Redding, CA, October 1, 2020 — Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery makes movement to advance heart care in the northern territory of California state, providing a comprehensive range of heart care services to the Mercy Medical Center Redding, in Redding, CA. The new partnership with Stanford Health Care and Mercy Medical Center Redding further advances the Stanford Cardiac Surgery Affiliate Hospital Program.  The combination of Mercy Medical Center Redding's more than 70 years of healthcare services and Stanford's leadership in academic medicine is expected to significantly advance healthcare in this region.

The key to the Stanford Cardiac Surgery Program at Mercy Medical Center Redding is the addition of Dr. John Chen. Dr. Chen will be providing cardiothoracic surgery services at Mercy Medical Center Redding, in Redding, CA, and on faculty with the Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Chen has an outstanding cardiovascular surgery career, attending medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia, after which he did his residency in General Surgery at Harbor-UCLA, and Cardiothoracic Surgery at UC San Francisco. After completing residency, his first academic appointment was that of Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of California at Irvine. In 1999, he was recruited to be Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Hawaii Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and Clinical Professor at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. Dr. Chen has had several research interests, including cardiopulmonary physiology, coagulation/inflammation, and blood transfusion risk/benefit, particularly during Cardiothoracic Surgery. He has served as Governor and Member of the Advisory Council for Cardiothoracic Surgery for the American College of Surgeons. He is a past president of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association and regularly reviews journals such as Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Journal of Thoracic and CV Surgery.  He is looking forward to starting his new position and partnership at Stanford and Mercy Medical Center Redding.

We are also pleased to welcome back to the Stanford system, Dr. Eric Keyser, as Clinical Associate Professor, and our newest surgeon in Stanford's Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Keyser is an attending surgeon at Mercy Medical Center Redding. His past experience has included Medical Director of Dignity Health Medical Foundation Shasta County, California, and Clinical Assistant Professor in our Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He studied Physics and Physiology as an undergraduate and studied Experimental Surgery for his Master's degree at McGill University. He completed his medical degree and residency in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at McGill University.  

Stanford Cardiac Surgery Program in affiliation with The Mercy Medical Center Redding patients can be evaluated and seen in the new clinic by calling (530) 245-2990.

About The Mercy Medical Center Redding

Mercy Medical Center Redding is a 267-bed hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn, along with St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta. Our goal is to promote healing and wellness as well as to advocate for the poor. We deliver compassionate, high-quality health care to the people of the greater Redding area and surrounding North State communities.

The hospital has received the National Research Corporation's Consumer Choice Award for eight consecutive years. Additionally, Mercy Medical Center Redding was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for high performance in all five areas of adult treatment, including knee and hip replacement, heart failure, bypass surgery, and pulmonary disease. We've also been honored by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for our stroke program.

Mercy Medical Center Redding is part of the CommonSpirit system, which is one of the nation's largest health care systems with more than 142 hospitals in 21 states.

About Stanford Health Care

Stanford Health Care is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. A worldwide destination for quality care, Stanford continues to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top-ranked hospital. Stanford is ranks #13 in the US News Best Hospital rankings, #9 in the nation for Cardiology and Heart Surgery programs, and proudly ranked #1 for Cardiology & Heart Surgery in Northern California by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, Stanford is nationally ranked in Vizient's top 8 for quality and safety. Stanford Health Care is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. The Hospital is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

About Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery Department

Today's cardiac surgeons at Stanford continue to extend this tradition of excellence with pioneering innovations in complex valve repair, minimally invasive and robotic operations, beating-heart surgery, hybrid aortic reconstruction, arrhythmia operations, triple-organ transplantation, novel artificial heart and lung devices, and stem cell therapy to repair and regenerate the heart.

Stanford is able to leverage a series of "firsts," including the first heart transplant in the US, the first heart-lung transplant in the world, and one of the first left ventricular assist device (LVAD) procedures in the world. Stanford dominates the market in programs involving a high percentage of complex procedures. Several of Stanford's most successful cardiac programs have a broad geographical base, with over 20% of the volume for heart transplants, aorta and valve procedures coming from outside the Bay Area. Stanford also has a strong international cardiac market with cardiac patients representing more than 50% of overall international business. For more information, visit the Department of Cardiothoracic Adult Cardiac Surgery Services webpage.