News
Dr. Stewart's STS Video Blog Now Live at HeartValveBlog.com
Allan Stewart, MD, Director of the Aortic Surgery Program, discusses the relatively recent use of horse valves in aortic valve replacement surgery. Watch this informal interview of Dr. Stewart by Adam Pick, former heart patient and author, at the February, 2011 Society of Thoracic Surgeons conference.
Awarding Allan Stewart, MD — Heart Valve Surgeon of the Month
Allan Stewart, MD
Join us in congratulating Allan Stewart, MD, Columbia Aortic Surgeon, who was awarded "Heart Valve Surgeon of the Month" by heartvalvesurgeons.com for November. An integral part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary group that offers leading-edge surgical care, Dr. Allan Stewart focuses on the medical and surgical administration of complex aortic disease, providing expertise in all types of chronic and acute aortic problems, including valve-sparing aortic root replacement. Attesting to his many clinical contributions to valve restoration, his creation of the "Stewart Procedure", a stentless biological aortic root-valve conduit—was designed to benefit patients in a way that sets it apart from all other valves. One example of the many advantages of the Stewart Procedure is that it allows for a larger valve to be used, improving patients' blood flow. Another advantage of the Stewart Procedure is that it reduces the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Additionally, a minimally invasive, hybrid endovascular procedure was developed by Dr. Allan Stewart, to shorten the resolution of complex aneurysmal problems in the operating room to a single trip. Dr. Allen Stewart's steadfast support of patients combined with his considerable contributions to our global community has further impacted the success of Columbia's Department of Surgery's Aortic Surgery Program.
Allan Stewart, MD, runs 2010 NY Marathon with Patient
November 7, 2010: Three NewYork-Presbyterian patients ran in the New York City Marathon with surgeons and staff who saved their lives. Jessica Chipkin, along with multiple members of the liver transplant team, ran for the second time since her liver transplant in 2005, when her liver failed due to Wilson's disease. Another patient from the hospital was Benjamin Carey, who underwent surgery for an aortic root aneurysm exactly one year prior to this year's marathon, who ran with his heart surgeon, Allan Stewart, MD. Timothy Sweeney, who had double lung transplant surgery just one year ago, ran with his transplant surgeon, Joshua Sonett, MD.
NYP/Columbia Patients and Surgeons Run NYC Marathon 
Dr. Stewart Patient Gregory O'Keeffe Talks About Undergoing Aortic Aneurysm Surgery at NYPH/Columbia
| PART 1: On staying comfortable in the hospital and at home when recovering from open heart surgery. | |
| PART 2: On undergoing open heart surgery at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia |
For Dr. Stewart and Patient, Triathalon Is a Success
A July 18, 2010 New York Times article entitled Surgeon Who Repaired Racer's Heart Joins Him as He Puts It to the Test profiled the dramatic story of two 2010 New York City Triathalon contestants: Columbia aortic surgeon Allan Stewart, MD, and Stewart's 28-year-old former patient Greg O'Keeffe. The article told how Dr. Stewart performed lifesaving surgery on Mr. O'Keeffe's congenital aortic defect, and how, less than two years later, Mr. O'Keeffe decided to compete in the triathalon, challenging Dr. Stewart to compete as well. Against the odds of a busy career and a semi-sedentary lifestyle, Dr. Stewart completed the triathalon, consisting of a 1,500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer bicycle ride and a 10-kilometer run. The article quoted Dr. Stewart as saying that Mr. O'Keeffe returned the favor of saving his life, "I don't know who saved whose heart more," he said.
Dr. Stewart and Greg O'Keeffe were also interviewed in a segment on the Fox TV July 24, 2010 edition of Street Talk.
The story was also covered by the International Herald Tribune, the New Jersey Star-Ledger and several online news outlets.
Visit Tri Your Heart Out, the website dedicated to Dr. Stewart's and Greg O'Keeffe's participation in the 2010 New York City Triathalon.
Dr. Stewart Is Interviewed on MSNBC Regarding Dick Cheney Heart Failure Surgery
On July 14, 2010, Dr. Stewart appeared on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show as part of a breaking news interview with Dick Cheney regarding his heart failure and related surgery. In his 10-minute discussion with Maddow, Dr. Stewart discusses the LVAD device implanted to assist Cheney's heart.
