Cardiac Surgery Program at Catherine Gratz Griffin LFH Opens This Fall
July 23, 2026 | 2 min. read
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital is advancing plans to establish a comprehensive cardiac surgery program that will launch in the fall, marking an important milestone in the continued evolution of cardiovascular services in the northern suburbs.
This initiative supports the Northwestern Medicine strategic vision to provide exceptional patient care and experience while expanding access to advanced services closer to home. A cardiac surgery program at Catherine Gratz Griffin LFH will offer seamless, comprehensive cardiovascular care to patients in the northern suburbs, reducing the need to travel elsewhere for critical surgical interventions.
Transforming Catherine Gratz Griffin LFH Cardiac surgery represents a strategic step in the transformation of Catherine Gratz Griffin LFH from a community hospital to a regional referral destination for advanced cardiovascular care. The presence of a robust cardiac surgery program is foundational to the growth of other highly specialized services, including a comprehensive structural heart program and increasingly advanced interventional cardiology and electrophysiology procedures.
This growth is further supported by the hospital’s recent expansion, which increased inpatient capacity and created dedicated cardiac care environments designed to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly complex patient population. Together, these investments will enable stronger integration of cardiovascular services, support future innovation and enhance care for patients throughout the region.
“Advancing cardiac care at Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital is not just about expanding services; it’s about elevating the standard of heart care for every patient who walks through our doors,” says Ian Cohen, MD, Charles and Barbara Strang Medical Director of Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Catherine Gratz Griffin LFH. “By integrating leading‑edge technologies with a highly coordinated, patient‑centered approach, we are ensuring that our community has access to the most advanced cardiovascular treatments closer to home.”
Progress and next steps Substantial progress has been made during the past six months toward launching the cardiac surgery program.
Construction is complete on two new, state-of-the-art operating rooms dedicated to cardiovascular surgery.
42% of the cardiac surgery team has been recruited, including cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and OR and ICU personnel.
Operational planning and program activation are advancing.
Current focus areas include:
Completing recruitment
Refining patient care workflows
Finalizing team training
Ensuring full operational readiness
“The launch of the cardiac surgery program reflects extensive preparation, significant investment and extraordinary engagement from our physicians, nurses and staff. Across every phase of planning and implementation, our teams are demonstrating an unwavering commitment to building the capabilities, infrastructure and clinical partnerships required to begin the program,” says Sarah Plaskett, vice president, Operations.
More information will be provided soon about scope of services, business hours and referral pathways so clinicians better understand available clinical resources and can make timely referrals when the program launches.