Cardiovascular research and practice grew with the recruitment of Dr. Robert Michler of Columbia University and developed one of the earliest robotic heart surgery programs .
Columbia University helped to revitalize the thoracic surgery and heart transplantation .
Cardiovascular research and practice grew with the recruitment of Dr. Robert Michler of Columbia University , who helped to revitalize the thoracic surgery and heart transplantation , and developed one of the earliest robotic heart surgery programs .