Damien Chicarilli, RPA-C

Damien Chicarilli is the Chief Physician Assistant for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai.

Overall the Department has over 30 full time physician assistants dedicated to cardiothoracic surgery, and Damien is responsible for organizing the overall schedule that provides continuity of care in the operating room, intensive care unit, and the step-down floor for our patients. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Damien focuses on assisting in cardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit.

Irina Plotkina, RPA-C

Irina Plotkina is one of our Physician Assistants for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai.

Mary Joy Santillan, RN

Mary Joy Santillan is one of our senior operating room nurses. Mary Joy has been at Mount Sinai for almost 8 years and in that time she has served as both a mentor and teacher to our nursing staff.

In July 2008, Dr. David Adams presented Mary Joy with the Mount Sinai Heart Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Award for Excellence, “In recognition of extraordinary dedication to patient care.”