Richard Kaplon, MD is a board-certified cardiac surgeon with more than 25 years of experience. He started his career in academia as the Director of the Artificial Heart Program at the University of Miami. He then spent 20 years in California as part of the busiest private practice cardiac surgery program in the state, serving as Chairman of the Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery for his institution. Dr. Kaplon was one of two surgeons, out of the 276 practicing heart surgeons in California, to be recognized as having the best overall outcomes in the state. Dr. Kaplon trained at Cleveland Clinic in minimally invasive valve surgery and at Columbia-Presbyterian in mechanical circulatory support. This experience has allowed Dr. Kaplon to focus on these areas of expertise. He returns to the East Coast as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Danbury Hospital, bringing the same excellence and quality patient care that he has maintained throughout his career.