General Surgery at Columbia

Dr. Geirsson is a renowned cardiac surgeon and the Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and Director of the Surgical Heart Valve Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. With an upbringing and medical education in Iceland, he honed his skills in General Surgery at Yale University and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania between 1998 and 2007. During his tenure at Yale as the Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery from 2007 to 2013, he made significant contributions to the field. Dr. Geirsson then returned to Iceland from 2013 to 2016, serving as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik. Driven by his passion for innovative approaches, he returned to Yale in 2016 and was appointed as the Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery in 2017.Dr. Geirsson's clinical practice focuses on minimally invasive cardiac surgery and valve surgery, specializing in robotic mitral valve repair and aortic valve repair. He achieved notable milestones by performing the first minimally right thoracotomy mitral valve surgery at YNHH in 2009 and the first robotic mitral valve surgery at YNHH in 2018. Moreover, his research endeavors encompass both basic and clinical science, concentrating on mitral valve prolapse and aortic aneurysm disease.With his expertise, dedication, and commitment to advancing cardiac surgery, Dr. Geirsson continues to make significant contributions to the field and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Jonathan Susman is a board certified radiologist with specialization in vascular and interventional radiology. He is an associate professor of radiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and an assistant attending radiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. After earning his MD degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Susman completed an internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a diagnostic radiology residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center followed by an interventional radiology fellowship at New York University Medical Center/New York University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Society of Interventional Radiology and the American Heart Association.

Wai Lee, MD is the Director of Urogynecology & Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery for the department of Urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He specializes in male and female voiding dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, urethral diverticula, vaginal fistulae, and neurogenic bladder. He is dual-board certified in both Urology and in Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery by the American Board of Urology. Dr. Lee offers advanced surgical and nonsurgical options, including robotic and vaginal reconstructive surgery, and is recognized as a Center of Excellence for Sacral Neuromodulation, a leading therapy for overactive bladder, urinary retention, fecal incontinence, and urgency incontinence. Dr. Lee completed his urology residency at Stony Brook University Hospital, followed by fellowship training in Urogynecology & Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery at Virginia Mason in Seattle, Washington. During his fellowship, Dr. Lee gained extensive expertise in complex reconstructive procedures and also took part in an international mission to Uganda, where he helped women with obstetric trauma by repairing vaginal fistulae. He joined Columbia after working at Northwell Health - North Shore University Hospital on Long Island. Dr. Lee's research interests include novel approaches to neuromodulation and chemodenervation for overactive bladder, as well as healthcare disparities in urology. Dr. Lee has presented his research at numerous national meetings. His work has been published in leading national and international journals including the Journal of Urology, Neurourology and Urodynamics, Urology, Urogynecology, Urologic Clinics of North America, and the International Urogynecology Journal. The conditions Dr. Lee treats can have a profound social and emotional impact on the individual. He understands that patience, dedication, and compassion are needed to achieve the best outcomes for his patients.