About Dr. Dominick Megna,
Heart Valve Surgeon

"My story begins with my family. Losing my brother to a heart attack four years ago was devastating. But sometimes it’s what we learn from our pain that makes all the difference. When that difficult loss occurred, my cardiologist, Dr. Erika Jones, recommended a full workup of my own heart, including genetic testing. At first, I was scared and put it off for a year. But then, I took the plunge and underwent a battery of tests. Genetic testing showed no problems with my heart. But an ultrasound of my heart did show something. That’s when the silent killer was discovered - a 4.8 cm bulge in my aorta that was well past the 3 cm normal measurement. I had heard of aneurysms before. As an entertainment editor for Variety Magazine in Hollywood, I knew that John Ritter died when his burst. And Jonathan Larson, the composer of the Broadway musical Rent, died suddenly from a ruptured aneurysm the night before its off-Broadway premiere. He was just 35. So, I already knew that my problem was serious, and I immediately became a partner in my own care. That’s when Dr. Jones referred me to my surgeon, Dr. Dominick Megna, at Cedars. Dr. Megna and Dr. Jones started tracking my aneurysm right away. Within a year of my first meeting with Dr. Megna in the spring of 2024, the measurement grew to 4.9 cm. That’s when Dr. Megna said that I should have surgery as soon as possible to avoid a fatal rupture incident, and because “the older you get, the harder the recovery.”

Dr. Megna and his entire staff were simply incredible. When my surgery had to be postponed due a scheduling change at the hospital, Dr. Megna called to tell me personally. Then, during my prep for surgery, when Dr. Megna came in, I asked him to pray for me. He agreed and said that prayer was important to him, too. After surgery, as I lay in the ICU waiting for the different tubes to be pulled out, the nurses were simply angels on earth. Tina Noori took especially good care of me, as did Kyla Miller, and two NP’s - Theresa Yeomans and Marion McCrae. Marion was Dr. Megna’s clinic nurse practitioner, and she was there for me every time I came in for an appointment. And then there was Dr. Megna, himself. He has a great bedside manner. He makes everyone feel comfortable. I later learned that Dr. Megna had a co-surgeon, Dr. Pedro Catarino. So, I have to recommend and thank Dr. Catarino for my great outcome, too. I had a bit of A-fib after my surgery and stayed on oxygen for a while. But I was home in eight days and kept taking longer walks every time I went out. During my months at home, I met with a physical therapist three times per week and regained my strength with three months of cardiac rehab, which included walking on a treadmill and riding a stationary bicycle. Throughout my recovery, Dr. Megna and Dr. Jones always answered all my questions. Every time I had the slightest concern, they calmed me down a lot. My aorta once again measures a perfect 3 cm. And even better - my scar barely even shows!

I love being back walking my dogs and living my life. Now, just over six months since surgery, I’ve just made my first trips to Las Vegas and New York for work and vacation. In fact, I recently presented an award to the CEO of Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Peter Slavin, for the hospital’s support of Project Angel Food. And I have a new cause - aortic awareness. I’ve been inspired by John Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, who founded The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health with a mission of promoting more awareness of the silent killer, and for ensuring that the African American community, which is disproportionately affected, receives adequate care. As an entertainment editor, I attend a lot of award shows and am often asked for my opinion. But when it comes to heart surgery, I’ll make it simple: All the awards should go to Dr. Megna and his entire care team, because they’re the REAL THING! Dr. Megna, his co-surgeon Dr. Catarino, and the choir of angels serving as their nurses — will always get a rave review from this Hollywood reporter."

-- Marc Malkin, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 03/19/2025

"I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional care I received throughout my surgery and recovery — especially from Dr. Megna. From our very first consultation, he made me feel confident, reassured, and truly heard. His professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail were evident every step of the way.

Dr. Megna, along with the broader surgical team, took the time to carefully review my scans, walk me through what to expect, and ensure I felt prepared and supported. His judgment, especially in timing and approach, was spot-on — and I trusted him completely.

The surgery went remarkably smoothly. I was well cared for from the moment I arrived, experienced minimal pain, and didn’t even require pain medication afterward. The nursing staff was fantastic and played a key role in supporting my smooth recovery, which went exactly as Dr. Megna had described.

What stood out most was how accessible, personable, and present Dr. Megna was throughout the process — qualities you don’t always expect from a surgeon. He was not only technically skilled but also compassionate and engaged, which made a world of difference during such a vulnerable time.

Thanks to his care and expertise, my recovery exceeded expectations. Within four months, I was fully back to my daily activities and feeling better than ever. I’m deeply thankful to Dr. Megna and the entire team for giving me not just a successful surgery, but peace of mind and a full return to health."

-- G A, Aortic Valve, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement, 08/14/2024

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