Craig R Smith Jr., MD
Cardiac Surgery
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Overview
Dr. Smith earned his MD at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (Phi Beta Kappa), going on to a general surgery internship and residency and a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital (1977-1982). He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1984, immediately joining the faculty of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He was Director of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center during 1986-1996 and was appointed Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1996. He became a full professor of surgery in 1998. In 2010, Dr. Smith became Chair, Department of Surgery.
Dr. Smith's clinical specialties include medical support for pre- and postoperative transplant recipients, use of bioartificial support devices, and alternative immunosuppressive strategies. His research interests focus on mitral valve repair, transmyocardial laser revascularization, long-term heart and lung transplantation outcomes, preoperative risk factors for stroke after CABG, and adaptation in cardiac transplantation. Dr. Smith was named Practitioner of the Year for 2004 by the Society of Practitioners at Columbia University Medical Center. He is co-Principal Investigator for the multicenter PARTNER aortic transcatheter valve trial.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
- Aneurysm Aortic Surgery
- Aneurysm Repair
- Aneurysm Repair, Aortic
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Dissection
- Bicuspid Aortic Valve
- Bloodless Surgery
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Coronary Artery Bypass
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Heart Failure
- Heart Surgery
- Heart Transplant, Pediatric
- Heart Transplantation
- Heart Valve Repair
- Marfan Syndrome
- Mediastinal Tumor
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Valve Repair
- Mitral/Aortic Valve Replacement
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Surgery
- Off Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Open Heart Surgery
- Pericardial Disease
- Second Opinion
- Thoracic Aneurysm
- Thoracic Aortic Surgery
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Valve Reconstruction/Repair
- Valve Replacement
Academic Appointments
- Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Professor in the Department of Surgery and Valentine Mott Professor of Surgery
Administrative Titles
- Chair, Department of Surgery
- Surgeon-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
New and Existing Patients:
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
177 Ft. Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Primary
Phone:
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- BA, 1970 Williams College
- MD, 1977 Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Internship: Strong Memorial Hospital , Rochester, NY
- Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital , Rochester, NY
- Fellowship: Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
- American Association for Thoracic Surgery
- American College of Cardiology
- American Heart Association
- American Medical Association
- American Surgical Association
- Fellow in the American College of Surgeons
- International Society for Heart Transplantation
- New York Society for Thoracic Surgery
- Society for Thoracic Surgeons
Board Certifications
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiac Surgery
Honors & Awards
- New York Magazine's Top Doctors, 2015-2016
- Practitioner of the Year Award, 2004, Society of Practitioners, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- Program Committee, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, 1989-1991
- Program Committee, New York Society for Thoracic Surgery, 1992-1993
- Advisory Board, Issues in Cardiovascular Surgery, 1993-present
- Member, Grant Selection Committee, Clinical Research-Blood Conservation, Bayer Inc., 1993-present
- Board of Directors, NY State Affiliate of the American Heart Association, 1996-2002
- Vice President, New York Society for Thoracic Surgery, 1998-1999
- Membership Committee, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 1998-2002
- Editorial Board, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Internet Journal, 1999-2002
- President, New York Society for Thoracic Surgery, 1999-2000
- Chairman, Nominating Committee, New York Society for Thoracic Surgery, 2000-2001
- Workforce on Annual Meeting/Program Task Force Committee, 2000-2003
- Program Committee, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 2001-present
- Editorial Board, Heart Surgery Forum, 2002-present
- Chairman, Membership Committee, American Association for Thoracic Surgey, 2002-2004
- Chairman, Workforce on Annual Meeting/Program Task Force Committee, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 2003-2004
- Chairman, Education Committee, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 2003-2007
- Council Member, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 2005-2009
- Committee Member, New York State Cardiac Advisory Board, 2005-present
- Healthcare Childhood Obesity Expert Panel, American Heart Association, 2006
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons Task Force on Communications, 2006-present
- Chairman, Improvement Workgroup, New York State Cardiac Advisory Board, 2006-present
- Heart of New York Honoree, American Heart Association, 2007
- President, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, 2011-2012
- Champion Participant, American Heart Association, 2012
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor
Research
Research Interests
- Adaptation in cardiac transplantation
- Long-term heart and lung transplantation outcomes
- Mitral valve repair
- Preoperative risk factors for stroke after CABG
- Transmyocardial laser revascularization
Selected Publications
- Heyer EJ,Lee KS, Manspeizer HE,Mongero L, Spanier TB, Caliste X, Esrig B, Smith CR. Heparin-bonded cardiopulmonary bypass circuits reduce cognitive dysfunction. J Cardiothor Vasc Anes; 16(1):37-42.
- Williams MR, Stewart JR, Bolling SF, Freeman S, Anderson JT, Argenziano M, Smith CR, Oz, MC. Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency energy. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:1939-44.
- John R, Rajasinghe HA, Chen JM, Weinberg A, Sinha P, Mancini DM, Oz MC, Smith CR, Rose EA, Edwards NM. Long-term outcomes after cardiac transplantation: an experience based on different eras of immunosuppressive therapy. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1-9.
- Mongero LB, Beck JR, Manspeizer HE, Heyer EJ, Lee K, Smith CR. Cardiac surgical patients exposed to heparin-bonded circuits develop less postoperative cerebral dysfunction than patients exposed to non-heparin bonded circuits. Perfusion 2001;16:107-11.
- John R, Choudhri AF, Weinberg AD, Ting W, Rose EA, Smith CR, Oz MC. Multicenter review of preoperative risk factors for stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting. Ann Thor Surg 2000; 69:30-6.
- Suehiro K, Takuma S, Shimizu J, Hozumi T, Yano H, Cardinale C, DiTullio M, Wang J, Smith CR, Burkoff D, Homma S. Assessment of left ventricular systolic function using contrast two-dimensional echocardiography with a high-frequency transducer in the awake murine model of mycardiodial infarction. Japanese Circ Jour 2001; 65(11):979-83
- Suehiro K, Takuma S, Cardinale C, Hozumi T, Shimizu J, Yano H, Tullio M, Wang J, Smith CR, Burkhoff D, Homma S. Assessment of segmental wall motion abnormalities using contrast two-dimensional echocardiography in wake mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2001; 280: H1729-35.
- John R, Rajasinghe H, Chen JM, Weinberg AD, Sinha P, Itescu s, Lietz K, Mancini D, Oz MC, Smith CR, Rose EA, Edwards NM. Impact of current Management Practices on early and late death in more than 500 consecutive cardiac transplant recipients.
- Smith CR, Spanier TB. Aprotinin in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Ann Thor Surg, 1999
- Argenziano M, Chen JM, Cullinane S, Choudri AF, Rose EA, Smith CR, Edwards, NM, Landry DW, Oz MC. Arginine Vasopressin in the management of vasodilatory hypotension after cardiac transplantation: J Heart and Lung Transplant 1999;18: 814-17.
- Smith CR. Management of bleeding complications in redo cardiac operations. Ann Th S 1998; 65:S2-8.
- Argenziano M, Choudhri AF, Moazami N, Rose ER, Smith CR, Levin HR, Smerling AJ, Oz, MC. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of inhaled Nitric Oxide in LVAD recipients with pulmonary hypertension. Ann Thoracic Surgery 1998; 65:340-5.
- Adams DC, Madigan JD, Hilton HJ, Hilton HJ, Szerlip NJ, Cooper LA, Emerson RG, Smith CR, Rose EA, Oz MC. Evidence for unconscious memory processing during elective cardiac surgery. Circ. 1998; 98:II, 289-93.
- Argenziano M, Chen JM, Choudri AF, Cullinane S, Garfein E, Weinberg AD, Smith CR, Rose EA, Landry DW, Oz MC. Management of vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery: Identification of predisposing factors and use of a novel pressor agent. J Thoracic Cardiovasc Surg 1998; 116:973-80.
- John R, Choudhri A, Ting W, Rose EA, Smith CR, Oz MC. Role of cardiopulmonary bypass in single vessel coronary revascularizations: Implications for MIDCAB. Heart Surgery Forum 1998; 1: (1) 65-70
- Argenziano M, Choudhri A, Rodino M., Weinberg A, Smith C, Rose EA, Landry DW, Oz MC. Heart failure is a risk factor for vasodilatory hypotension after cardiopulmonary bypass. JHLT 1998; 17(1):108.
- Ashton C, Whitworth GC, Seldomridge JA, Shapiro PA, Michler RM, Smith CR, Rose EA, Fisher S, Oz MC. Self-hypnosis reduces anxiety following coronary artery by-pass surgery. A prospective randomized trial. J. Cardiovascular Surg. 1997; 38:69-75.
- Kohmoto T, Argenziano M., Yamamato N, Vliet Ka, Gu A, DeRosa CM, Fisher PE, Spotntz HM, Burkhoff D, Smith CR. Assessment of transmyocardial perfusion in alligator hearts. Cir 1997; 95:1585-1591.
- Fisher PE, Kohmoto T, DeRosa CM, Spotnitz HM, Smith CR, Burkhoff D. Histologic analysis of transmyocardial laser channels: comparison of CO2 and holmium: YAG lasers. Ann Th Surg 1997: 64: 4566-72.
- Argenziano M, Choudhri AF, Oz MC, Rose EA, Smith CR, Landry DW. A prospective randomized study of arginine vasopressin in the treatment of vasodilatory hypotension after LVAD placement. Circ 1997, 96:II 286-290.