Adult Cardiac Surgery Services
The Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, a pioneer in cardiac surgery and heart transplantation, continues to set the pace as a leader in patient care, research innovation, and hands-on education of tomorrow's surgeons.
| History of Innovation |
| Services We Provide |
| Our Doctors |
| Your Care Team |
| Additional Patient Resources |
In 1968, Dr. Norman Shumway performed the first adult heart transplant in the United States, and established Stanford as a global leader in cardiac surgery. In 1981, Dr. Bruce Reitz completed the first combined heart and lung transplant in the world. A few years later, Dr. Philip Oyer was part of a team that first successfully used a mechanical device as a "bridge" to transplant, supporting a patient in end-stage heart failure until a heart transplant was possible. In the mid to late 1990s, Stanford cardiac surgeons were among the first to perform minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries.
Drs. Craig Miller, and R. Scott Mitchell designed and implanted stent grafts to repair thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TEVAR). In the late 1990's pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr. Frank L. Hanley developed the technique of single-stage unifocalization to correct deficient pulmonary vasculature in a congenital heart defect with a single surgery rather than multiple procedures.
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.
Dr. Norman Shumway performing the first successful heart transplant in the United States
Mechanical circulatory support (MCS):
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Ventricular assist device (VAD)
Minimally invasive heart surgery
Myectomy/myotomy
Natural heart valve repair
Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Valvular surgery
Complex thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery
- Dissection
Transplant
- Heart transplant
- Lung transplant
- Heart-lung transplant
Stem cell therapy
Tumor removal
Treatment for adult congenital heart disease
Treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
In addition to the attending cardiac surgeons, the team is composed of fellows in an approved residency program leading to certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, clinical nurse specialists, dedicated cardiac anesthesiologists, and nurses specialized in the care of postsurgical patients.
To assist you and your family, our physicians and clinical coordinators are available to provide you with the most advanced care. Our physicians, nurses, and support staff value the trust you place in us.
Surgery Coordinators
Roberto Vargas
Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic Manager
Charlene Seegmiller
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
Judith Sang
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
Veronica Cendejas
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
Maria Caimol
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
May Tan
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
Juan Ayala
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison
Andrew Nguyen
Cardiothoracic Surgery Liaison