The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center takes pride in the rich tradition of excellence and pioneering firsts that have made it one of the top cardiac and thoracic programs in the nation. Our long and distinguished legacy of research dates back to the late 1950s — our most notable triumphs being the first adult human heart transplant in the United States, the world's first successful adult human combined heart-lung transplant, the first successful use of a ventricular device as a bridge to transplantation, the first thoracic aortic stent graft, and the development of the first integrated platform for minimally invasive heart surgery.
Our Department is comprised of three divisions:
internationally renowned for surgical leadership and expertise and a record of more than 30,000 cardiac procedures
highly reputed for the management of patients with lung cancer, emphysema, esophageal cancer, and mediastinal diseases
one of the largest specialized pediatric cardiovascular surgery programs in the US, acclaimed for its contributions to improving survival from lethal cardiac malformations
Together, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery continues to improve patient health
through continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and exemplary surgical education.
Resident Applicants
Integrated CT Surgical Program
(for Medical Students)
General Thoracic Track
(for Surgery Residents)
Featured News
Eldrin Lewis, MD, MPH, appointed Professor of Medicine and Division Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
Eldrin succeeds Drs. Tom Quertermous and Alan Yeung who have successfully led the division as a collaborative partnership over the last 20+ years.
10/8/2019
Dr. Ioannis Karakikes's paper featured in Nature
Paper title: Activation of PDGF pathway links LMNA mutation to dilated cardiomyopathy
Karakikes and other researcher's findings suggest that the activation of the platelet-derived growth factor pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of Lamin A/C-related dilated cardiomyopathy and point to platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β as a potential therapeutic target.
8/6/2019
Stanford football stars intern in Dr. Michael Fischbein's Lab
Four Stanford football heroes (Stuart Head, Jake Lynch, Trey LaBounty, and Grant Pease) donned lab coats this summer working in Dr. Fischbein's Thoracic Aortic Research Lab a cardiothoracic lab.
8/7/2019