UCLA
Congenital Heart Disease
Member Since: 2025
Biography:
Dr. Biniwale completed her cardiac surgery training in India and moved to the United States to pursue her interest in surgery for congenital heart disease. She retrained in the US, completing a residency in General Surgery at the UMass Medical School, and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. At UCLA she spent a year as Clinical Instructor in Heart-Lung Transplant and became faculty in 2010. Dr. Biniwale was the interim chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery from 2017-2018 at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. She has served as the Surgical Director for Pediatric Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program since 2010. She is currently Clinical Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCLA.
Dr. Biniwale augmented the Pediatric MCS and ECMO program and established the Pediatric and Adult DCD heart and lung transplant programs at UCLA. Her clinical expertise lies in Congenital Cardiac surgery and Cardiopulmonary/multi-organ Transplantation. Her research interests have focused on cardiopulmonary transplantation and particularly on frailty within this cohort. Ongoing research projects include learning about genetic mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease, as well as studying intraoperative and postoperative management of patients with congenital heart defects to improve patient outcomes.
As a resident in 2007 Dr. Biniwale was awarded the Women in Thoracic Surgery Society Travel Grant and in 2017 received Edwards Lifesciences Foundation “Every Heartbeat Matters” Award through Thoracic Surgery Foundation for conducting Congenital Cardiac Surgery outreach work in underserved regions in Peru. Additionally, she has worked for philanthropic programs and provided cardiac surgical expertise to patients in the Philippines, Peru, Afghanistan, and India. She is a board member of the “Hearts with Hope” foundation and a medical advisor to the “Rachel Cooper Foundation for Congenital Heart Disease.”
Dr. Biniwale is a member of numerous professional organizations, including STS, WTSA, WTS, and the ISHLT. Dr. Biniwale has authored multiple book chapters, published papers in peer-reviewed journals and provided reviewer services to international journals.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
AATS is the premier cardiothoracic surgery organization that is recognized all over the world
My First Experience with AATS:
As a cardiothoracic surgery resident, it was very exciting to see the mentors who had shaped the world of cardiac surgery
Why I became an AATS member:
To help contribute to the research that can improve our specialty and work closely with the organization to improve inclusivity
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
Dr. Tirone David's presidential address:" There is a time to sow and a time to reap"
The first presentation I gave is:
Concomittant cardiac surgery during lung transplantation
The first paper I had published is:
Obstruction of lateral tunnel Fontan by an adjustable occluder device
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
By volunteering in the administrative and research aspects of the AATS
My First Experience with AATS:
As a cardiothoracic surgery resident, it was very exciting to see the mentors who had shaped the world of cardiac surgery"
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
The huge burden of rheumatic heart disease in India and the lack of access to care at the time
A significant case/patient interaction that impacted my career is:
Every patient interaction is significant
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
He said: "It does not matter whether you are good, or kind or religious, but what you bring to the table." I understood that developing a niche was critical to making an impact
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
RCTs, not retrospective database reviews
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
The glass ceiling for non-mainstream candidates
Advice for Trainees:
Follow your passion, the rest will follow