Margarita Camacho

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MARGARITA CAMACHO

Dr. Margarita Camacho, MD, MBA, MSRenowned Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Former Surgical Director, Heart Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support | Educator | National Leader in TransplantDr. Margarita Camacho is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon who spent over three decades at the forefront of heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. Best known for her leadership at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, she served as Surgical Director of the Heart Transplant and Circulatory Support Programs, helping build one of the most active heart transplant programs in the United States. In late 2024, she chose to take a break from clinical practice to pursue opportunities in consulting and teaching.Over the course of her career, Dr. Camacho performed more than 700 heart transplants and 600 ventricular assist device implants, distinguishing herself as one of the most experienced heart transplant surgeons in the nation. Her work saved thousands of lives and helped establish benchmarks in surgical technique, patient management, and multidisciplinary transplant care.Dr. Camacho earned her BA from Vassar College and her MD from New York Medical College, followed by surgical training at Lenox Hill Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic. She also earned an Executive MBA and a Master of Science in Healthcare Policy & Research from Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medicine.In addition to her surgical leadership, Dr. Camacho held academic appointments throughout her career and mentored a generation of cardiac surgeons. She served as a Clinical Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and then at Rutgers University and remains deeply committed to surgical education.Her professional service included national and regional leadership roles such as: • Past President, Women in Thoracic Surgery • Chair, STS Workforce on Surgical Treatment of End-Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease • Quality Director, RWJBarnabas Health (Cardiothoracic Division – Northern Region)Dr. Camacho has been widely recognized for her contributions to medicine, including honors from the American Heart Association and the New Jersey Hospital Association. Her legacy continues to inspire transplant professionals and aspiring surgeons.Areas of Expertise:Heart Transplantation | Mechanical Circulatory Support | Advanced Heart Failure | Program Leadership, Development and Improvement| Medical and Surgical Education | Clinical Innovation | Quality and Safety in Healthcare