The Words of our Patients Say it Best

Our primary goal is to provide the best patient care possible, and while we receive recognition and awards, nothing compares to the honor of hearing from our grateful patients. These stories provide future patients with indispensable insight into our values, compassion and approach to patients and their medical care.

Do You Know the Signs of a Heart Attack? Ron Feldman Tells His Story Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Most people think they know the signs of a heart attack. The chest pain and left arm numbness dramatically depicted in TV shows and movies are telltale signs - right? Ron Feldman, didn’t have sharp chest pains. Neither arm went numb. It wasn’t until Ron woke up the next morning, nauseous and short of breath that he knew something was wrong.

Brooklyn's First LVAD Patient Celebrates His 50th Wedding Anniversary Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Six months before celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary, Gene Laferlita had the conversation no patient wants to have with his doctor. "They couldn’t project how long I would live – but it would be a short time,” explains Gene. But luckily, there was a new procedure that could help.

Brooklyn Bus Driver Diagnosed with Rare Arrhythmia Wednesday, March 16, 2011 At the time, Steve Ciani, a born-and-bred Brooklyn bus driver of 33 years, didn’t know that November 13th, 2006 would be the last time he’d ever set foot on his bus. “But,” he says, “it was either luck or divine intervention that kept me off the road."

Robert 72, Accustomed to Living an Active Life, Needed a New Mitral Valve Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Robert, was accustomed to living an active life, but in New York he couldn't walk a few blocks without having to stop four or five times to rest. He interviewed leading surgeons in Manhattan but chose Dr. Ribakove of Maimonides Medical Center...

Josefina, 81-year old Jehovah Witnesses, Receives Bloodless Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Josefina, a Jehovah Witnesses, whose faith precludes the use of another's blood was willing to go home without a new valve rather than compromise her faith. But first her family wanted to consult with Dr. Ribakove. Could he replace an aortic valve without using blood?

Helen, Staten Island Resident, had a Myxoma (tumor) Removed from Her Heart Tuesday, October 12, 2010 When Helen turned seventy-five last year, her primary care physician recommended an echocardiogram as part of her annual examination. To her astonishment, the Echo revealed a myxoma, a rare life-threatening tumor growing on Helen’s heart.

Isaac, an Active, Successful Businessman, Had Life-Saving Aortic Resection Monday, October 11, 2010 While on a business trip 2,000 miles away, Isaac Sutton felt a strange bang in the center of his chest. He didn't panic, but when he returned home he went to visit his cardiologist. Dr. Joshua Kerstein of Maimonides Medical Center, immediately sensed something was wrong and sent him to cardiothoracic surgeon Israel Jacobowitz...

Evelyn, 27 Years Old, Recently Underwent Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair Monday, October 11, 2010 When Evelyn Valentine, a twenty-seven-year-old social worker in the Bronx, found herself short of breath for a few weeks, she thought she needed a vacation. But when the symptoms returned...

20 Year Old College Student Gets Aortic Valve Replacement Thursday, July 1, 2010 This 20 year old college student, needed an aortic valve replacement. So this summer during his summer break, Dr. Ribakove performed the minimally invasive procedure. Now three months later he is back at school...