Steven Lansman, MD, will serve as interim director.
VALHALLA, NY (November 17, 2021) –Westchester Medical Center Director of Surgery Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS, has been named the Minister of Health for the Republic of Kosovo.
Westchester Medical Center is initiating a search for Dr. Latifi’s replacement as he accepts his new role to be based in Kosovo. Steven Lansman, MD, currently Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, will serve as interim director.
Dr. Latifi joined Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) in 2016, bringing with him surgical expertise in trauma, general surgery, and critical care with special interests in complex re-operative surgery, and nutritional support of critically ill patients. During his tenure as Director of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, the surgery program has expanded its geographic reach and continues to specialize in advanced surgical services such as organ transplantation, burn, Level I adult and pediatric trauma, cardiac, thoracic, acute care surgery and more.
“Shortly after his arrival Dr. Latifi explained he would lead the Department of Surgery by honoring the past while building for the future, and began the geographic expansion of the program by recruiting surgeons with advanced training in their field to our organization,” said Renee Garrick, MD, Chief Medical Officer, WMCHealth. “We thank Dr. Latifi for his contributions, wish him luck in his important new role and look forward to identifying Westchester Medical Center’s next Director of Surgery.”
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to build the surgical services at WMCHealth during the past six years,” said Dr. Latifi. “My colleagues are among the best in the world and I know that I am leaving our community and patients in talented hands. The support of our organization and team as I accept this new professional challenge has been touching and gratifying.”
Dr. Latifi is known internationally as an advocate for healthcare in developing nations, particularly the delivery of advanced medicine services to underserved nations via telemedicine. He has spent the last two decades building telemedicine networks around the world that enable physicians to care for patients remotely.
CONTACT:
Andy LaGuardia
914.493.6532
[email protected]