About Dr. Dominic Emerson,
Heart Valve Surgeon

"It’s now been exactly 3 weeks since I had open heart surgery at Cedars-Sinai. I’d had aortic stenosis and an underperforming aortic valve for years (aka – Bicuspid Aortic Valve). This had also contributed to a dangerous aneurysm in my ascending aorta carrying blood away from my heart. Around 16 months before we uncovered the valve issues, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.

Back then, I was morbidly obese (around 310 lbs at 5’11”), a 20-year smoker, hardly ever exercised, and ate as much fast food as humanly possible. Over that 16-month period, I lost nearly 150 pounds, quit smoking, exercised daily, and started eating a heart-healthy diet. Things seemed to be getting better, but some 6 weeks before surgery, my heart failure symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain, and edema/swelling) had returned. That’s when a CT scan discovered my Bicuspid Aortic Valve and that the aneurysm had grown to 5 centimeters – the danger zone. I needed surgery — fast. And Dr. Emerson and his team took care of me. Thinking back, not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought about the dozens of people that worked so hard to help save my life. Suffice to say that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what to say and write. Dr. Emerson and the surgical team saved my life by fixing what was broken with my heart.

Dr. Emerson - the man – the myth – the legend. During my initial meeting with Dr. Jad Malas, he introduced Dr. Emerson as my surgeon. I then went on to read everything I could about Dr. Emerson. Where he went to school. How long he’d been practicing. I read everything I could find about him and watched all the YouTube videos he’s featured on. When Dr. Emerson walked into my hospital room the week before surgery, I felt like I was meeting a celebrity. I had spent most of the last 24 hours learning about him and the Ross Procedure.

Dr. Emerson took the time to answer all my questions during that first meeting, and every subsequent meeting we had. I knew he was my kind of guy from that first meeting, when I asked him how serious my condition was, and how long I could wait before surgery. He calmly explained that he didn’t advise me to wait months or weeks. He rightly sensed that I had some trepidation. When he suggested surgery on Thursday, February 13, I countered with Friday, February 14. My logic: getting a “new heart” on Valentine’s Day would make for a much cooler story! Dr. Emerson laughed, but quickly said delaying it a day should be fine and agreed that it would make for a better story. I thought, “yep, my kind of guy.” Then, on the morning of the surgery, Dr. Emerson walked in and said, “hey guy” and had this incredible amount of confidence that really consoled me.

Then, in an instant, his confidence turned into compassion when he put his hand my shoulder. I’ll never forget when he said many people usually apologize to him at that moment – but that I have nothing to apologize for. It was perfectly ok for me to be scared. And while a lot of people are comforted by being told that these surgeries are “normal,” I, for one, did not feel that way. Dr. Emerson understood my feelings and so he added, “nothing about what was going to happen to me that day was normal.”

Those words were tremendously helpful, especially since every person I spoke to, including every article and blog that I read, and YouTube video I watched over the previous 7-8 days explained that “It’s normal. It’s routine. They do a million of these a year.” But again, to me – the patient – nothing about it was routine or normal. That was my own perspective and those were my feelings. So, it was refreshing to hear that the man about to do the surgery had empathy for me. He then explained that there will be a dozen or so people in that room making sure I do ok, and that I shouldn’t worry – so, I didn’t. Thank you, Dr. Emerson!

There were other members of Dr. Emerson’s team that were also tremendously helpful. One was his co-surgeon, the internationally renowned Dr. Trento, who has trained surgeons for decades, including Dr. Emerson and Dr. Malas. Dr. Jad Malas spent a lot of time with me. He wanted me to know that I had 3 options, (1) Bio-prosthetic valve, (2) Mechanical valve, or (3) the Ross Procedure. In the preceding 24-hours, I spent almost all my time reading about options 1 and 2, and never once came across anything about the Ross Procedure.

At the end of our meeting, Dr. Malas advised that I start including it in my research, and then come to him and Dr. Emerson with any and all questions I might have. And before he was out of my line of sight, I was already on my phone researching the Ross Procedure. I liked the idea of the Ross procedure because it meant that my aortic valve could be replaced by my own pulmonary valve – which is my own tissue. The pulmonary valve is then replaced by a donor valve, most often from a deceased person, meaning that the repair can last decades longer. It also means that my ascending aorta, which needs to be removed due to the aneurysm, can be replaced with my own pulmonary trunk, which is also connected to my pulmonary valve.

Dr. Emerson explained to me that having my aortic valve replaced with my own tissue means that the repairs could last for forty years – as opposed to just fifteen years with an animal valve - which is tremendously helpful to a younger patient, like me. Throughout all my deliberations about this, Dr. Malas was there for my questions. And after surgery, Dr. Malas was the guy keeping me updated by visiting me every morning in the ICU and continuing to answer all my questions. Thank you, Dr. Malas!

And several of the nurses in the ICU were constantly thinking of me. A special shout out to Giovanni Acorda; Yasmin Faggin; Hyun Yoon; Laurina Call; and Dionisio Sabayan – you were all awesome and really did me a solid! They were all so great to me that I actually hated having to say good-bye to them when it was time to go to the step-down unit. But this meant I was getting ready to go home. And when I got to the step-down unit, nurses like Victor Flores and Tracy Kinell were constantly taking care of me - giving me medicine, swapping out bags, and pumping me with different fluids. I think I made it a bit of a long night for them, but I slept through most of it because of a new pain medicine that they gave me. And then there was Abbygail Chavez-Gonzalez and Lauren Auerbach, who took me for my last hospital walk, explained what I could and could not do once I got home, and even got me a second heart pillow once I got home because I had lost my first one. No need of mine – large or small – got past these nurses. All of them were incredible. I thank them all.

I also have to say “thank-you” to Dr. Emerson’s scheduler, Mary Alvarado. Mary was my lifeline to Dr. Emerson. There were times I called and emailed her 3 or 4 times a day. Heck, I even remember emailing her just to let her know I was going to call her. Yeah, I turned into “that guy” during those 2 weeks. Not once did she forget to call me back. Not once was there an email that didn’t get answered. Mary handled my insurance approvals, and all the crazy volumes of forms that needed to get completed and distributed. She kept me in the loop through every step of a complex maze. Because of Mary, what could have been a complicated, stressful situation with all the appointment making and insurance approvals all became smooth and easy. Mary being in charge of all of that meant that I could focus my attention on just my medical issues without worrying about making all the arrangements. So, I special big thank you to Mary! She saved me more stress than I can imagine!

All I can say is wow! Dr. Emerson, the other doctors, the ICU and step-down unit nursing teams, and their scheduler – what an amazing team! I came in feeling unsure and scared. But they talked to me, answered my questions, and got me through it. Dr. Emerson and his team really did me a solid – and if you ever need them – they’ll make you feel that way, too!"

-- Christopher Kradjian, Aortic Valve, Pulmonary Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, Ross Procedure, 02/14/2025

"I am so blessed to have had Dr. Dominic Emerson perform my robotic mitral valve repair. He was very kind and caring, the absolute best bedside manner. My surgery was a complete surprise a week before Christmas and had to be done immediately.

I had met with a cardiologist earlier that day and then ended up at Cedars with Dr. Emerson. With no time to do major research, he very knowledgeably answered all my questions and gave me my options. He put a very scared lady completely at ease. I was blessed to end up in his hands as the next day he left with his family for the holidays.

Thank you Dr. Emerson, my cardiologist said you did a fantastic job!! I feel great and I’m only taking a baby aspirin once a week! "

-- N Morgan, Mitral Valve, Valve Repair, Robotic Surgery, 12/20/2024

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