Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Adults
- Geriatrics
Languages
- English
Gender
MaleAbout Thoralf M Sundt
I was appointed the Director of the Mass General Brigham Cardiac Surgery Clinical Service in 2022, responsible for establishing a unified program across the two academic medical centers focused on delivering the highest quality patient care, developing the finest quality educational programs and fostering the most innovative research program in our specialty as a part of the evolving MGB Cardiac and Vascular Institute. I returned to Mass General in 2011 as Chief of Cardiac Surgery, the institution in which I completed my training in general surgery. Over the years since we have cultivated an outstanding multidisciplinary team of caregivers of which I am most proud. More recently I have been given the opportunity to bring the MGH team together with the equally talented team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at BWH to establish what neither institution could accomplish alone. The synergy made possible by the union of these caregivers creates a platform for care, education and innovation unequalled in the nation and in the world.
My personal background includes undergraduate education at Princeton University, medical school at Johns Hopkins University and cardiac surgical training at Washington University in St Louis after my general surgery training at MGH. After an additional year of training in London, I returned to St. Louis where I practiced the full range of adult cardiac surgery including the use of arteries rather than veins for bypass grafts in the treatment of coronary artery disease, expertise in valve repair and replacement, and the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm disease. In 2001 I relocated to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota where I remained on staff for 10 years first as a staff surgeon and then as Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery. At Mayo Clinic, I developed a research interest in Human Factors and Patient Safety.
Since returning to Boston, I have maintained a broad clinical practice ranging from the use of arterial conduits for coronary bypass, to aortic and mitral valve repair and complex valve reoperations as well as treatment of aortic valve disease. I also perform septal reduction for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and have found my experience in pericardiectomy for pericardial constriction and recurrent relapsing pericarditis to be a unique strength.
My passion is for developing multidisciplinary teams delivering optimal surgical care in a patient centered, supportive and compassionate manner. I believe it is our role to care for the members of our community, our region and the world. I believe we are uniquely positioned to make a lasting and important positive impact on the care of cardiovascular disease.
Video
Locations
- Massachusetts General Cardiac Surgery Clinic at the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
- 55 Fruit Street, Cox Building, 6th Floor, Suite 630, Boston, MA 02114
- Get Directions
- phone: 617-724-0800
- fax: 617-726-5804
Expertise
Education
- Fellowship: Harefield Hospital, Cardiac Surgery, 1994
- Fellowship: Barnes Jewish Hospital, Cardiothoracic Surgery, 1993
- Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, General Surgery, 1991
- Fellowship: National Cancer Institute, Immunology, 1989
- Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital, General Surgery, 1985
- Medical Education: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1984
Board Certifications
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 1996
Insurance
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid CT
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid NY
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- Tufts Medicare Preferred
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Ratings & Reviews
5 out of 5
51 ratings, 24 reviewsThe Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.
- Reviewed on 1/29/2026
Very thorough and positive discussion. Although I had to wait a long time at the visit, he apologized and spent as much time as I needed for the visit. He had reviewed my situation and had clear guidance as to what were next steps.
- Reviewed on 1/28/2026
Very knowledgeable about my condition and asking if I had a questions. Didn't feel rushed.
- Reviewed on 1/28/2026
Who could ask for better!
- Reviewed on 1/3/2026
Dr Sundt was amazing. Clear, patient withy questions, kind, highly knowledgable -- great bedside manner, even online! Honestly one of the best experiences I've had with a doctor .... he's a role model for what medical care should be.
- Reviewed on 12/7/2025
Dr. Sundt sets the standard on excellence.His experience, knowledge,relating to patients, informativeness, judgement, and leadership is of great value to patients.
- Reviewed on 11/30/2025
They were all very informative.
- Reviewed on 11/22/2025
Excellent experience. Dr. Sundt provided a caring, supportive approach to my questions.
- Reviewed on 11/16/2025
This was my first visit to Brigham and Women's Hospital. I was referred to Dr. Sundt by my provider at [redacted]. Dr. Sundt was totally familiar with my medical history and he took the time to listen to me, explain his opinion on my case, and reassure me. I cannot thank him enough for seeing me and I'll follow up with him in one year, as he recommended.
- Reviewed on 10/26/2025
Dr.Sundt was very reassuring and made you feel very comfortable.He was extremely knowledgeable but also very willing to discuss any concerns or questions you might have. He made me feel I was in good hands
- Reviewed on 10/10/2025
He listened carefully, asked pertinent questions, invited us to voice our questions and concerns, and; responded to those with empathy and a clear path of next steps
- Reviewed on 9/20/2025
I think I saw the best Doctor I could expect.
- Reviewed on 9/15/2025
The provider provided excellent services and team members provided all the best services.
- Reviewed on 9/13/2025
This was my first appointment with Dr. Sundt and he was wonderful. I hope I don't have to have open heart surgery but if I do he is the one I want
- Reviewed on 8/22/2025
Fortunate to have him at Brigham!
- Reviewed on 8/22/2025
Dr Sundt was respectful, polite, interested and most of all informative. I know he is a busy man but he recalled my medical history and recent test and was able to discuss them with me. I was impressed and relieved that he will be doing my surgery.
- Reviewed on 8/19/2025
MGH is consistently exceptional
- Reviewed on 8/16/2025
Dr. Sundt was kind and understanding. He took the time to review all the imaging and explained what the issues were. It was helpful to see the images as he was explaining.
- Reviewed on 8/11/2025
It was a good experience.
- Reviewed on 7/15/2025
Virtual meeting was convenient considering I'm far from the hospital
- Reviewed on 7/12/2025
Dr. Sundt is exceptional and sets the standard for excellence. As the saying goes "God made him and then broke the mold".
- Reviewed on 7/12/2025
Dr. Sundt is most informative, personable and caring. He patiently answered my questions and put my mind at ease.
- Reviewed on 6/5/2025
Excellent information in an easy-to-understand presentation.
- Reviewed on 5/29/2025
He was a very nice doctor, treated me with respect. I asked questions and he answered them all. I would recommend him to anybody. He was very, very nice.
- Reviewed on 4/23/2025
Outstanding provider. Highly recommend.