About the authors
Daniel T. Engelman, MD
Daniel T. Engelman, MD, is a cardiac surgeon with more than 27 years of experience. He is Professor of Surgery and of Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate, and Medical Director of Heart and Vascular Critical Care and Inpatient Services at Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachusetts. He received his medical degree from New York University and completed his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
His expertise spans the full arc of cardiac surgical care, from the operation itself to critical care before and after surgery, pain management, kidney protection, and recovery. He is the founder and president of the ERAS® Cardiac Society and, in 2019, led the development of the first international consensus guidelines for enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery, published in JAMA Surgery. Much of his research is devoted to helping patients recover faster and avoid complications. He wrote this book to bring that same focus on preparation, recovery, and partnership directly to patients and their families.
Cheryl Crisafi, MSN, RN
Cheryl Crisafi, MSN, RN, is a cardiac surgery nurse in the Heart and Vascular Program at Baystate Health and at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate in Springfield, Massachusetts. With more than 40 years of dedicated experience in nursing, she has specialized in the comprehensive care of patients undergoing heart surgery, from preparation before the operation through recovery afterward. Her deep expertise stems from years spent at the bedside, guiding patients and families through one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
Passionate about elevating the quality of patient care, she is a strong advocate for the power of clear, accessible education. She firmly believes that understandable information significantly reduces the anxiety that often accompanies cardiac surgery, while empowering patients to become active participants in their own care. In her view, informed decision-making is not solely the surgeon’s responsibility but a shared journey between the health care team and the patient.
The Cardiac Surgery Playbook reflects her lifelong commitment to demystifying the surgical process and turning fear into understanding.
Armando Paez, MD
Armando Paez, MD, author of The Infection Playbook, is Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at Baystate Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate in Springfield, Massachusetts. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, he has dedicated his career to caring for patients with complex infections while educating future physicians and health care professionals.
Dr. Paez is passionate about making health care understandable through practical, patient-centered education. The Cardiac Surgery Playbook reflects his vision of a growing collection of health playbooks that help patients and families understand their conditions and become active partners in their care.
