David Kalfa, MD

David M. Kalfa, MD, PhD 
Chief, Cardiovascular Surgery 
Co-Director, Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute 
Professor, Surgery and Pediatrics, FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Dr. David Kalfa is a pediatric cardiac surgeon and serves as chief of Cardiovascular Surgery and co-director of the Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute. He earned his medical degree from the University of Marseilles in France and a doctorate in cardiovascular tissue engineering from Paris Descartes University. Dr. Kalfa completed postdoctoral training in pediatric cardiac surgery at Marie Lannelongue Hospital, Paris Sud University, in France. He then pursued advanced training in cardiac surgery at Laval Hospital in Quebec, Canada. He then completed advanced pediatric cardiac surgery training at Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Dr. Kalfa is also a faculty member of the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine as a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Surgical Sciences.

An internationally recognized expert in pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery, Dr. Kalfa brings to the Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute deep experience in complex neonatal heart procedures, advanced pediatric valve repair, adult congenital heart procedures and heart/valve transplants. His clinical practice is closely tied to his research, which focuses on improving the safety and effectiveness of surgery for children with congenital heart disease. He is a pioneer in developing and utilizing cutting-edge technologies, innovative growth-accommodating cardiovascular devices and minimally invasive hybrid and robotic techniques to enhance outcomes and reduce complications. His work aims to improve not only survival, but also long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and sustained quality of life in children with complex cardiac conditions. His appointment underscores Nicklaus Children's commitment to innovation and excellence in pediatric cardiovascular care.

Before joining Nicklaus Children's, Dr. Kalfa served as the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City and site director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian – Cornell University. He also led key programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, including as surgical director of the Initiative for Pediatric Cardiac Innovation and director of the Pediatric Heart Valve Center. He currently leads multiple multicenter clinical and translational studies in the United States and Europe, and international initiatives to develop next-generation pediatric heart valves. Dr. Kalfa innovates solutions to improve outcomes for children with congenital heart defects, including growing heart valves, new transplant techniques, new robotic and minimally invasive techniques, AI-based technologies and regenerative approaches.

In his role as chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr. Kalfa provides medical leadership and oversees all clinical, operational and quality activities. As co-director of the Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute, he shares responsibility for setting strategy and overseeing all clinical care, quality metrics, teaching, research and fiscal planning for the program.

Dr. Kalfa is a member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, contributed to major surgical textbooks, and presented at top medical conferences around the world.

He is employed by Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists (NCPS), the multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children's Health System.

Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute is a leader in interventional and surgical care for children with congenital heart disease. Since 2018, the program has sustained a 97.5 percent survival rate for its heart surgery program, making it one of the best performing in the state and the leading program in South Florida.