Dr. David Kalfa’s appointment is the first joint hire of a new academic partnership between the two organizations
Dr. David M. Kalfa, a pioneer in developing minimally invasive surgical approaches to treating congenital heart defects, will join Nicklaus Children’s as chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Surgery and co-director of the Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute on Sept. 1. He also will serve as a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Surgical Sciences and a researcher at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Dr. Kalfa is the first joint hire through FIU’s affiliation with Nicklaus Children’s, South Florida's only specialty licensed children's hospital, and is one of the many Nicklaus Children's pediatric specialists who will serve as faculty in the college's Department of Pediatrics.
Renowned for his skill in complex neonatal cardiac surgery and advanced pediatric valve repair, Dr. Kalfa has developed tissue-engineered cardiovascular devices and minimally invasive surgical approaches. His clinical work is closely integrated with research focused on improving safety, long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and overall quality of life for children with heart defects.
Dr. Kalfa currently leads multiple multicenter clinical studies in the United States and Europe, including an international initiative to develop next-generation pediatric heart valves. His research spans innovative areas such as AI-guided surgical planning, regenerative medicine, robotic surgery, and transplant innovation.
Dr. Kalfa is excited to join Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute, contributing his expertise to an organization renowned for first-in-the-world innovations and groundbreaking procedures. He looks forward to supporting the institute’s continued growth and advancing its vision for future generations.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. David Kalfa to Nicklaus Children’s as chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Surgery, co-director of our Heart Institute, and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Surgical Sciences at Florida International University. Dr. Kalfa, our first joint hire with FIU, is a world-renowned leader in pediatric and congenital heart surgery whose commitment to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our mission,” said Matthew A. Love, president and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. "His expertise in complex neonatal procedures and groundbreaking research will elevate the level of care available to children and families across Florida and beyond.”
In his new roles, Dr. Kalfa will lead all clinical, operational, and quality initiatives for the Section of Cardiovascular Surgery, while co-directing strategy, research, education, and patient care across the Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute. Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute is recognized as a regional and national leader in the care of children with congenital heart disease. Since 2018, the Institute has maintained a 97.5% surgical survival rate, making it one of the top-performing programs in Florida and the leader in South Florida.
“Dr. Kalfa exemplifies the powerful pipeline our partnership has created to recruit world-class pediatric faculty and specialists who will help us deliver groundbreaking care and inspire families who may have been given little reason to hope,” said Dr. Juan Cendan, dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Dr. Kalfa joins Nicklaus Children’s from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, where he served as the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Surgery. He also led 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.
A native of France, Dr. Kalfa earned his medical degree from the University of Marseille and a Ph.D. in cardiovascular tissue engineering from Paris Descartes University. He completed postdoctoral training in pediatric cardiac surgery at Marie Lannelongue Hospital, Paris Sud University, followed by advanced surgical training in Quebec, Canada.
Dr. Kalfa is employed by Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists, the multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
About FIU
Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 330,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars, and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health, and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.