Dr. Singer's Biography

Dr. Singer was born and raised in Philadelphia. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Muhlenberg College in 1980, graduating with Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. Dr. Singer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1984, where he received the George W. Householder, III Memorial Prize for Clinical Cardiovascular Research. Dr. Singer completed both his General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Residencies at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society as a House Officer.

Dr. Singer is Board Certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery and has performed nearly 5,000 heart and lung operations since completing his training in 1992. He is recognized as having one of the most successful heart and lung surgical practices in the region. He holds an academic position as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. 

Additional awards include the Arrnandi Goracci, MD Memorial Prize for Teaching, the DuPont Pharmaceutical Young Investigators Award, The Pennsylvania Association for Thoracic Surgery Award for Clinical Research, the American Heart Association Physician Award for Acute Care in Cardiovascular Surgery, and the Distinguished and Exceptional Attainments in Life Alumni Achievement Award at Muhlenberg College.  The Consumers' Research Council of America, based in Washington, D.C. has placed Dr. Singer on the "America's List of Top Surgeons" in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. 2006 and 2007.

At Lehigh Valley Hospital, Dr. Singer is the Associate Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.  Along with his partner and long-time close friend, Dr. Gary Szydlowski, Dr. Singer is the Co-Director of Lehigh Valley Heart and Lung Surgeons, a group of six heart and lung surgeons providing exclusive cardiothoracic surgery services at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.  Dr. Singer is also the Medical Director for the Open Heart Unit and the Transitional Open Heart Unit at LVH-Cedar Crest Campus.  In 2007, Dr. Singer was appointed Chair of the Technology Assessment Committee (TAC) at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

Dr. Singer is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the Society of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Singer is also a member of the The Heart Valve Society of America and The General Thoracic Surgery Club.

Dr. Singer is the current President of the Lehigh County Medical Society.  He is also the Past-President, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Association of Thoracic Surgery.  Dr. Singer presided over the 44th Annual Meeting of The Pennsylvania Association for Thoracic Surgery that was held at Lehigh Valley Hospital, September 29 through October 1, 2006.

In November of 2006, Dr. Singer became a member of the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE).  As part of being a member of the ACPE, Dr. Singer will be completing the educational and training requirements to become a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) in 2007.

Dr. Singer is concurrently pursuing a Masters in Medical Management (MMM) Degree at the Carnegie Mellon University's H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management in Pittsburgh and will be completing his degree in 2009.  Dr. Singer plans on using his combined MD, MMM, CPE degrees toward advancing the his career in the area of healthcare policy, management and information technology.

In the community, Dr. Singer has served as a Trustee on Muhlenberg College's Board of Trustees.  Dr. Singer continues to teach Muhlenberg College students at Lehigh Valley Hospital as part of the college's career shadow program.  As a Clinical Professor of Surgery, Dr. Singer teaches residents, medical students and physician assistant students who rotate through the cardiothoracic surgery service at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Dr. Singer's practice interests include complex valve, coronary and aneurysm surgery, as well as prevention and treatment of lung cancer. He enjoys teaching and writing and has published over 50 peer review scientific and news journal articles while in practice.

Read a Question and Answer Session and learn more about Dr. Singer!