Stony Brook Heart Institute (SBHI) has the distinction on Long Island of having two of our outstanding cardiothoracic surgeons to be selected for membership in the AATS: Henry Tannous, MD, Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Co-Director, SBHI and Allison McLarty, MD, Director, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program and Co-Director, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program. Dr. Tannous was inducted into the AATS during the AATS’s 104th annual meeting on April 29th in Toronto, ON, Canada and Dr. McLarty was selected by the AATS for induction in 2020.
Member inductions for the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) are reserved for a limited number of select physicians each year.
“It is an honor to have been inducted into the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and to be acknowledged among so many esteemed researchers, clinicians and clinical leaders,” says Dr. Tannous. “I am immeasurably grateful to join this noteworthy group of individuals, including my accomplished colleague Dr. McLarty. Our entire cardiothoracic team is focused on one goal — to deliver the best in surgical outcomes to our patients.”
From Dr. McLarty, Stony Brook’s first AATS inductee: “Being a part of the elite AATS community is humbling and inspires me daily to be even more resolute and unwavering in my pursuit of cardiothoracic excellence. It is a pleasure to now extend my congratulations to Dr. Tannous.”
Adds Apostolos Tassiopoulos, MD, Chair, Department of Surgery: “Drs. Tannous and McLarty have truly set a benchmark in their striving for quality cardiothoracic care — their hard work and dedication are always evident, and this honor is well deserved. Placing Stony Brook among the most advanced facilities in the U.S., our skilled and dedicated heart and lung surgeons and our growing cardiothoracic program continues to raise the bar for cardiac and thoracic care here on Long Island.”
Founded in 1917, the prestigious AATS is comprised of more than 1,500 of the world’s foremost cardiothoracic surgeons from 46 countries and recognizes the height of professional achievement and significant contributions of those at the top of their field.
About Dr. Tannous
Recognized early in his career as a physician of the highest order, Dr. Tannous received his MD from the American University of Beirut in 2000, graduating as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. In 2005, he went on to complete his general surgery residency at Waterbury Hospital-Yale School of Medicine in Waterbury, CT. Dr. Tannous subsequently completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery at George Washington University and Mount Sinai Hospital. He is dual board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Tannous joined the Stony Brook Medicine community in 2016. His many leadership roles at SBHI include General T.F. Cheng Chair, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University; Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery Division; Co-Director, Heart Institute; and Surgical Director, Structural Heart Program.
Dr. Tannous’s clinical practice encompasses coronary revascularization and valvular heart surgery, including transcatheter interventions and minimally invasive lung cancer surgery. He has additional experience in pump-assisted thoracic procedures supporting more aggressive resection of mediastinal tumors, cardiac tumors, and locally advanced lung tumors.
His research focuses on early-stage treatment of lung cancer, with the goal of reducing lung cancer death rates through early detection and treatment through a Stony Brook collaboration with the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program; and comparative outcomes research in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Dr. Tannous has been instrumental in major Stony Brook Medicine milestones, including the top national three-star rating for coronary bypass (CABG) surgery — one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in healthcare — and achieved by just 20% of hospitals nationwide; the remarkable successes of our transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program; and fostering successful clinical collaborations with our key partners across the community and regionally; and a coveted three-star mitral valve replacement/repair (MVRR) rating, the highest rating possible.
About Dr. McLarty
Recognized early in her career as a physician of the top echelon, Dr. McLarty received her MD from the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, remaining at Columbia to complete her residency in surgery and subsequently going on to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic. She is dual board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. McLarty joined the Stony Brook Medicine community in 1997. Her many leadership roles at SBHI include Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University; Director, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program; Co-Director, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program; Chief of Surgery; Northport VA Medical Center; and Director, Lung Cancer Program.
Her clinical practice treats adults with acquired heart and lung disease who require surgery. Dr. McLarty’s special interests involve aortic surgery, including surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection and advanced surgical therapies for heart failure.
Dr. McLarty has been instrumental in major Stony Brook Medicine milestones, including the use of leading-edge technology to treat severe heart failure, such as the new permanent ventricular assist device (VAD) that provides “destination therapy.” The VAD Program, which she co-directs, was the first program on Long Island to achieve national certification. A recipient of the Town of Brookhaven’s 2011 Women's Recognition Award for Medicine, Dr. McLarty is adept at addressing the unique cardiothoracic needs of women, and is active in the Women's Heart Program. She is also on the team of the Lung Cancer Evaluation Center that uses the multidisciplinary approach to provide the best possible care.
About Stony Brook Heart Institute
Stony Brook Heart Institute is located within Stony Brook University Hospital as part of Long Island’s premier university-based medical center. The Heart Institute offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The staff includes full-time and community-based, board-certified cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, as well as specially trained anesthesiologists, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, surgical technologists, perfusionists and other support staff. Their combined expertise provides state-of-the-art interventional and surgical capabilities in 24-hour cardiac catheterization labs and surgical suites. And while the Heart Institute clinical staff offers the latest advances in medicine, its physician-scientists are also actively enhancing knowledge of the heart and blood vessels through basic biomedical studies and clinical research. To learn more, visit www.heart.stonybrookmedicine.edu.
About Stony Brook Surgery
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the Department of Surgery consists of 10 clinical divisions that represent diverse areas of surgical specialization. We offer specialized surgical services with several clinical programs and facilities unique in Suffolk County, including: Breast and Oncologic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Bariatric, Foregut & Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT), Pediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. The faculty and staff of these divisions annually perform approximately 5,000 in-patient and 2,500 ambulatory surgery procedures at Stony Brook University Hospital. Our physicians are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of surgical expertise, and to placing the welfare and rights of patients above all else. They are also at the forefront of performing important new procedures – in particular, minimally invasive procedures. And as scientists, they conduct innovative research and translating their discoveries into improved patient care. The operating suites at Stony Brook University Hospital are equipped with the latest technology that enables us to give patients the most sophisticated surgical care available today. To learn more, visit www.stonybrooksurgery.org.