Robert L Reis MD

July 15, 1933 - January 1, 2021

Coral Gables, Florida - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert (“Bob”) Reis.

Bob was a pioneer in cardiac surgery and it was a source of great personal satisfaction for him to serve the Miami-Dade community for more than five decades.

After completing residency and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Bob served as Senior Surgeon and Deputy Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland before accepting the position as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Among his many accomplishments was developing one of the first artificial heart valves, now on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. He published more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters and was selected to serve on the Nobel Prize nominating committee in 1972.

In 1976, Bob moved his family to Coral Gables when he was recruited to start the adult cardiac surgery program at Cedars Medical Center (now University of Miami Hospital). Bob had an unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable of our community and worked tirelessly to develop the first pediatric open heart surgery program at Variety Children’s Hospital (now Nicklaus Children’s Hospital).

When not in the operating room, Bob was an avid sailor and horticulturalist - taking great pride in the magnificent coconut palms he grew from seedlings.

A private family service was held January 4, 2021 at Lakeside Memorial Park.