Stewart Converts Youthful Passion into Cardiac Surgery

Dr. Allan S. Stewart ’91 is a member of the cardiac surgery team at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

By: Stephen J. Hudik, '89

Dr. Allan S. Stewart ’91 always had an inkling growing up in North Arlington, NJ that he would convert his youthful skill and passion for taking things apart and putting them back together into a medical career.

“I always loved to build, to create and to fix,” said Dr. Stewart. “When I began medical school, it was always to become a surgeon.”

A patient’s medical emergency put Dr. Stewart and his colleagues at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center front and center last summer. The patient’s high profile as a former head of state generated a lot of attention in the national and international media. The patient was former President Bill Clinton. Dr. Stewart was part of the medical team that performed open heart surgery on the former President.

The Path to and from Saint Peter’s College

After his junior year at Queen of Peace High School, Stewart enrolled in the Summer Scholars Program at Saint Peter’s. He took classes in General Physics and Economics. The personalized learning at Saint Peter’s attracted him. He was offered and accepted a Presidential Scholarship.

Dr. Stewart, who spoke at the College in September as part of the Distinguished Speakers in Science Lecture Series, told students that his liberal arts education and the diversity in the Saint Peter’s environment prepared him well for his career in medicine.

Dr. Allan S. Stewart, '91

“The small class size encourages active participation which is more difficult to develop in a large lecture hall,” said Stewart. “The Socratic teaching method enhanced my ability to assess patient problems and diagnose illnesses,” he added. “The liberal arts education helped me to interact with people of all backgrounds, interests and educational levels and the cultural diversity at Saint Peter’s gave me a greater appreciation of ethnicity and how it relates to the perception and manifestation of disease. I use that knowledge every day.”

After receiving his Bachelors of Science degree from Saint Peter’s in 1991, Dr. Stewart earned his MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He served his internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Today, Dr. Stewart serves as the Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Assistant Attending Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University Medical Center, and Director of Aortic Surgery Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University Medical Center.

Treating the Whole Person

Dr. Stewart urges all students to expand their knowledge base while in school in order to improve their skills as doctors later in life. “I tell students to enjoy the liberal arts education,” said Stewart. “The nonscience base is not expanded in medical school,” he added. “It is up to the motivated students to seek out other areas of interest. Remember that patients come from all walks of life. The more worldly experience, the more books you have read, movies you have seen and so on will increase your ability to interact meaningfully with more people.”