In the past two years, cardiothoracic surgery at Cooper University Hospital has been transformed into a cardiac program that has been recognized as among the top 14 percent in the nation by The Society for Thoracic Surgeons. The “Three Star” rating that Cooper received places it in the highest quality tier of The Society for Thoracic Surgeons comprehensive rating system. This system compares the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals across the country. All aspects of quality care in cardiothoracic surgery were measured including compliance with recommended medical practices, prompt delivery of time-critical treatment, availability of resources, staff performance and patient outcomes.