Mercy marks heart surgery milestone

Mercy Medical Center is proud to announce that its cardiac surgery team, led by Dr. C.C. Lee, completed its 1,000^th open heart surgery at Mercy. As the community’s most experienced cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, Dr. Lee has completed more than 15,000 cardiothoracic and vascular procedures throughout his career.

This milestone highlights Dr. Lee’s extensive expertise and dedication, as well as Mercy’s commitment to providing exceptional heart care to patients throughout Eastern Iowa.

“Reaching this milestone is a reflection of the exceptional team we have at Mercy,” Dr. Lee said. “Every successful surgery is the result of skilled, coordinated care from the cardiology team; office staff; cardiovascular OR team; dedicated ICU and floor cardiovascular nurses; and all the ancillary staff in the hospital. I’m proud of what we’ve built here, and I’m honored to be part of Mercy’s exemplary heart program.”

Since joining Mercy in 2017, Dr. Lee has played a central role in the growth and advancement of Mercy’s heart program. Under his leadership, Mercy has developed a comprehensive cardiothoracic and vascular surgery program that delivers high-quality care to patients in the Cedar Rapids community and beyond.

Mercy’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery program has received the distinguished three-star rating for open heart surgery – the highest rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons – five times. As the only area hospital to receive this prestigious award, it is a testament to the program’s strength and outcomes.

For more information about Mercy’s heart and vascular services, visit www.mercycare.org/heart.