Recently, doctors Dale M. Geiss and Randall S. Fortuna of Illinois Cardiac Surgery and leadership of OSF Healthcare System signed documents for ICS to join OSF. The effective date will be March 20, 2011.

Dr. Dale Geiss

Dr. Randall Fortuna

According to Paul Kramer, President, Children’s Hospital of Illinois and OSF Children’s Service Line, "These physicians and their staff have provided outstanding and compassionate care to children and adults with heart-related problems for many years so it is wonderful to have them officially becoming a part of our organization."

Dr. Donald McElroy, CEO, OSF Cardiovascular Service Line noted "that for many years Dr. Geiss’s surgical skills and experience have been recognized not only here in Peoria and the Midwest but throughout the country. Both Dr. Geiss and Dr. Fortuna are exceptional surgeons using the latest techniques and equipment including being proficient with the DaVinci robotic surgery system."

Everyone currently with ICS will be invited to continue within the new structures. The excellent care provided by the staff of Illinois Cardiac Surgery will continue. Dr. Fortuna will become part of the Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center and provide administrative leadership as co-director of the Congenital Heart Program as well as Director of Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO) Services.

Dr. Geiss and Illinois Cardiac Surgery will join OSF as part of HeartCare Midwest. Both Dr. Geiss and Dr. Fortuna will continue to practice in their current location at 515 NE Glen Oak Avenue.

About Illinois Cardiac Surgery

During his 30 year career in central Illinois, Dr. Geiss has preformed cardiac surgery on more than 10,000 patients ranging in age from 92 years to just a few hours old. He is regarded as a leader in the use of innovative techniques to accomplish complex cardiac reconstruction. Dr. Fortuna, who joined Illinois Cardiac Surgery in 2003, is skilled in the management of both pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgical patients as well as providing Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO) Services.

It is expected because of this new partnership that Doctors Geiss and Fortuna will be able to greatly expand congenital heart surgery, complex specialized cardiovascular surgery, and extracorporeal life support (ECMO) services throughout the many service areas of HeartCare Midwest, Children’s Hospital and OSF HealthCare. An unwavering commitment to the patients they serve has been and will continue to be the hallmark of their clinical practice.