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Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute

Home to world-renowned experts and life-saving treatments, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Medical Center is New Jersey’s largest cardiac surgery program and one of the top centers for cardiac care nationwide.

Awards & Accolades

  • Top 50 in the Nation for Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery

    – U.S News & World Report

  • Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Cardiac Services and for Coronary Interventional Procedures (2024, 2025)

    – Healthgrades

  • 3-Star rating (highest possible) for patient care and outcomes in three procedures: isolated CABG, AVR + CABG, and MVRR. Among only 4% of hospitals in the US to receive three stars in AVR

    – The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

  • Transcatheter Valve Certification; achieved by only 6% of 750+ hospitals performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

    – American College of Cardiology

Thanks to decisive donor support, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute sets the standard for innovative heart care. Your partnership in obtaining the best resources — from equipment and programs to our talented team members — allows us to offer our patients top-tier health care.

Linda D. Gillam, MD, MPH, MACC

Dorothy and Lloyd Huck Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Morristown Medical Center
Medical Director, Cardiovascular Service Line, Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System

Equipment Highlights

  • Cardiac Ultrasound Systems

    The donor-supported purchase of two Philips EPIQ CVx Echocardiography machines eases the burden of long wait times for these crucial tests and offers enhanced diagnostic solutions.

  • Stress EchoBed®

    The Stress EchoBed® enables providers to obtain echo images during peak exercise, even on patients who are unable to use a treadmill for cardiac or orthopedic reasons.

Thanks in part to Cardiovascular Center Equipment Fund donors, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute was able to purchase Cardiac Ultrasound Systems and a Stress EchoBed®.

Program Highlights

  • Atlantic Health System’s Cardiovascular Rescue and Recovery Program expands Morristown Medical Center’s ability to provide 24/7/365 multidisciplinary care to our most critically ill heart patients with access to world-renowned specialists and life-saving treatments through Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute.

    Established in September 2021 with help from the Foundation’s community of donors, it is the first-and-only program of its kind in the state. Thanks to support from donors like the late Gar-Wood N. Burwell, Frank and Mary Walsh and James and Grace Woo in 2024, the program has continued to grow, with the Cardiogenic Shock Program serving a record number of patients and facilitating positive outcomes.

  • Lillian Aldaia, MD

    Director, Cardiology Fellowship Program, Morristown Medical Center

    Led by Lillian Aldaia, MD, the Cardiology Fellowship Program at Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute provides intensive training in the full scope of cardiovascular medicine and spans a range of inherited and acquired cardiovascular diseases. Fellows are trained over three years in advanced imaging, electrophysiology, heart failure treatment and interventional cardiology. Fellows have presented research at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting, the American College of Cardiology national meeting, American College of Chest Physicians, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and others. The Pester Family Fellow Endowment Fund ensures the continued success of the program.

  • Amy Ahnert, MD

    Medical Director, Women's Heart Program, Morristown Medical Center

    The Women’s Heart Program is committed to preventing cardiovascular disease in women through all stages of life thanks to support from donors like Paul E. Cain and Catherine M. George, Barbara and Bob Luciano and others. This comprehensive program educates, screens and treats women experiencing cardiovascular symptoms or with known heart conditions. The Women’s Heart Program team will present at the leading annual conference in the field of Cardio-Obstetrics in 2025 — the Ninth International Congress on Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy.

    Patient Spotlight

    Donor contributions support vital programs like the Women’s Heart Program, which played an important role in Maura Sommer’s diagnosis and recovery from a rare heart condition.

    Maura, a lawyer and mother of three, had two heart attacks by age 48 before she was referred to Amy Ahnert, MD, who meticulously investigated her health history and ran the correct tests to uncover the rare, but manageable, heart condition Maura had been living with undiagnosed. Today, Maura is confident in her health thanks to the meticulous care she received.

fund highlights

  • Matthew Martinez, MD, FACC

    Director, Atlantic Health System Sports Cardiology, Morristown Medical Center

    Director, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Morristown Medical Center

    With donor contributions, including significant gifts from Jonathan Dietz, Mark and Sharon Newman, Jonathan and Stacey Seligson and Glenn and Marcie Yarnis, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Program continues to grow in all areas of clinical care.

    In 2024, the program helped 50 percent more patients and expanded options for cardiac imaging, surgical and interventional cardiology and managing heart rhythm abnormalities. Donations will also help provide an Advanced Practice Nurse to manage research projects and a geneticist who can help patients with HCM and other heart abnormalities navigate treatment options.

    Matthew Martinez, MD, continues to represent the program on a national stage through his expertise and treatment of conditions of high-profile athletes and innovative research.

    50%

    more HCM patients served in 2024

  • Barry Cohen, MD

    Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Morristown Medical Center

    This one-year Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, funded by Yvonne Previdi and other generous contributors, is for a clinician intending to become a sub-specialist in treating patients with coronary artery disease. Donor contributions support the interventional cardiology fellow as they participate in various advanced interventional procedures.

    Additionally, this fellow often serves as the point person for acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock cases, and is often one of the first physicians to see and evaluate critically ill patients who require life-saving interventional therapies.

  • The Advanced Fellowship in Echocardiography, made possible through philanthropy from Robert and Carol Henry and other generous contributors, trains cardiologists in advanced cardiovascular imaging techniques. Fellows learn how to acquire and interpret cardiovascular MRI, cardiac CT, cardiac PET and structural echocardiographic techniques and they also gain experience managing the CT and MRI labs. The fellowship cultivates expert cardiovascular imagers who will become leaders in the field, and it contributes to talent retention.