Dr. Lawrie has performed more than 300 minimally invasive mitral valve repairs. He's developed his own techniques that replace some higher priced devices.

When the patients' length of stay decreased, the volume of C.V. surgeries increased at St. Joseph's. Newly constructed C.V. operating rooms and ICUs scheduled to open within the next three weeks are the result. Another addition: the title of medical director of critical care for Dr. Scott Scheinin, who also serves as medical director of cardiovascular services and chief of thoracic surgery at the hospital.

Wearing another hat, Dr. Scheinin is also surgical director of the lung transplant program at St. Luke's, where patients receive single and double lungs.