Departmental News

DISTINGUISHED HEART SURGEON JOINS FACULTY: Introducing Our New Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery

On May 1, 1997, Irvin B. Krukenkamp, MD (third from left in photo), joined the Department's faculty as professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery. Coming to Stony Brook from Harvard University, Dr. Krukenkamp is a first-rate academic cardiothoracic surgeon whose clinical and research programs will further distinguish University Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. Krukenkamp directs the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and also co-directs the newly formed Heart Hospital. Performing the only open heart surgery in Suffolk County, he and his team of cardiothoracic surgeons specialize in high-risk and tertiary care types of surgical intervention; they provide consultation and surgical care for patients with advanced forms of heart, lung, and mediastinal disease.

Dr. Krukenkamp received his MD from the University of Maryland in 1982, and completed his residency training in general surgery at the University of Illinois in 1989. He then went on to complete a three-year clinical/research fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Harvard (Deaconess Hospital), after which he joined Harvard's surgical faculty in 1992.

In addition to all aspects of adult heart surgery, Dr. Krukenkamp's special clinical interests include coronary and valve surgery in the octogenarian; and operative management and myocardial protection of the profoundly dysfunctional heart.

Not only is Dr. Krukenkamp an active clinician, he is an active researcher as well. He is now setting up his laboratory in the Department of Surgery. His research interests include myocardial mechanics and energetics; myocardial protection by cardioplegia; and new endogenous myoprotective strategies utilizing preconditioning.

He is currently the principal investigator or co-investigator of three NIH-funded studies focusing on myocardial protection in the senescent heart; the electrophysiology of potassium channel opening; and the mechanics of ischemic myocardial preconditioning.

Dr. Krukenkamp is a member of the Executive Council of the National American Heart Association, and a long-standing member of an NIH study section on cardiac research.

For consultations/appointments with Dr. Krukenkamp, please call 516-444-1820.

Back to Departmental NewsReturn to Home Page