Welcome.
The Danbury Hospital Department of Surgery is one of the leading surgery departments in the state of Connecticut and is comprised of over 150 surgeons. Our goal is to provide the highest level of complex and innovative surgical care, education for the next generation of surgeons as well as groundbreaking quality enhancements and clinical research.
Collaborations among our specialties and with our medical colleagues result in cutting-edge care delivery to our patients. Our commitment to quality and the most advanced treatments encourages us to incorporate promising new therapies combined with the highest standards of care.
We are continually cultivating a unique environment to further our mission of clinical practice, clinical research, and education. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, and our strategic vision emphasizes:
- Premier multidisciplinary clinical programs anchored in evidence-based medicine and distinguished by leading-edge technology
- High quality training programs that encompass all aspects of surgical practice within a unique framework of ethics and professionalism
- Incorporation of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) to constantly review and improve surgical outcomes
- Stewardship of the Danbury Hospital Department of Surgery and its legacy, leading by example to meet complex and dynamic challenges that face the Danbury community and greater metropolitan area
We hope you find the information on this web site helpful and invite you to learn more about our outstanding program.
Pierre F. Saldinger, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Chairman, Department of Surgery
Carmen L. and Peter Buck Chair of Surgery
Chairman, Department of Surgery The Carmen L. and Peter Buck Chair in Surgery Director
Surgical Residency Program Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of Vermont College of Medicine
Find a Doctor Profile
Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cary S. Passik, M.D.
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery Dr. Passik is the Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of Vermont School of Medicine.
Find a Doctor Profile
Dr. Passik is the Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of Vermont School of Medicine.
Procedures and Specialties
Open Heart Surgery Procedures:
- Coronary artery bypass, leaking or stenotic heart valve repair and replacement
- Heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Aortic and LV Aneurysm Repair:
- Repair of aortic dissection
- Use of multiple arterial bypass grafts
- Ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation
- Minimizing transfusion use after heart surgery
Related Centers and Departments
Director, Breast Care Program
Valerie Lynne Staradub, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Director, Breast Care ProgramDr. Staradub is the only fellowship-trained breast surgeon at Danbury Hospital and the surrounding area. She is the Medical Director of Danbury Hospital’s Breast Care Program.
Find a Doctor Profile
Prior to coming to Danbury Hospital, Dr. Staradub was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and was on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Staradub treats both benign and malignant (cancer) breast problems.
Procedures and Specialties
- Breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
- Minimally invasive procedures; core biopsy and fine needle aspiration
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy
- Mastectomy (including skin-sparing techniques)
- Collaboration with reconstructive surgeons to offer immediate reconstructive procedures
Related Centers and Departments
Director, Comprehensive Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Center
Steven L. Brandwein, M.D.
Director of the Comprehensive Liver, Pancreas and Biliary CenterDr. Brandwein is specialty trained in advanced endoscopic techniques. He is dedicated to the discovery and application of new advancements. His team was the first to do the Spyglass cholangioscopy in Connecticut with hundreds conducted to date.
Find a Doctor Profile
Procedures and Specialties
- Biliary tract disease: ERCP/Stone removal/Stent placement and Spyglass cholangioscopy
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Stenting for malignant and benign diseases
Related Centers and Departments
Director, Robotic Surgery
J. James Bruno II, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Director of Robotic SurgeryDr. Bruno is a highly credentialed, board certified urologist. He is the Director of Robotic Surgery at Danbury Hospital.
Find a Doctor Profile
Dr. Bruno provides the latest treatments and surgical options to combat the full array of urologic disorders. He has a track record of excellent outcomes in minimally invasive urologic surgery, offering his patients the benefit of short stays and quicker recovery.
Procedures and Specialties
- Oncological physiology and pathology of renal cell and prostate carcinoma
- Percutaneous/laparoscopic cryotherapy of kidney tumors
- Endourological management of stone disease
- Urethral reconstructive surgery
Laparoscopic and Robotic (DaVinci) Surgery
- Radical Robotic Prostatectomy
- Laparoscopic Kidney surgery
- Robotic Pyeloplasty
Related Centers and Departments
Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Shohreh Shahabi, M.D.
Chair of Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Chair of the Reproductive Tumor Biology Research Laboratory at Danbury Hospital Biomedical Research Institute
Gynecologist Oncologist and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Vermont School of MedicineTreating all complex and benign gynecological issues, Dr. Shahabi is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Shahabi and her team offer a multidisciplinary approach that offers patients the skill and special expertise of many for optimal outcomes.
Find a Doctor Profile
A noted surgeon, researcher, teacher and author, Dr. Shahabi brings a wide range of experiences to her gynecologic work. Before joining Danbury Hospital, Dr. Shahabi was director of gynecologic oncology division and head of the Gynecologic Oncology Research Laboratory, Moses Division at Montefiore Medical Center, which is part of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Procedures and Specialties
- Advanced pelvic surgery for incontinence, fibroids, adnexal masses and pelvic floor prolapse
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Omentectomy
- Pelvic node sampling and dissection
- Para-aortic node sampling and dissection
- Radical hysterectomy
- Radical vulvectomy; cystoscopy/sigmoidoscopy for cervical cancer staging
- Bowel resection and/or anastomosis
- Ureteral anastomosis or repair
- Colostomy repair
- Pelvic exteneration
Treatment of the Following Cancers:
- Ovary, vaginal, vulva
- Cervix
- Endometrium
- Fallopian tube
- Peritoneal
Related Centers and Departments
Sections of the Department of Surgery