving directions to Dr. El-Hamamsy’s office.

Watch Educational Videos with Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy

Learn about heart valve surgery from Dr. El-Hamamsy in these videos:

  • Surgeon Q&A: 4 Must-Know Facts About The Ross Procedure
  • Research Alert: Ross Procedure Leads to Improved Survival Benefit for Aortic Valve Patients
  • Ross Procedure Advantages for Aortic Valve Replacement with Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy & Dr. Paul Stelzer

Page last updated: July 23, 2025