Thor M Sundt, MD

Thor M Sundt, MD

Not currently accepting new patients

4.959322 average rating from 59 patient reviews

Specialties

Affiliation

Mass General Brigham

Provider Locations

  • Boston, MA

I was appointed the Director of the Mass General Brigham Cardiac Surgery Clinical Service in 2022, responsible for establishing a unified program across the two academic medical centers focused on delivering the highest quality patient care, developing the finest quality educational programs and fostering the most innovative research program in our specialty as a part of the evolving MGB Cardiac and Vascular Institute. I returned to Mass General in 2011 as Chief of Cardiac Surgery, the institution in which I completed my training in general surgery. Over the years since we have cultivated an outstanding multidisciplinary team of caregivers of which I am most proud. More recently I have been given the opportunity to bring the MGH team together with the equally talented team at Brigham and Women's Hospital as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at BWH to establish what neither institution could accomplish alone. The synergy made possible by the union of these caregivers creates a platform for care, education and innovation unequalled in the nation and in the world.

My personal background includes undergraduate education at Princeton University, medical school at Johns Hopkins University and cardiac surgical training at Washington University in St Louis after my general surgery training at MGH. After an additional year of training in London, I returned to St. Louis where I practiced the full range of adult cardiac surgery including the use of arteries rather than veins for bypass grafts in the treatment of coronary artery disease, expertise in valve repair and replacement, and the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm disease. In 2001 I relocated to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota where I remained on staff for 10 years first as a staff surgeon and then as Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery. At Mayo Clinic, I developed a research interest in Human Factors and Patient Safety.

Since returning to Boston, I have maintained a broad clinical practice ranging from the use of arterial conduits for coronary bypass, to aortic and mitral valve repair and complex valve reoperations as well as treatment of aortic valve disease. I also perform septal reduction for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and have found my experience in pericardiectomy for pericardial constriction and recurrent relapsing pericarditis to be a unique strength.

My passion is for developing multidisciplinary teams delivering optimal surgical care in a patient centered, supportive and compassionate manner. I believe it is our role to care for the members of our community, our region and the world. I believe we are uniquely positioned to make a lasting and important positive impact on the care of cardiovascular disease.

Education & Training

  • Fellowship: Harefield Hospital, Cardiac Surgery, 1994
  • Fellowship: Barnes Jewish Hospital, Cardiothoracic Surgery, 1993
  • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, General Surgery, 1991
  • Fellowship: National Cancer Institute, Immunology, 1989
  • Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital, General Surgery, 1985
  • Medical Education: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1984

Board Certifications

  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Languages Spoken

  • English

Age Group Treated

  • Adults

Patient Feedback

4.959322 average rating from 59 reviews

  • Dr. Sundt is an eminent surgeon and I was very happy to be able to meet with him and get his opinion on my upcoming surgery. He is eminently qualified, communicative, and provided at a layman's level an understanding of the surgery protocol and choices that I would need to make. I was very pleased with the interaction. [redacted]

    2026-07-27

  • Dr.Sundt and his staff were great

    2026-07-18

  • Came in for a second opinion, Dr had reviewed my case and shared his opinion, answered questions, discussed next steps. We appreciate the Dr listening to our questions and concerns and providing options and answers. Everyone we encountered was very helpful and made us feel comfortable and answering our questions/concerns

    2026-07-12

  • I had seen Dr. Sundt and his PA at a previous appointment some time ago. I cannot say enough about their level of care, ability to listen to the patient, and their bedside manner in general. Thank you.

    2026-07-12

  • Dr. Sundt was timely, professional, compassionate, and engenders trust.

    2026-07-08

  • It was easy to get across my concerns and questions; Dr Sundt was professional, knowledgeable, and caring.

    2026-06-16

  • Outstanding physician!!!

    2026-06-09

  • I have great confidence in him

    2026-06-03

  • A fountain of knowledge, very patient and care oriented. He is outstanding in his work and very down to earth, in his approach. A credit to his profession and skill.

    2026-05-28

  • Hope Dr. Sundt will be there when/if I need him

    2026-05-23

  • I'm very fortunate to have Dr. Sundt as my cardiologist.

    2026-05-14

  • World class on all fronts.

    2026-05-13

  • Dr. Sundt was patient and explained treatment options clearly.

    2026-05-12

  • Dr. Sundt is a consummate professional with an empathetic and caring approach to his patients. MGH and I are very lucky to be associated with his practice of medicine.

    2026-04-15

  • Very clear on the procedure, unfortunately I forgot to ask for additional surgery for a hernia.

    2026-03-25

  • Totally excellent appointment I had with him. He's knowledgeable, he's friendly, professional, and he explained everything in language I can understand. It was one of the best appointments, Dr. Sundt, that I ever had.

    2026-03-13

  • Very professional.

    2026-03-10

  • Am fortunate to be seen and treated by Dr. Sundt

    2026-02-19

  • Very nice person, definitely well educated in his profession. So far so good thank you!

    2026-02-18

  • This was my first time meeting him. Actually spent more time with Irene. She collected much of the information. He was very personable, and she was very reassuring that he was excellent in "re-dos", which eased my nerves a bit.

    2026-02-11

  • Very thorough and positive discussion. Although I had to wait a long time at the visit, he apologized and spent as much time as I needed for the visit. He had reviewed my situation and had clear guidance as to what were next steps.

    2026-01-29

  • Very knowledgeable about my condition and asking if I had a questions. Didn't feel rushed.

    2026-01-28

  • Who could ask for better!

    2026-01-28

  • Dr Sundt was amazing. Clear, patient withy questions, kind, highly knowledgable -- great bedside manner, even online! Honestly one of the best experiences I've had with a doctor .... he's a role model for what medical care should be.

    2026-01-03

  • Dr. Sundt sets the standard on excellence.His experience, knowledge,relating to patients, informativeness, judgement, and leadership is of great value to patients.

    2025-12-07

  • They were all very informative.

    2025-11-30

  • Excellent experience. Dr. Sundt provided a caring, supportive approach to my questions.

    2025-11-22

  • This was my first visit to Brigham and Women's Hospital. I was referred to Dr. Sundt by my provider at [redacted]. Dr. Sundt was totally familiar with my medical history and he took the time to listen to me, explain his opinion on my case, and reassure me. I cannot thank him enough for seeing me and I'll follow up with him in one year, as he recommended.

    2025-11-16

  • Dr.Sundt was very reassuring and made you feel very comfortable.He was extremely knowledgeable but also very willing to discuss any concerns or questions you might have. He made me feel I was in good hands

    2025-10-26

  • He listened carefully, asked pertinent questions, invited us to voice our questions and concerns, and; responded to those with empathy and a clear path of next steps

    2025-10-10

  • I think I saw the best Doctor I could expect.

    2025-09-20

  • The provider provided excellent services and team members provided all the best services.

    2025-09-15

  • This was my first appointment with Dr. Sundt and he was wonderful. I hope I don't have to have open heart surgery but if I do he is the one I want

    2025-09-13

Accepted Insurance

  • Tufts Medicare Preferred
  • Wellpoint
  • Medicaid NH
  • WellSense
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
  • Maine Community Health Options
  • Senior Whole Health
  • Medicaid VT
  • Coventry
  • Medicare
  • TriCare
  • Aetna
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
  • Humana
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Medicaid NY
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • United Health Care
  • Cigna
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • Medicaid CT
  • Railroad Medicare
  • Medicaid RI
  • Medicaid ME
  • Multiplan
  • Fallon Health
  • WellSense NH
  • MassHealth
  • Beech Street