08/27/2026
We’re proud to share this milestone involving Baptist Health physicians who also provide Heart & Vascular Care at South Miami Hospital.
Making history in pediatric heart care!
The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute has completed Florida’s first pediatric robotic-assisted cardiac surgery, and one of only a few performed nationwide.
Using a robotic-assisted surgical system, the team repaired an atrial septal defect (ASD) in a child through a minimally invasive approach. For qualified patients, this technique offers smaller incisions, less discomfort, and a faster recovery compared with traditional open-heart surgery.
The milestone procedure was led by Dr. David Kalfa, chief of cardiovascular surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute and professor/researcher at FIU Medicine, in collaboration with Dr. Tom C. Nguyen, chief medical executive of Baptist Health’s Baptist Health Heart & Vascular care and director of minimally invasive surgery with Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and chair and professor of cardiovascular sciences at FIU Medicine and Dr. Makoto Hashimoto, cardiac surgeon at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and director of robotic cardiac surgery at FIU Medicine.
This achievement reflects the expertise and collaboration of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Florida International University—bringing innovative congenital heart care closer to children and families in Florida.