Christian Pizarro, MD

Christian Pizarro, MD, is the Director of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Transplantation as well as Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Pizarro, a native of Chile, obtained his MD from the University of Chile. Subsequently, completed his training in General Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania Health System, followed by Cardiothoracic Residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In addition, Dr. Pizarro completed fellowships in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London, UK. 

He holds board certification by the American Board of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery and is a member of multiple professional societies, where he serves in leadership positions, including the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association for Thoracic Surgery and European Association of Thoracic Surgery.

His clinical and research interests include neonatal cardiac surgery, single ventricle management, complex biventricular repairs, heart transplantation, surgery for aortic aneurysms in patients with congenital heart disease and tracheal reconstruction.

Dr. Pizarro has participated in numerous international meetings and delivered invited lectures worldwide. His medical humanitarian experience included his role as the lead surgeon in pediatric cardiac surgical missions with the Hearts with Hope foundation and the NY–based Surgeons of Hope, where he has served as a Board member. Dr. Pizarro is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, including landmark papers in the management of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, single ventricle palliation, neonatal surgery, Ebstein anomaly and aortic aneurysms.

Dr. Pizarro speaks several languages including Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.