Valley Welcomes New Director of Heart Failure Surgery


RIDGEWOOD, NJ, February 1, 2023 – Valley Health System and Valley Medical Group are pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Burns, MD, as Director of Heart Failure Surgery at The Valley Hospital.

Paul Burns, MD
Dr. Burns is an experienced cardiovascular surgeon, board certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery, who will bring years of experience and a robust understanding of cardiac interventions to Valley. He specializes in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) procedures. In his previous role, Dr. Burns served as the Chair of Surgery at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, where he built the busiest LVAD program in New Jersey and the second busiest destination LVAD program in the United States.

In addition to the LVAD procedure, Dr. Burns specializes in various aspects of cardiovascular surgery, including coronary artery surgery, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures, minimally invasive valve techniques, mitral valve repair, and replacements and surgery on aortic dissections and aneurysms. 

“Everything we do as healthcare providers is for the benefit of the patient. That is our number one responsibility behind every medical decision,” said Dr. Burns. “I take the responsibility of being trusted to fix patients’ hearts very seriously, and I am honored to begin treating patients at The Valley Hospital.”

Dr. Burns joins a program known for its depth of experience and high-quality care, one that is backed by its alliance with the world-famous Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, which was ranked #1 in heart care by U.S. News & World Report (2022-23).

“Dr. Burns will be a great addition to the multidisciplinary team at The Valley Heart and Vascular Institute,” said Gerald Sotsky, MD, Chair of Cardiac Services for Valley Medical Group and Director of Cardiovascular Service Line at The Valley Hospital.

“We are excited to have Dr. Burns join our cardiovascular surgery team at The Valley Heart and Vascular Institute,” said Juan B. Grau, MD, Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Valley Hospital. “His expertise in all facets of cardiac surgery, including his strong understanding of heart failure surgery, are a welcomed addition to this accomplished team.”

“Dr. Burns’ knowledge of heart failure surgery will expand the care we provide to patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure,” said Kariann Abbate, MD, Director of Valley’s Center for Comprehensive Heart Failure Care.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Burns has published extensive research on cardioplegia and myoprotective effects on ischemic preconditioning, among other topics.

Dr. Burns received his medical degree from Columbia University. He completed a general surgery residency at Harvard Medical School, and fellowships in cardiothoracic surgical research at Harvard Medical School and cardiothoracic surgery at Cornell Medical School.

For more information about The Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, please visit ValleyHealth.com/Heart. To make an appointment with a Valley cardiovascular specialist, please call 1-800-VALLEY 1 (1-800-825-5391).

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