Appoints Dr. Mark Cunningham Chief of Cardiac Surgery; Adds Four Cardiovascular Surgeons; 16 of 48 Cardiologists Female
Rhode Island Hospital has named Mark J. Cunningham, MD, as Chief of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Cunningham also holds the Karl E. Karlson, MD, and Gloria A. Karlson Professorship in Surgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He succeeds Frank W. Sellke, MD, who has retired from the role.
Dr. Cunningham joins Brown Health from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he served as interim chief of cardiac surgery and was a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. A nationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon, he specializes in mechanical circulatory support, valve surgery, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and complex aortic surgery, including transcatheter endovascular aortic repair. Over his career, he has performed more than 500 heart transplants, led over 60 clinical trials, and advanced minimally invasive and robotic techniques that reduce recovery time and complications for patients. Before entering medicine, Dr. Cunningham worked as an aeronautical engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center, an experience that continues to influence his innovative approach to surgical care and research.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cunningham to Rhode Island Hospital,” said Aurora Pryor, MD, surgeon-in-chief of Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital and chair of the Department of Surgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “His unique combination of engineering expertise, surgical excellence, and leadership will further elevate our cardiovascular surgery program.”
Expanded Cardiovascular Surgery Program Offers Specialized Cardiovascular Care
Under Dr. Cunningham’s leadership, the Brown Health Cardiovascular Institute’s cardiovascular surgery program has grown to become the largest in Southeastern New England. The expanded team offers comprehensive expertise in open, minimally invasive, robotic, and transcatheter procedures, improving access and efficiency for patients across the Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts region.
The new cardiovascular surgery team includes:
- Kaushik Mandal, MD, MS, MPH, FESC, FHRS, FRCS(CTh) – Co-Director of Minimally Invasive and Valve Surgery; Director, Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
- Laura A. Scrimgeour, MD – Surgical Director of Structural Heart Disease
- David D. Yuh, MD, FACS – Co-Director of Minimally Invasive and Valve Surgery; Surgical Director of Heart Failure Surgery and Mechanical Circulatory Support
- Frank W. Sellke, MD – Chief of Cardiovascular Research
- Neel R. Sodha, MD – Director, Brown University Health Thoracic Aortic Center; Director, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit; Surgical Director, ECMO and Mechanical Circulatory Support
“Our cardiovascular surgeons are central to multidisciplinary teams that partner closely with cardiologists to deliver patient-centered care as well as equitable cardiovascular care through our unique Women’s Cardiac Center,” said Dr. Cunningham. “This expansion allows us to increase access to advanced surgical options and better serve patients throughout the region.”
According to the American Heart Association and related medical literature women are greatly under-represented in the cardiology workforce compared with their proportion in the general population, constituting about 14 percent of practicing cardiologists in the US. At the Brown Health Cardiovascular Institute, in addition to women holding leadership positions, women make up 33 percent of cardiologists, more than double the national average.