Dr. Bledi Zaku
Chief, Department of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery · St. Joseph's Health
Dr. Bledi Zaku is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon and Chief of the Department of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery at St. Joseph’s Health, where he provides leadership and oversight for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery services across the health system.
Dr. Zaku specializes in adult cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass surgery, mitral valve repair and replacement, minimally invasive transcatheter valve procedures, and complex reconstructive surgery of the aorta.
His expertise includes valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction and aortic arch surgery for complex aneurysms.
His training includes a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College. Today, his work combines complex clinical care, surgical innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and healthcare leadership.
At the Albanian-American Student Summit, Dr. Zaku brings students a perspective on the journey from medical training and clinical practice to surgical specialization and executive healthcare leadership.