Christian Pizarro, MD, has joined Mount Sinai Health System as Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery and Director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery. He will also serve as Director of Pediatric Heart Transplantation and Co-Director of the Mount Sinai Children’s Heart Center.
In his new roles, Dr. Pizarro will lead the pediatric heart surgery program at Mount Sinai, focusing on collaborative care for infants and children with congenital and acquired heart disease. His work will emphasize neonatal surgery, heart transplantation, and complex cardiac repairs to position the program as a leader within the health system.
“I am very pleased to join Mount Sinai and I look forward to working with the team to build a comprehensive pediatric cardiac unit, which will include offering new services like valvular and airway reconstruction,” said Dr. Pizarro. “Together with our talented multidisciplinary team, we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in congenital heart surgery, delivering world-leading compassionate care to babies and children across the region and beyond.”
Dr. Pizarro is also appointed Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Surgical Director of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.
He brings over 20 years of experience in complex congenital heart surgery and pediatric cardiac care. Previously, he was Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Transplantation at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware where he achieved strong clinical outcomes in neonatal surgery over two decades.
Dr. Pizarro received his medical degree from the University of Chile before completing surgical training at both Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He then completed a fellowship in congenital heart surgery at Great Ormond Street’s Hospital for Sick Children in London.
Board certified in both surgery and thoracic surgery, Dr. Pizarro is recognized internationally for expertise in neonatal cardiac surgery, single-ventricle palliation, complex biventricular repairs, and pediatric heart transplantation. He has held leadership roles within professional societies such as the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society; Society of Thoracic Surgeons; American Association for Thoracic Surgery; European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery; and World Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery.
With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications authored by him, Dr. Pizarro is known for innovation in treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Ebstein anomaly, aortic aneurysms after congenital heart operations, among other conditions. He also participates actively in global health initiatives through organizations like Hearts with Hope and Surgeons of Hope.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Pizarro to Mount Sinai,” said Lisa M. Satlin, MD, Chair of the Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “He is a highly accomplished surgeon whose depth of experience in congenital heart surgery will be transformative to the care we provide to children and families across our Health System.”
“Dr. Pizarro is a world-leading congenital heart surgeon with a reputation for clinical excellence,” said David H. Adams, MD, Cardiac Surgeon-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Health System as well as Marie-Josée & Henry R Kravis Professor & System Chair – Cardiovascular Surgery – Icahn School Of Medicine.“His arrival signals our unwavering commitment to building one of the finest pediatric & congenital heart surgery programs nationwide that will complement incredible multidisciplinary expertise already here in congenital imaging,intensive care anesthesia,& intervention.”
Mount Sinai Children’s Heart Center works alongside Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital providing advanced cardiac care for all types—from common disorders to rare cases—by collaborating with colleagues throughout The Mount Sinai Hospital which holds No 2 national ranking for Cardiology Heart & Vascular Surgery by U.S.News & World Report.
Dr.Pizarro began his role on July 2nd 2025.
