By: Elowen Gray

Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA, occupies a rare position in American medicine: he is both a world-renowned thoracic surgeon and served as Chief Operating Officer of NYU Langone Health. His diverse roles allow him to blend clinical expertise with executive leadership, making him a transformative figure in modern healthcare delivery.

Before taking on executive responsibilities, Dr. Cerfolio established a career marked by clinical distinction. He is widely recognized as one of the reputable thoracic surgeons in the United States, with a long history of pioneering work in robotic and minimally invasive lung surgery.

Having performed numerous thoracic procedures, he is frequently cited as one of the leading authorities in lung, thymic, and first rib for thoracic outlet and hyperhidrosis surgeries, particularly in oncologic contexts. Dr. Cerfolio’s reputation as a clinician is built on data-driven excellence. He tracks operative times, complication rates, blood loss, and patient outcomes — practices that show both his surgical performance and his management style.

As the COO of NYU Langone Health, Dr. Cerfolio was responsible for overseeing hospital operations, clinical strategy, and staff performance across a growing network of medical centers and clinics. Prior to this role, he served as Executive Vice President and Vice Dean at NYU Langone Health in Manhattan, where he also acted as Chief Operating Officer.

One of his major accomplishments was developing and implementing the Efficiency Quality Index (EQI), a system designed to measure the performance of medical and surgical departments in real-time. Unlike traditional systems that rely on outdated or generalized benchmarks, the EQI provides department and procedure-specific, transparent data on metrics that truly matter—like mortality rates, readmissions, and cost-per-case, blood loss per specific case, operative times, and re-admission rates, as well as morbidity and 30 and 90-day mortality rates.

This initiative allowed NYU Langone to fine-tune its internal operations and helped foster a culture of accountability and peer learning. Departments now use these metrics to self-assess and improve, rather than compete, creating an environment focused on collaborative excellence.

He often speaks about the importance of a moral compass that always points due north, emphasizing that professional success is hollow without personal integrity. This mindset governs his behavior as a clinician, administrator, mentor, father, and husband.

In interviews and public lectures, he often emphasizes that leadership involves making others around you better through humility, clear communication, and setting high standards. He advocates for systems that enable individuals to grow through data, structure, and support, rather than pressure or fear.

His personal experiences, including the loss of his wife to cancer, add emotional depth to his leadership style. These life events inform his views on healthcare delivery, making him a proponent of both technical precision and empathetic care.

Under Dr. Cerfolio’s leadership, NYU Langone Health has experienced sustained growth in both clinical output and national standing. Patient satisfaction scores, surgical outcomes, and physician engagement have all improved, as has the quality of care for patients. Operational metrics like on-time starts, surgical volume, and hospital efficiency show consistent upward trends.

His impact is also evident in NYU Langone Health’s global reputation. The institution is now frequently cited among the reputable hospitals in the U.S., particularly in cardiac and thoracic care. NYU Langone has been one of the premier institutions in both cardiac and thoracic specialty care in 2025, and they have become a model for integrating quality metrics into everyday operations.

Apart from NYU, Dr. Cerfolio serves as a mentor and consultant to healthcare systems internationally. His lectures and publications are widely followed by both surgeons and administrators, and his leadership model is studied in executive education programs.

Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio represents a new model of healthcare leadership that combines hands-on surgical expertise with strategic executive insight. At NYU Langone Health, he has driven innovation through a careful balance of data, discipline, and empathy.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article reflects the author’s perspective on Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio’s career and achievements. While the article highlights his role at NYU Langone Health and his contributions to the field of thoracic surgery, individual results and outcomes may vary. This article does not constitute professional medical advice, and for personalized consultation or guidance, readers should seek appropriate medical professionals