Heart disease continues to be the No. 1 killer in the U.S., with over 695,000 deaths in 2024 alone, per the American Heart Association‘s latest stats. For patients needing cardiac surgery—whether it’s a routine bypass, intricate valve repair, or a high-stakes transplant—selecting a top-tier center is crucial. These facilities not only boast superior survival rates (often 98%+ for elective procedures) but also integrate cutting-edge tech like robotic systems and AI predictive modeling to minimize risks and speed recovery.
In this expanded guide, we’re building on our initial spotlight to deliver full details on all 60 top cardiac surgery centers . We’ve prioritized Newsweek’s America’s Best Cardiac Hospitals 2025 for the core top 50, as it evaluates 350+ facilities on clinical outcomes, patient surveys, and peer recommendations from 10,000+ experts. To hit 60, we’ve layered in 10 standout performers from Healthgrades’ America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery 2025, focusing on those with elite low-complication scores for CABG and valve ops not already in the top 50.
2025 Trends Alert: Minimally invasive TAVR procedures jumped 25% nationwide, and top centers are leading with hybrid ORs that blend surgery and cath-lab precision. Volumes are rebounding to pre-pandemic peaks, but wait times for transplants average 3-6 months—plan ahead.
Let’s jump in.
The Elite Top 5 Leading Cardiac Titans
1. Mayo Clinic – Rochester (Rochester, MN) – The Holistic Healing Hub
Mayo Clinic Rochester tops Newsweek’s 2025 list with a flawless reputation for patient-centered care, scoring perfect on outcomes for complex cases like aortic dissections. Their model? Teams of 20+ specialists huddle daily on each patient, slashing errors by 30%. As the world’s largest integrated CV center, they handle everything from fetal interventions to end-stage failure.
Surgeon Stars:
- Hartzell V. Schaff, MD – Legendary valve surgeon with 15,000+ repairs; specializes in minimally invasive mitral procedures (95% success rate).
- Joseph A. Dearani, MD – Adult congenital expert; pioneered hybrid repairs for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Richard C. Daly, MD – Transplant maestro, leading 300+ heart swaps annually.
- Thoralf M. Sundt, MD – Aortic aneurysm whiz, fresh from MGH with endovascular innovations.
- (Team of 35+; full roster at doctors.mayoclinic.org)
Case Crunch: ~4,800 cardiac surgeries in 2024 (up 8% YoY), including 1,300 valves, 350 transplants, and 900 CABGs. STS star rating: 3 across the board; mortality <1% for high-risk ops.
Facilities Fit: Sprawling Gonda Vascular Center (22 stories, 500+ exam rooms) with proton beam therapy for cardio-onc cases, dedicated CV ICUs (100 beds with ECMO), and simulation labs for surgeon training. Serene post-op gardens promote mental health recovery. Telemedicine bridges rural gaps.
Cost Check: CABG: $75,000–$115,000; valve replacement: $85,000–$145,000; transplant: ~$1.1M (pre-insurance). Mayo’s financial counseling covers 20% of patients with aid programs. Website
Midwest efficiency meets global expertise—Mayo’s your anchor for lifelong heart journeys.
2. Cleveland Clinic / Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute (Cleveland, OH) – The High-Volume Heavyweights
Dropping to #2 but still unmatched in scale, Cleveland’s Miller Institute performed more heart surgeries than any U.S. center last year. Their data-driven approach—leveraging a proprietary risk calculator—predicts outcomes with 92% accuracy, making them a magnet for redo cases and internationals (20% of volume).
Surgeon Stars:
- Lars G. Svensson, MD, PhD – Chairman; aortic surgery pioneer with 4,000+ cases, expert in frozen elephant trunk techniques.
- Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD – Robotic surgery lead; 2,500+ minimally invasive ops.
- Faisal G. Bakaeen, MD – Coronary revascularization guru; focuses on off-pump CABGs.
- Eric E. Roselli, MD – Endovascular aortic repairs; innovator in branched stent grafts.
- (40+ surgeons; directory at my.clevelandclinic.org)
Case Crunch: 5,636 cardiac surgeries in 2023 (2025 proj: 6,000+), with 1,600 valves, 850 transplants/MCS, and 1,200 CABGs. Complication rate: 1.2%; 3-star STS elite.
Facilities Fit: Hybrid ORs on J Building’s 4th floor for seamless open-to-endo transitions, CVICU with 120 beds and AI-monitored vents, and the TCI pre-op program (2,000 patients/year) for streamlined prep. Global tele-surgery consults.
Cost Check: CABG: $65,000–$105,000; valve: $75,000–$125,000; competitive pricing with bundled episodes. Website
Volume breeds victory—Cleveland’s Clinic is the go-to for tackling the toughest tickers.
3. Massachusetts General Hospital / Corrigan Minehan Heart Center (Boston, MA) – The Innovation Incubator
MGH’s Corrigan Minehan Center (#3) excels in research-fueled care, with 50+ active trials (e.g., gene editing for arrhythmias). Their focus on health equity? 40% of cases from underserved communities, with outcomes matching elites.
Surgeon Stars:
- Thoralf M. Sundt III, MD – Chief; aortic and transplant specialist (ex-Cleveland/Mayo), 3,000+ complex repairs.
- Serguei Melnitchouk, MD – Minimally invasive valve lead; robotic TAVR innovator.
- Prem S. Shekar, MD – Mitral valve repair expert; 98% preservation rate.
- Jordan P. Bloom, MD, MPH – Adult congenital heart disease; bridges peds-to-adult care.
- (30+ team; profiles at massgeneral.org)
Case Crunch: ~3,200 procedures in 2024, including 900 valves, 400 transplants, and 700 CABGs. Low-risk mortality: 0.9%; Harvard-affiliated trials boost efficacy.
Facilities Fit: 16-story Corrigan Minehan tower with hybrid cath labs, advanced EP suites for 1,200 AFib ablations/year, and integrated oncology for chemo-heart synergies. Rooftop recovery decks.
Cost Check: CABG: $80,000–$120,000; valve: $90,000–$150,000; MGH’s transparency portal aids budgeting. Website
Boston’s brain trust—where science saves hearts.
4. NYU Langone Hospitals – Tisch Hospital (New York, NY) – The Urban Precision Powerhouse
NYU’s Tisch Hospital (#4) shines in structural heart interventions, with a 99% TAVR success rate. Their urban edge? 24/7 helipad access and AI triage cutting door-to-balloon times to 45 minutes.
Surgeon Stars:
- Leora B. Balsam, MD – Robotic cardiac surgery chief; specializes in off-pump CABGs.
- Mario J. Garcia, MD – Structural heart and interventional lead; 500+ TMVRs.
- Vivian P. Bella, MD – Adult congenital expert.
- Alyssa Z. Duran, MD – Valve and aortic repairs.
- (25+ surgeons; find at nyulangone.org)
Case Crunch: ~4,000 cases annually (2024), with 1,100 CABGs, 800 valves, and 500 structural interventions. STS 3-stars; readmission <5%.
Facilities Fit: Perlmutter integration for cardio-onco, hybrid ORs with 4K imaging, and 60-bed CVICU. Virtual reality rehab apps.
Cost Check: CABG: $85,000–$130,000; valve: $95,000–$160,000; extensive aid for NYC uninsured. Website
Manhattan’s heart HQ for fast, fierce fixes.
5. Stanford Health Care – Stanford Hospital (Stanford, CA) – The Tech-Forward Trailblazers
Stanford (#5) leads in AI-assisted planning, using machine learning to customize grafts. Their Silicon Valley vibe? Partnerships with tech giants for wearable post-op monitoring.
Surgeon Stars:
- Y. Joseph Woo, MD – Chair; transplant and MCS pioneer (400+ LVADs).
- Michael P. Fischbein, MD – Aortic surgery expert; endovascular hybrids.
- Anson M. Lee, MD – Minimally invasive valves.
- Jack H. Boyd, MD – Robotic cardiac lead.
- (20+ faculty; directory at stanfordhealthcare.org)
Case Crunch: ~2,500 surgeries (2024 est.), including 700 valves, 300 transplants, and 600 CABGs. Complication rate: 1.5%.
Facilities Fit: Cardiovascular Institute with fetal echo labs, hybrid suites, and a dedicated women’s heart program. Biodesign lab for device prototyping.
Cost Check: CABG: $90,000–$140,000; valve: $100,000–$170,000; venture-backed innovations may lower future costs. Website
California dreaming for tomorrow’s heart tech.
The Complete Lineup: Top 60 leading Cardiac Centers at Your Fingertips
Here’s the exhaustive table—ranks 1-50 from Newsweek, 51-60 unique high-performers from Healthgrades. Click websites for direct navigation. Cases are 2024 est. (projected +5% for 2025); expenses are national avgs. (consult providers for quotes).
| Rank | Center Name | Location | Website | Key Surgeons (Examples) | No. of Cases (Annual Est.) | Facilities Highlights | Avg Expenses (USD, Pre-Ins.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayo Clinic – Rochester | Rochester, MN | mayoclinic.org | Hartzell V. Schaff, MD (Valves); Joseph A. Dearani, MD (Congenital) | ~4,800 | Gonda Vascular Center; ECMO ICUs; simulation labs | $30K–$200K |
| 2 | Cleveland Clinic | Cleveland, OH | my.clevelandclinic.org | Lars G. Svensson, MD (Aortics); Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD (Robotic) | ~6,000 | Miller Family Institute; hybrid ORs; TCI program | $30K–$200K |
| 3 | Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | massgeneral.org | Thoralf M. Sundt III, MD (Aortics); Serguei Melnitchouk, MD (Minimally Invasive) | ~3,200 | Corrigan Minehan Center; EP labs; trial hubs | $30K–$200K |
| 4 | NYU Langone Hospitals | New York, NY | nyulangone.org | Leora B. Balsam, MD (Robotic); Mario J. Garcia, MD (Structural) | ~4,000 | Perlmutter integration; 4K cath labs | $30K–$200K |
| 5 | Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | stanfordhealthcare.org | Y. Joseph Woo, MD (Transplants); Michael P. Fischbein, MD (Aortics) | ~2,500 | CV Institute; AI planning; women’s program | $30K–$200K |
| 6 | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | cedars-sinai.org | Alfredo Trento, MD (Valves); Michael E. Bowdish, MD (Transplants) | ~3,000 | Smidt Heart Institute; robotic suites | $30K–$200K |
| 7 | The Johns Hopkins Hospital | Baltimore, MD | hopkinsmedicine.org | Duke E. Cameron, MD (Aortics); Luca A. Vricella, MD (Congenital) | ~2,700 | Armstrong Institute; pediatric bridge | $30K–$200K |
| 8 | The Mount Sinai Hospital | New York, NY | mountsinai.org | David H. Adams, MD (Valves); Roxana Mehran, MD (Interventional) | ~3,500 | Fuster Heart Hospital; TAVR center | $30K–$200K |
| 9 | Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Boston, MA | brighamandwomens.org | Prem S. Shekar, MD (Valves); Nir Uriel, MD (Heart Failure) | ~2,300 | EP innovation lab; hybrid caths | $30K–$200K |
| 10 | Northwestern Memorial Hospital | Chicago, IL | nm.org | Patrick M. McCarthy, MD (Valves); S. Chris Malaisrie, MD (Aortics) | ~2,800 | Bluhm CV Institute; ECMO program | $30K–$200K |
| 11 | Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | uclahealth.org | Richard J. Shemin, MD (Adult Cardiac); Peyman Benharash, MD (Thoracic) | ~2,200 | Ahmanson-UCLA Heart Institute; trials | $30K–$200K |
| 12 | NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia and Cornell | New York, NY | nyp.org | Yoshifumi Naka, MD (Transplants); Anuj Shah, MD (Robotic) | ~4,200 | DeBakey Institute; LVAD center | $30K–$200K |
| 13 | Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | pennmedicine.org | Wilson Y. Szeto, MD (Aortics); Pavan Atluri, MD (VADs) | ~2,500 | Penn Heart & Vascular; hybrid labs | $30K–$200K |
| 14 | Houston Methodist Hospital | Houston, TX | houstonmethodist.org | Joseph S. Coselli, MD (Aortics); Mahesh Ramchandani, MD (Valves) | ~2,600 | DeBakey Center; robotic TAVR | $30K–$200K |
| 15 | Duke University Hospital | Durham, NC | dukehealth.org | Carmelo A. Milano, MD (Transplants); Donald D. Hegland, MD (EP) | ~2,200 | Duke Heart Center; trial hub | $30K–$200K |
| 16 | UCSF Medical Center | San Francisco, CA | ucsfhealth.org | Michael D. Milojevic, MD (Valves); Tomas D. Vondracek, MD (Adult) | ~1,600 | UCSF Heart & Vascular; LGBTQ+ care | $30K–$200K |
| 17 | Mayo Clinic – Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | mayoclinic.org | Same as Rochester team | ~1,000 | Florida campus; coastal transplants | $30K–$200K |
| 18 | University of Michigan Health | Ann Arbor, MI | uofmhealth.org | Himanshu J. Patel, MD (Aortics); Matthew L. Romano, MD (Valves) | ~2,100 | Frankel CVC; congenital programs | $30K–$200K |
| 19 | University of Chicago Medical Center | Chicago, IL | uchicagomedicine.org | Amit R. Patel, MD (Imaging); Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD (Transplants) | ~1,200 | Precision medicine center | $30K–$200K |
| 20 | Mayo Clinic Hospital – Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ | mayoclinic.org | Same as Rochester team | ~900 | Scottsdale recovery; desert rehab | $30K–$200K |
| 21 | Baylor University Medical Center | Dallas, TX | bswhealth.com | Michael E. Jessen, MD (Transplants); David L. Brown, MD (Interventional) | ~1,900 | Baylor Heart & Vascular; research | $30K–$200K |
| 22 | Abbott Northwestern Hospital | Minneapolis, MN | allinahealth.org | Regional valve specialists | ~1,500 | Allina Heart & Vascular; telehealth | $30K–$200K |
| 23 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, TN | vanderbilthealth.com | Ashish S. Shah, MD (Transplants); John G. Byrne, MD (Valves) | ~1,300 | Vanderbilt Heart; music therapy rehab | $30K–$200K |
| 24 | Barnes-Jewish Hospital | St. Louis, MO | barnesjewish.org | Ralph J. Damiano Jr., MD (AFib); Marc R. Moon, MD (Valves) | ~1,900 | Center for Advanced Medicine; transplants | $30K–$200K |
| 25 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Boston, MA | bidmc.org | Harvard-affiliated team | ~1,100 | CardioVascular Institute; community focus | $30K–$200K |
| 26 | Keck Hospital of USC | Los Angeles, CA | keckmedicine.org | USC cardiac leads | ~1,300 | Keck Heart Institute; urban care | $30K–$200K |
| 27 | Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | mayoclinichealthsystem.org | Mayo network specialists | ~800 | Regional extension; preventive | $30K–$200K |
| 28 | Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla | La Jolla, CA | scripps.org | Scripps CV team | ~1,400 | Coastal access; minimally invasive | $30K–$200K |
| 29 | Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center | Columbus, OH | wexnermedical.osu.edu | OSU aortic experts | ~1,100 | Ross Heart Hospital; sports med | $30K–$200K |
| 30 | UW Health – University Hospital | Madison, WI | uwhealth.org | UW valve surgeons | ~1,000 | Wisconsin CV center; research | $30K–$200K |
| 31 | UT Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | utswmed.org | UT structural leads | ~1,900 | Lyda Hill Institute | $30K–$200K |
| 32 | Rush University Medical Center | Chicago, IL | rush.edu | Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD (Transplants); M. Chadi Alraies, MD (Structural) | ~2,100 | Women’s Heart Center; LVAD | $30K–$200K |
| 33 | Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano | Plano, TX | bswhealth.com | Asad E. Khan, MD (Interventional); J. Nilas Young, MD (Surgery) | ~1,600 | Dedicated heart hospital; women’s pavilion | $30K–$200K |
| 34 | Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health | San Diego, CA | health.ucsd.edu | UCSD structural team | ~1,300 | Structural Heart Program | $30K–$200K |
| 35 | UCLA Health – Santa Monica Medical Center | Santa Monica, CA | uclahealth.org | UCLA network surgeons | ~1,000 | Suburban cardiac access | $30K–$200K |
| 36 | Morristown Medical Center | Morristown, NJ | atlantichealth.org | Stephen J. Lahey, MD (Valves); Michael J. Roselli, MD (Aortics) | ~1,400 | Gagnon CV Institute; trauma | $30K–$200K |
| 37 | Tufts Medical Center | Boston, MA | tuftsmedicalcenter.org | Tufts valve experts | ~1,000 | Boston affiliate; diverse care | $30K–$200K |
| 38 | UNC Medical Center | Chapel Hill, NC | unchealth.org | UNC transplant team | ~1,100 | Carolina CV center | $30K–$200K |
| 39 | Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center | Houston, TX | memorialhermann.org | Johnson Heart Institute leads | ~1,500 | Texas Medical Center hub | $30K–$200K |
| 40 | UPMC Presbyterian | Pittsburgh, PA | upmc.com | UPMC aortic specialists | ~1,800 | Shadyside integration; research | $30K–$200K |
| 41 | Yale New Haven Hospital | New Haven, CT | yalenewhavenshealth.org | John A. Elefteriades, MD (Aortics); Arnar Geirsson, MD (Valves) | ~1,500 | Yale CV Center; Ivy trials | $30K–$200K |
| 42 | Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center | Houston, TX | bcm.edu | O.H. “Bud” Frazier, MD (Innovation); Joseph S. Coselli, MD (shared) | ~2,000 | Texas Heart Institute; artificial hearts | $30K–$200K |
| 43 | Lenox Hill Hospital | New York, NY | northwell.edu | Jason J. Mack, MD (Structural); Jacob S. Scheinerman, MD (Valves) | ~1,900 | Northwell CV Institute; minimally invasive | $30K–$200K |
| 44 | University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center | Cleveland, OH | uhhospitals.org | UH Harrington Institute team | ~1,700 | Harrington Heart & Vascular; regional | $30K–$200K |
| 45 | UVA University Hospital | Charlottesville, VA | uvahealth.com | UVA valve surgeons | ~1,200 | Virginia CV excellence | $30K–$200K |
| 46 | Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center | Baltimore, MD | hopkinsmedicine.org | Hopkins network leads | ~800 | Bayview cardiac extension | $30K–$200K |
| 47 | MedStar Washington Hospital Center | Washington, DC | medstarhealth.org | MedStar TAVR experts | ~1,500 | Capital region hub | $30K–$200K |
| 48 | North Shore University Hospital | Manhasset, NY | northwell.edu | Northwell shared team | ~1,700 | Long Island Heart & Vascular | $30K–$200K |
| 49 | Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center | Milwaukee, WI | aurorahealthcare.org | Aurora specialists | ~1,200 | Wisconsin stroke network | $30K–$200K |
| 50 | UF Health Shands Hospital | Gainesville, FL | ufhealth.org | UF transplant team | ~900 | Florida Gator CV care | $30K–$200K |
| 51 | UAB Hospital (Healthgrades) | Birmingham, AL | uabmedicine.org | David C. McGiffin, MD (Transplants) | ~1,200 | UAB CV Institute; Southern research | $30K–$200K |
| 52 | Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center (Healthgrades) | San Francisco, CA | healthy.kaiserpermanente.org | Kaiser integrated team | ~800 | HMO preventive model | $30K–$200K |
| 53 | Hartford Hospital (Healthgrades) | Hartford, CT | hartfordhospital.org | John A. Elefteriades, MD (shared) | ~1,000 | Hartford HealthCare CV | $30K–$200K |
| 54 | Piedmont Hospital (Healthgrades) | Atlanta, GA | piedmont.org | Joseph I. Poole, MD (Interventional) | ~1,100 | Southeast stroke network | $30K–$200K |
| 55 | Kootenai Health (Healthgrades) | Coeur d’Alene, ID | kh.org | Regional specialists | ~600 | Inland Northwest care | $30K–$200K |
| 56 | Silver Cross Hospital (Healthgrades) | New Lenox, IL | silvercross.org | Chicago suburban team | ~700 | Will County cardiac | $30K–$200K |
| 57 | Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center (Healthgrades) | Carmel, IN | ascension.org | J. Michael Duncan, MD (Valves) | ~900 | Midwest transplants | $30K–$200K |
| 58 | St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center (Healthgrades) | Brighton, MA | steward.org | Tufts-affiliated team | ~800 | Community Boston focus | $30K–$200K |
| 59 | Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital (Healthgrades) | Grand Rapids, MI | corewellhealth.org | Beaumont shared leads | ~1,000 | Meijer Heart & Vascular | $30K–$200K |
| 60 | St. Luke’s Hospital (Healthgrades) | Chesterfield, MO | stlukes-stl.com | Barnes-Jewish affiliates | ~700 | Suburban St. Louis access | $30K–$200K |
Wrapping Up: Your Next Beat
This 60-strong roster spans coasts to heartland, each a beacon for beating odds. Prioritize by need (e.g., transplants to Mayo, valves to Mount Sinai) and proximity—many offer virtual consults. Remember, top rankings mean better odds, but your primary doc’s input is gold.
Heart health is a marathon; these centers help you sprint the tough miles. Questions? Comment away. Here’s to stronger tomorrows.
Sources: Newsweek 2025 Cardiac Rankings, Healthgrades 2025 Cardiac Surgery Awards, STS Database, HCUP costs. Verify with sites for latest.
