New Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Launches at Columbia

Dr. Tricia Brentjens, interim chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, today announced the creation of the new Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (PCTA) at Columbia. The division will serve as an academic and clinical home for the rapidly advancing subspecialty and support the continued development of the department’s ACGME-accredited PCTA fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital (CHONY). Functioning as a distinct unit, the PCTA division will maintain strategic integration with the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology to ensure seamless collaboration and coordinated staffing across CHONY.

Dr. Richard J. Levy has been appointed inaugural chief of the division. A nationally recognized leader in pediatric anesthesiology, Dr. Levy will oversee all clinical and academic operations within PCTA. He continues to serve as the department’s Vice Chair for Pediatric Anesthesiology Laboratory Research and to lead his NIH-funded basic science program.

Joining Dr. Levy on the division’s leadership team are

• Dr. Anthony Clapcich, Clinical Director, former Director of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia at CHONY
• Dr. Riva Ko, Director of Quality and Safety
• Dr. Anthony Habib, Director of Education and Program Director for the Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship

Together, they will guide the division’s clinical care, education, research, and quality initiatives. The division also includes Drs. Philipp Houck, Caleb Ing, Amy Mesa Jonassen, and Tatiana Kubacki, all experts in pediatric cardiothoracic anesthesiology.

The launch of the PCTA division affirms Columbia’s national leadership in pediatric anesthesiology and marks a major step forward in transforming care for children with complex cardiac disease.