"Let me start by saying I don't post on social media at all but in this case I felt it was important. I had mitral valve repair June 9th at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. My surgeon was Joanna Chikwe, also chair of the Cardiac department of the hospital.
I had the privilege to meet Dr. Chikwe while avidly researching my condition and the best surgeon for it. I came across Dr Chikwe's writings on mitral valve disease and thought I would seek her expertise. I left a message for her in the hopes she could give me surgeon recommendations on the East Coast as I live in Florida and she was familiar with North East facilities.
That led to an hour long telehealth video call with her personally. By the end of the call, I felt I completely understood my condition and what I should expect of the impending surgery. I also knew Dr Chikwe was the only surgeon for me.
Any anxiety I or my family might have had of the long trip to California was subdued as we were reminded that this surgeon was so very qualified and the reason for the journey. My expectations were so exceeded by Dr. Chikwe, her team, and the hospital.
This lovely physician inspired such confidence in a "We've got this!" feeling. She is meticulous in her surgery and the pre-op and post-op treatment. The Cedars-Sinai cardiac unit has some of the most professional, knowledgeable and compassionate staff I have come across. They are the most hard working - from the ICU nurses to the nurse assistants on the cardiac ward.
I was discharged in four days, I am four weeks post-op, I have had no complications other than being sore as expected, and I know so much of it is attributed to the very skilled and caring Dr. Chikwe."
-- Wendy Spector, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 06/09/2021
"Dr. Chikwe did a mitral valve repair on my prolapsed heart valve. Before the procedure she described what I could expect from the moment I woke up in the ICU to the various phases I would go through in my healing and then back to my normal life.
Dr. Chikwe has the rare ability to create a loving supportive atmosphere. She exudes enthusiasm for her work along with humility of her special skills. I sensed in speaking with her the enormous privilege she feels towards those of us who trust our hearts and lives to her skill. I have never felt such a sense of deep loving commitment toward me as a patient. Her team of doctors and nurses that took care of me in recovery were equally committed to the best care I could hope for and repeatedly expressed their admiration for her skills. With Dr. Chikwe you will always have the "A" team at your side."
-- Mark Kimball, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 04/28/2021
"Dr. Chikwe was awesome! She is also very nice. After my mitral valve surgery, I feel much better than when I first came to Cedars. I feel like a new person!"
-- Robert Henner, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 04/28/2021
"My cardiologist recommended Dr. Chikwe, and then I used HeartValveSurgery.com to learn more about Dr. Chikwe. I was impressed with her education, experience, numerous accolades, and awards. I used her video (from this website) prior to surgery, for both my education, and also to send to my friends and family to put their minds at ease. She is a superstar and I knew I wanted her as my surgeon.
Dr. Chikwe is confident yet modest. She always made sure to credit her whole surgical team, never taking credit for her excellent surgical skills. She explained everything in detail at my consultation. From my initial consultation with her, until my post surgery appointment she always put me at ease and took the time to answer all my questions. She visited me everyday in the hospital and genuinely cared about my comfort and well being. I would highly recommend her! I also want to mention that her whole staff both in the office and at the hospital were very helpful. They made what could have been a difficult process, seamless. You are in excellent hands if you select Dr. Chikwe. My experience at Cedars Sinai was also a pleasant one. I am 3 weeks post surgery and am surprised what I am physically able to do given the nature of my surgery."
-- Sophie Arguello, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 04/25/2021
"I feel very fortunate to have been operated on by Dr. Joanna Chikwe on March 2,2021. Her entire team from Mary Alvardo (her administrative assistant) to Asma Hussaini(PA) guided me in preparation for the repair. Dr. Chikwe answered all my questions and her calm and professional style left me feeling minimal pre-surgical anxiety. Luckily, my surgery took place 2 weeks after my second Pfizer vaccination.
As a retired Cedars-Sinai RN, I know that things do not always go smoothly and it is even more important to have a great team in place - just in case. And I was one of the fortunate ones. At the end of my repair I required a pacer. The hope was that in a few days the inflammation would subside and I would no longer be in heartblock. Dr Chikwe was there every morning and in consultation with the electronic cardiologist. On March 5th I received a temporary pacemaker and, because I was still in total heartblock, on March 8th I received a permanent pacemaker. I was home the next day.
In April, I had a relapse of my auto immune disease and was placed back on prednisone which caused my blood pressure to go up. So my blood pressure medication has been doubled. I feel terrific now. I'm exercising, gardening, back in classes and chorale. Visiting with friends, children and grandchildren has been wonderful. I'm so grateful to Dr. Chikwe and the entire team at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center for the comprehensive and coordinated care that I received - "just in case"."
-- Jo Friedman, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/02/2021
"Dr. Chikwe successfully performed a challenging robotic mitral valve repair surgery on my dad, whose concave chest bone structure posed a unique challenge.
Dr. Chikwe masterfully navigated the surgery despite the challenges posed by my dad's bone structure and was able to successfully make the repair. Few doctors know how to perform the minimally-invasive robotic heart surgery, so we were very fortunate to have Dr. Chikwe, and to have her expertise regarding this surgery.
I cannot imagine having a better surgeon for my dad than Dr. Chikwe, she really prolonged his life with a fantastic surgery and we could not be more grateful. "
-- Marie Abajann, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, Maze Procedure, 01/13/2021
"To my surgeon Dr. Chikwe and her Team, I'm truly thankful and humbled by the outstanding care and lifesaving skills that were used to literally save my life and repair my mitral valve. Dr. Chikwe is an attentive, caring and dedicated surgeon that I'll always be indebted to. Sincerely to Dr. Chikwe and Team Thank You! Peace & Blessings!"
-- Reginald T. Dorsey, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 11/20/2020
"I decided to have a consultation with Dr. Joanna Chikwe of Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA who is one of the top minimally invasive, robotically assisted cardiac surgeons in the country and the founding Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Smidt Heart Institute.
I called her office and was scheduled for an immediate consultation a few days later at the Smidt Heart Institute with Dr. Joanna Chikwe, Asma Hussaini (DR Chikwe's P.A.) and Mary Alvarado, the Patient Service Representative. Upon arriving at the Heart Institute I was greeted by a caring and understanding staff who made me feel safe and comfortable while talking through my options.
Dr. Chikwe was confident that she could repair my mitral valve and a replacement would most likely not be necessary as my Cardiologist had told me. I was in the Hospital for emergency Mitral Valve Surgery within a few days. The entire Cedars-Sinai hospital staff made me feel very comfortable leading up to the surgery and in the days following the procedure. I was discharged from the hospital after a few days with minor discomfort and a new outlook and hope for my life.
It has been about 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery on 10/22/20 and I am feeling great! Recovery has been surprisingly easy due to the minimally invasive procedure, and I returned to work a few days ago. As I write this, my new heart is filled with gratitude and my eyes are filled with tears for the caring and very capable Dr. Chikwe and the entire staff at Cedars-Sinai for saving my life.
I hope that each and every person reading this, who must face this unsure and frightening challenge in their lives, can take some comfort in knowing that there are special people like Dr. Joanna Chikwe and her staff that are there for us in our biggest time of need."
-- Brandon Hammer, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 10/22/2020
"I am very grateful to Dr. Joanna Chikwe and Dr. Alfredo Trento as well as the surgical team, physician’s assistants, and nurses for the excellent professional care I received during my stay from March 19 through 22 for my mitral valve repair.
Our prior research informed us that it is very important to choose a team with extensive valve repair experience, both for the surgeons and the technical support team. Drs. Chikwe and Trento are world class surgeons with extensive expertise in robotic repair of mitral valves and this team ranks as one of the best on the west coast.
Dr. Chikwe is a strong advocate for valve repair as opposed to replacement whenever possible as this leads to a more durable outcome. I came to surgery with significant regurgitation that was completely corrected by the robotic surgery. Dr. Chikwe explained the surgical outcome to my wife after the surgery in very clear terms.
I was impressed with her bed side manner and follow-up care of me. The nursing staff was exceptional in their kind care of me after surgery. I had very little pain afterwards and was up and walking the day after surgery. At two months after surgery, I was walking 10,000 steps per day. I would advise anyone needing mitral valve repair to consider Dr. Chikwe’s team for the surgery."
-- Richard Maki, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/19/2020
"I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation but was asymptomatic. In December 2019, after my last echo stress cardiogram, my left ventricle enlarged and my cardiologist recommended it was time for repair surgery and referred me to Dr. Joanna Chikwe, Professor & Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai.
I was told she was an excellent surgeon and top in the field of micro-robotic mitral valve repair. I researched her background and found she was indeed one of the nation’s top surgeons. Her background, education and experience was remarkable and I felt lucky to have one of the best known cardiac surgeons.
Because of her notoriety, she could have been very egotistical like some of the doctors that I know, but she was so down to earth and more importantly very easy to talk to. She was informative but very personal. I was confident going into surgery knowing I had her as my surgeon.
After surgery, while I was in the hospital, Dr. Chikwe visited me every day and made me feel at ease showing interest in my recovery. Also, the nurses, staff, and Dr. Chikwe’s assistants were all very professional and cordial.
Anybody who is treated by Dr. Chikwe will be very lucky. Cedars-Sinai was very smart to recruit her from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to head the Smidt Heart Institute. Thank you Dr. Chikwe."
-- Albert (Joey) Nakazawa, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 03/03/2020
"How fortunate I was to have Dr. Joanna Chikwe as my heart surgeon. I was suffering from an ascending aortic aneurysm, leaky aortic valve, and blocked coronary arteries. To my surprise and delight, Dr. Chikwe was able to repair the valve, rather than replace it. She also resected the aortic aneurysm and performed a coronary bypass graft on three arteries.
My father was a brain surgeon and I had a checklist of things I admire in surgeons. Dr. Chikwe met all my criteria. First, what a pair of hands she has—long and lithe fingers in perfect shape, well suited for quick and careful suturing of vessels. But more importantly, she is confident yet modest with an exemplary sense of empathy.
Almost immediately upon meeting her she put me at ease and I never worried about the result—I had a full and quick recovery. I also appreciated her post-operative care and her frequent checks on me while I was in intensive care. I recommend her highly and can’t say enough about the high quality of the care I received as a result of her skill and under her supervision at Cedars Sinai."
-- Chris Fager, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, 01/15/2020
" Excellent!"
-- Patricia Reuter, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, 05/14/2019
"Truly the very best surgeon. She possesses extreme skills and is very friendly and knowledgeable. The top surgeon in her field. Thanks, Dr. Chikwe."
-- ROBERT CROWLEY, Pulmonary Valve, 11/13/2018
"Dr. Chikwe is a national treasure. I would have a much shorter life had it not been for. Explaining the procedure, and the healing is understanding. She explains details. Personally, she’s my "Dr. Princess" who had my heart in her hands. Wishing you many years of success in your career and then again many more. I would not hesitate recommending a consult with her. ♥️"
-- Maureen Ahad, Tricuspid Valve, Valve Repair, 05/14/2018
"Dr Chikwe took her time to explain everything in detail, she exudes confidence and even when my Mitral Valve proved to be a "challenging" repair, she took the time to repair rather than replace, she also repaired my Aortic valve while she was in there. If you are faced with a valve problem, see her for consult, she is an expert in repair in my book and her credentials are second to none."
-- Arthur Hall, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 08/15/2017
"I have never had such confidence in a Doctor as I had with Dr. Chikwe. The most reassuring smile at all times. Dr. Chikwe was born to be a great surgeon and I was lucky to have her for my procedure. Thank you and the wonderful nurses that supported you."
-- Harry Vaughn, Aortic Valve, 10/06/2016
"Dr. Joanna Chikwe is a cardiac surgeon treasure find! A superb heart surgeon who effectively saved my life. Dr. Chikwe thoroughly explained with care to my wife, Jean, and I the details of the surgery and what to expect in recovery and rehabilitation. She has a very reassuring and comforting presence."
-- Arthur Lozeau, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Maze Procedure, 09/07/2016
"Dr. Chikwe gave Joe's heart back, and stole ours! She was magic. Perfect."
-- Anthony Bly, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, 01/31/2015
"The best kind of professional, Dr. Chikwe was supportive and encouraging and kept me reassured while she did a great job. Five years later and all is well!"
-- GAVIN MASTERSON, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 07/23/2014
"Dr. Joanna Chikwe was extremely knowledgeable and very patient answering our questions. Dr. Chikwe was very available for discussion of any concerns before and after surgery."
-- Nancy Cruz, Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, 09/14/2011
"My experience with Dr. Joanna Chikwe was exceptional. Within a few minutes of meeting her I knew that she would be the surgeon to repair my mitral valve. She did not disappoint. Her warm, caring personality won me over. She was approachable,responsive and caring right up to the days before surgery. Not only was my surgery and immediate recovery uneventful thankfully, but she came to my hospital bed twice daily. Dr. Chikwe was a ray of sunshine with her warm smile and cheerful encouraging words. She was like a friend coming to cheer me on in my recovery. "
-- Bonnie Perman, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Mini-Thoracotomy / Port Access, 10/04/2010
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