Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Lancaster, P.C. was founded in 1983 by Lawrence I. Bonchek, M.D. and Mark W. Burlingame, M.D. The first open heart surgery was performed in Lancaster County at Lancaster General Hospital on September 7, 1983. Since that date over, 20,000 open heart and thoracic surgical procedures have been performed by our practice. Dr. Bonchek retired from surgery in 1998 and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Lancaster General Hospital. Jeffrey T. Cope, M.D. was recruited by Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Lancaster in 2002 and Richard B. Thompson, M.D. in 2008.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Lancaster has developed and maintains a national and international reputation for high quality, state of the art cardiothoracic surgical care. Consistently we have been a leader in the development of new techniques and technologies in the central Pennsylvania region. For example, complex mitral valve repair, congestive heart failure surgery, surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation and ventricular assist device therapy. We have received national recognition and a number of awards including 2004 & 2005 US News & World Report ranking our program among the top 50 in the nation for heart care and heart surgery and a top 100 cardiovascular hospital designation.