Mount Sinai Medical Center celebrates new chief of cardiac surgery

Exclusive cocktail reception at the home of Stephen A. and Petra Levin

Mount Sinai Medical Center celebrated the arrival of Dr. Steven Xydas, the hospital’s new chief of cardiac surgery, with an exclusive cocktail reception at the elegant residence of Stephen A. and Petra Levin.

The unforgettable evening brought together some of Mount Sinai’s most ardent philanthropic supporters and medical center leadership. As a result of Mount Sinai’s cardiovascular affiliation with New York’s Columbia University, special guests in attendance included Craig R. Smith, M.D., New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center’s chair of the department of surgery and surgeon-in-chief, and Allan Schwartz, M.D., chief of the division of cardiology and vice chair of the department of medicine.

Dr. Xydas joins a stellar team of cardiothoracic surgeons already in place at Mount Sinai. For years, Mount Sinai has remained the region’s leader in cardiovascular services, offering the best cardiac surgery survival rate in Florida and the best heart attack survival rate in Miami-Dade County, according to the Agency for Healthcare Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State data also shows that Mount Sinai doctors perform more heart valve procedures than any other hospital in South Florida – and the second most in Florida – and cardiac surgery patients experience the shortest recovery time, compared to other hospitals in the county.

With a stunning sunset on Biscayne Bay providing a picturesque backdrop, guests sipped on cocktails and nibbled on hors d’oeuvres while marveling at the Levins’ collection of exquisite modern art. One of the most significant in Florida, the collection includes signature pieces by Andy Warhol, Roy Lechtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat and other notable artists.