After receiving conflicting opinions regarding blockages in his arteries, Bernie Fink came to The Valley Hospital for a second opinion.
“One visit I was told I had no blockages in my arteries in my heart, and the next I was told I did,” said the 71-year-old. “After having dinner with my lawyer, he suggested going to The Valley Hospital for care.”
After scheduling an appointment with the cardiac surgery team and sending over test results, it was found that Bernie had aortic regurgitation, which is a heart valve disease where the aortic valve – which allows blood to flow from the left ventricle in the heart to the body’s main artery, the aorta – does not close tightly. This allows blood to leak back toward the heart, forcing it to work harder, and potentially leading to heart failure if left untreated.
Habib Jabagi, MD, Director of the Aortic Aneurysm Program for The Valley Hospital, monitored Bernie’s condition as part of Valley’s Integrated Aortic Program. Every six months, the Greenwood Lake, New York, native underwent tests to monitor the aortic regurgitation.
“I knew I would have to get it taken care of once Dr. Jabagi told me, but I did not want an invasive procedure,” said Bernie. “I am very active, I go to the gym, and I did not want to lose the ability to do the things I enjoyed.”
Dr. Jabagi suggested a right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RAM-T) procedure, a minimally invasive surgical approach for aortic valve repair and replacement. This minimally invasive procedure, involving a small incision less than 6 cm between the patient’s ribs to access the heart, offers select patients an alternative to a full sternotomy – a procedure that involves cutting through the entire breastbone for heart surgery.
In December 2025, Dr. Jabagi and Bernie decided it was time to move forward.
“I felt so comfortable with Dr. Jabagi and the entire time, that I honestly looked forward to the procedure,” Bernie said. “I had total confidence in him and The Valley Hospital, that the thought of heart surgery did not make me worried at all.”
Bernie successfully underwent the RAM-T procedure in January 2026. He spent three days in The Valley Hospital and followed all medical instructions upon discharge. He kept in touch with Dr. Jabagi and his cardiologist during his recovery process.
Today, he is back to his regular activities and feeling better than ever.
“My experience could not have been any better than it was. Everyone that I tell I had heart surgery to is astonished. They tell me my color is better and I look even better than before,” Bernie said. “If you need a hospital, The Valley Hospital is the place you want to be.”
For more information about cardiac surgery at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/HeartSurgery.