Dr. Cortina completed his medical degree at New York Medical College and his cardiothoracic surgical training at the University of Rochester, following residency training at Eastern Virginia Medical School and additional cardiothoracic experience at Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia.

Throughout his career, Dr. Cortina has been deeply involved in medical staff leadership and hospital governance, including serving as President of the Medical Staff, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Chief of Surgical Services, and a member of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. He has also held numerous leadership positions on surgical, credentialing, transfer, and perioperative committees.

A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Dr. Cortina has contributed extensively to surgical education and research. His academic work includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, clinical investigations, and presentations covering thoracic surgery, surgical oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, and cancer research.

His professional career reflects a longstanding commitment to surgical excellence, medical leadership, research, and the Wilmington community.

Following medical school, Dr. Kane completed his general surgery residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Miami, where he served as Chief Resident. He subsequently completed fellowships in vascular surgery and thoracic surgery at Carolinas Medical Center.

Dr. Kane is board certified in cardiothoracic & vascular surgery and has maintained an active medical license in North Carolina since 2004. He currently practices as a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon with Coastal Thoracic Surgical Associates. In addition, he is a co-owner of New Hanover Perfusion Company and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kane has been actively involved in professional organizations, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the New Hanover/Pender County Medical Society. He has presented on a variety of cardiovascular and vascular surgery topics at regional and national forums and has contributed to research focused on vascular disease and surgical outcomes.

Dr. Kane’s commitment to service extends beyond medicine. He received the Cor et Manus Award from New York Medical College in recognition of distinguished community service. He is married, has two children, and remains dedicated to advancing cardiovascular and thoracic surgical care while supporting the health and well-being of his community.

A native of Bulgaria, Dr. Madjarov graduated Summa Cum Laude from Sofia Medical University, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed his cardiovascular surgery residency at St. Ekaterina University Hospital in Sofia before pursuing advanced surgical training in the United States. His postgraduate education included fellowships and residency training at Carolinas Medical Center, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, and Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine. He subsequently completed advanced fellowship training in vascular, endovascular, cardiothoracic, and aortic surgery and served as Chief Resident in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center.

Dr. Madjarov has held academic appointments throughout his career and currently serves as Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery. He was an Assistant Professor from 2007 to 2020 and an Associate Professor from 2020 to 2024. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor with the UNC Chapel Hill Department of Surgery. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he served as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center for more than twenty years and was a member of the Sanger Clinic.

His clinical interests include complex aortic disease, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery, chest wall reconstruction, mechanical circulatory support, and innovative therapies for structural heart disease. Dr. Madjarov has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of novel surgical technologies, including branched endovascular grafts, minimally invasive implantable cardioverter-defibrillator systems, and longitudinal sternal stabilization techniques for chest wall reconstruction.

An accomplished surgeon-scientist and innovator, Dr. Madjarov has served as principal investigator on numerous research projects funded by the Heineman-Robicsek Medical Foundation and AHF. His research focuses on aortic disease, heart failure therapies, tissue-engineered vascular grafts, myocardial restoration, and advanced wound healing technologies. He has also contributed to multiple NIH-related research initiatives and served as an NIH/NHLBI reviewer.

Dr. Madjarov holds several patents related to cardiovascular, thoracic surgery, and electrophysiology, including technologies for mitral and aortic valve therapy, endovascular treatment of aortic pathology, sternal stabilization systems, and cardiac mapping and ablation devices. His innovations have led to first-in-human applications of emerging cardiovascular technologies and have improved outcomes for patients undergoing complex surgical procedures.

A prolific author, Dr. Madjarov has published extensively in leading cardiovascular and thoracic surgery journals and has contributed chapters to major surgical textbooks. He served as an editor and reviewer for CTSNet and has presented his work at numerous national and international scientific meetings across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Dr. Madjarov is an active member of several professional societies, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and the World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons. Throughout his career, he has mentored residents and fellows, helping train the next generation of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons.

Recognized for both academic excellence and surgical innovation, Dr. Madjarov remains committed to advancing cardiovascular medicine through patient care, education, research, and technological development.

Dr. Marks completed his undergraduate education at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire and Lake Forest College in Illinois before earning his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed surgical training at Barnes Hospital of Washington University and the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by advanced fellowships in Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Wake Forest University’s Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

Since entering private practice in Wilmington in 1988, Dr. Marks has played a significant role in the development of regional cardiothoracic services. He practiced with Hanover Surgical Associates and Hanover Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates before founding Coastal Thoracic Surgical Associates, where he continues to practice today.

Throughout his career, Dr. Marks has held numerous leadership positions, including Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Chairman of the Division of Cardiovascular Services, and President of Coastal Thoracic Surgical Associates. He is board certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Marks is dedicated to community service and global outreach. He participated in multiple medical missions to Honduras through the Heart Angels program, performing life-saving heart valve surgeries for children. He has also served as a board member of Cape Fear Academy and maintains active membership in several professional organizations, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the North Carolina Medical Society, and the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society.

Dr. Marks remains committed to providing exceptional surgical care while advancing the field of cardiothoracic surgery through leadership, service, and patient-centered excellence.