McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member Joon Sup Lee, M.D., clinical director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Cardiovascular Institute, has been named co-director of UPMC's newly created Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI). UPMC has combined the operations of its departments of cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology to create the HVI, which will deliver world-class and compassionate care to patients while furthering the hospital system's commitment to cardiovascular innovations. Along with Dr. Lee, Victor Morell, M.D., chief, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) of UPMC, and Michel Makaroun, M.D., chief, UPMC division of vascular surgery, will serve as co-directors.
The HVI will consist of University of Pittsburgh Physicians (UPP) from the Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) and from the Division of CT surgery.
Dr. Lee, who will head cardiology at the HVI, had been with the UPP CVI since 1996. Dr. Lee has been the CVI's clinical director since 2003.
Dr. Morell, who will head cardiac surgery in the HVI, also will serve as vice-chair and director of cardiovascular services for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Morell was chosen after a national search to fill the position. Dr. Morell has been chief of cardiothoracic surgery at CHP since 2004 and the associate program director of the thoracic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh since 2005.
Dr. Makaroun will oversee vascular surgery at the HVI. He was appointed UPMC's chief of vascular surgery in 1999. In addition to his new role at the HVI, Dr. Makaroun will continue to be the division chief of vascular surgery.
UPMC is ranked among America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for heart care and heart surgery, and has one of the largest cardiac catheterization programs in the country. Its physicians have been leaders in implanting ventricular-assist devices and in developing minimally invasive techniques for vascular procedures.
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