Dr. Michael S. Firstenberg is a board-certified thoracic surgeon specializing in the full spectrum of adult cardiac and thoracic surgery. He currently practices at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Hawaii, providing advanced surgical care with a focus on heart failure, complex valve disease, and thoracic pathology.

Dr. Firstenberg brings a rich background in both clinical leadership and academic medicine. Prior to relocating to Hawaii, he served as Chief of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Medical Center of Aurora and Rose Hospitals in Denver, Colorado. He has held academic appointments at The Ohio State University and Summa Akron City Hospital, and he continues to contribute to medical education through faculty roles at Northeast Ohio Medical University in both the Colleges of Medicine and Graduate Studies.

A Cleveland native, Dr. Firstenberg completed his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago before earning his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He trained in General Surgery at University Hospitals in Cleveland and went on to complete fellowships in Thoracic Surgery at The Ohio State University and Surgical Heart gFailure at The Cleveland Clinic.

A respected leader in his field, Dr. Firstenberg is an active member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). He is a Founding Fellow and past President (2021–2022) of the American College of Academic International Medicine (ACAIM). He has contributed to numerous research initiatives and clinical trials and is widely published, with more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, and book chapters to his name. He has also edited several textbooks on topics such as patient safety, medical leadership, COVID-19, endocarditis, and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), and has lectured internationally on these subjects.

Outside of surgery, Dr. Firstenberg enjoys the outdoor lifestyle of the Hawaiian Islands. A former triathlete, he stays active through land and water sports, and loves exploring nature. He is also a frequent traveler and international speaker. At the end of the day, his favorite moments often include quiet time with his beloved Golden Retriever, Linus.whom some call “the perfect creature”.