Provider Spotlight: George Tolis, Jr., MD, and Extraordinary Cardiac Surgical Care—from the Heart
George Tolis, Jr., MD, System Chief of Cardiac Surgery at BMC Health System
George Tolis, Jr., MD, is System Chief of Cardiac Surgery for BMC Health System. He is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience.
Dr. Tolis trained at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale–New Haven Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He sees patients at Boston Medical Center – Brighton (BMC Brighton) and at Boston Medical Center’s main campus in the South End.
What excites you most about leading the cardiac surgery program at BMC Health System?
I’m bringing my 20 years of experience in cardiac surgery to BMC Health System because I know what it takes to build a well-functioning team, and the expanding health system provides a unique opportunity to establish a one-of-a-kind cardiac surgery program here.
I have the utmost support from the administration and from the Department of Surgery, and they have shown me not only support, but full confidence in the plan that we have. There is wide-open communication across the whole team, setting us up to provide the best possible care across BMC Health System.
What’s the best part of your job?
My favorite part of being a cardiac surgeon is seeing a patient before an operation who is very anxious and desperate for relief, and then seeing them after the surgery when they feel they have a new lease on life.
As a new medical student, every aspect of the heart and cardiac surgery was utterly fascinating to me. I still love my work, but some of that awe naturally fades over time. However, the one thing I still find myself taken aback by is the moment when someone is in the middle of surgery and the chest is open, the heart is stopped, and all these lines are coming in and out—and I think to myself that this afternoon, I’m going to have a conversation with this patient. I still find that awe-inspiring.
How do you approach patient care?
It has always been my priority to be honest and truthful with my patients, to provide them with a holistic picture of their health, even when that means having a difficult conversation. Over the past two decades working as a cardiac surgeon, the importance of honesty between clinicians and patients has become even more apparent to me. Often the best thing for a patient is telling them something they might not want to, or be ready to hear in the moment, but open communication is the best way to work together to establish a treatment and care plan.
I will always provide my patients with a fully transparent clinical perspective, to help ensure the best outcome for them.
One of the antique rotary-style telephones restored by Dr. Tolis
What aspect of your career so far makes you most proud?
I’m most proud that throughout all the changes in healthcare over the last 20 years, I have never wavered from putting my patients at the center of every decision. I have, at personal expense sometimes, resisted changes that may complicate the patient experience and sacrifice continuity of care, and advocated for what I think is best for patients. Whenever possible, I request that the same surgeon follow the patient through their surgical experience and see them until all their needs are met.
I’m eager to carry these values into my work leading the cardiac surgery program here at BMC Health System.
What do you have going on outside of work?
I like to restore old telephones—payphones with rotary dials. I have about 30 restored phones around the house. I’m also a classically trained concert pianist and can often be found playing my beloved Steinway piano. And we have a new favorite restaurant in the Greater Boston area: Avra, the new one that opened on Newbury Street in Back Bay. It just opened this spring, and it’s a great place. We went there for my wife’s 50th birthday just a couple of weeks ago.
Expert Care from Evaluation to Treatment to Recovery
BMC Brighton’s Center for Advanced Cardiac Surgery offers some of the most advanced procedures available today, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), pulmonary vein isolation, and the Cox MAZE procedure. From complex open-heart operations to minimally invasive techniques, each surgery is performed with a specially trained cardiac surgery team working together to provide comprehensive care before, during, and after surgery. Our dedicated cardiac surgery facilities and team approach ensure seamless care and timely access for patients, families, and referring providers.