Department of Surgery at Danbury Hospital

The Department of Surgery provides a full range of surgical treatments using cutting edge techniques and technologies, including minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

Our surgeons are dedicated to a higher level of surgical care and have been recognized with many awards and designations.

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
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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.

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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

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Director, Breast Care Program

Valerie Lynne Staradub, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Director, Breast Care Program

Dr. 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.

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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

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Co-Director, Joint Replacement Program

Sanjay Gupta, M.D.

Co-Director of the Joint Replacement Program

Dr. Gupta specializes in minimally invasive techniques for hip and knee replacement. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and completed a two-year fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Lenox Hill Hospital.

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Procedures and Specialties

Hip replacement
Hip resurfacing
Computer-assisted hip and knee replacement
Revision hip replacement
Total knee replacement
Revision knee replacement
Partial knee replacement
Trauma surgery

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Medical Director, Women's Imaging

David R. Gruen, M.D.

Medical Director of Women's Imaging

Dr. Gruen is fellowship trained, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in MRI, CT and Ultrasound. He is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners, American Board of Radiology and MQSA.

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Procedures and Specialties

Mammography
Breast Ultrasound
Breast MRI
Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy
High Risk Breast Cancer Evaluation

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Medical Director, Sports Medicine Program

D. Ross Henshaw, M.D.

Medical Director of Sports Medicine Program

Dr. Ross Henshaw is the Medical Director of the Sports Medicine Program at Danbury Hospital. Fellowship trained, he specializes in treating shoulder and sports-related injuries in athletes of all ages from the recreational to professional. Most procedures can be completed with a minimally invasive approach offering less pain, small incisions and quick recovery times.

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Procedures and Specialties

Shoulder, knee and hip arthroscopy
Total shoulder arthroplasty
Multiligament knee reconstruction
Elbow arthroscopy and ligament reconstruction
Osteoarthritis
Sports Medicine

Cartilage Restoration and Preservation Techniques

ACI
OATS
Meniscal transplant
Osteotomy

“Physicians and patients alike should understand that Orthopedics has become extremely sub-specialized. Patients should see the best trained physician in their area of need in order to become educated about all available treatments and ultimately, to achieve the best outcomes.”

Surgery