Robert J. Sommer, MD
Overview
Robert J. Sommer, MD, is an accomplished medical professional and Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He currently serves as the Director of Invasive Adult Congenital Heart Disease at Columbia's Interventional Cardiovascular Care program, based in Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian.
Dr. Sommer's expertise lies in the areas of pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, and interventional cardiology. He is Board-certified in both Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease. He completed his training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Boston Children's Hospital in Boston.
CLINICAL WORK
In 1991, Dr. Sommer made significant contributions to the field by establishing the first comprehensive pediatric interventional catheterization laboratory in New York City. In 1999, he launched his own practice and redirected his focus towards the growing population of adult patients with congenital heart disease. Dr. Sommer's joined the faculty at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2005.
Dr. Sommer has expertise in a diverse range of congenital and structural heart interventions. Dr. Sommer directs the Left Atrial Appendage Closure Team at Columbia, having participated in the PREVAIL Trial, the CAP2 registry, and the CHAMPION-AF Trials using the Watchman Device, as well as the Amulet Device Pivotal and Conformal Device Feasibility Trial. In addition to diagnostic catheterizations in complex congenital heart disease, he performs over 200 atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale (PFO) closures and over 100 left atrial appendage closures annually. He has decades of experience in closing patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defects, as well as, stenting coarctation of the aorta.
Currently, Dr. Sommer serves as the national cardiology principal investigator for the GORE RELIEF clinical study to evaluate patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure for migraine headache relief using a device called the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occlude.
Dr. Sommer collaborates closely with his Pediatric Cardiology colleagues at Columbia performing transcatheter pulmonary valve replacements in the congenital population.
Together, with Barbara Robbins, NP, he provides primary cardiac care to a population of more than 300 pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease. Jointly, they manage more than 1500 office visits annually.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Complex Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Abnormalities
- Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
- Structural Heart Disease
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Valve Replacement
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Medicine at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Invasive Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Gender
- Male
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amerigroup of New Jersey
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Local 32BJ
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
- EPO - New Jersey Services
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
QualCare
- HMO - New Jersey Services
- POS - New Jersey Services
- PPO - New Jersey Services
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Columbia University Employee Plan
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- SelectHealth
WellCare
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Residency: Mount Sinai Hospital
- Fellowship: Mount Sinai Hospital
- Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
Board Certifications
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Honors & Awards
- Best Doctors in New York (Castle Connelly – NY Magazine) 2001-4, 2006-8, 2011
- Best Doctors New York Metro Area (Castle Connelly) 2005-16
- Best Doctors in America (Castle Connelly) 2006-16
- Patients’ Choice Award (Castle Connelly) 2010-16
- Compassionate Doctor Award (Castle Connelly) 2013-15
- Rotary Club/Gift of Life International – Humanitarian Award 2008
- SCARC Guardianship Services – Distinguished Services Award for Exceptional and Compassionate Care 2008
- New York Family Magazine – Top Pediatrician 2008
Research
Clinical Trials
As a highly regarded clinician, educator, and investigator, Dr. Sommer has gained international recognition in clinical research. He has played pivotal roles as the site and national principal investigator in numerous groundbreaking clinical trials, including trials of new devices for ASD closure (ASSURED), left atrial appendage closure (Conformal, Laminar, Lariat, Amulet), and pulmonary valve replacement (COMPASSION S3).
Currently, Dr. Sommer serves as the national cardiology principal investigator for the GORE RELIEF clinical study.
For a comprehensive list of the clinical trials managed by Dr. Sommer, please refer to RecruitMe.
Global Health Activities
- Gift of Life International, Vietnam - January 2009
- Gift of Life International, Honduras - November 2007
- Gift of Life International, Guatemala - November 2005