Education
Reasons to Choose Stanford's Cardiothoracic Surgical Program
| Curriculum | Facilities | Faculty | History | Legacy | Accomodations | Location |
Designed for medical school graduates, what makes our Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgical Program curriculum unique is its streamlined three-part, six-year clinical track with two years of mandatory education enrichment, designed to reduce the years of training required to become a cardiovascular specialist while focusing training to the most crucial areas of the field.
Our residency program limits work hours to 80 per week and emphasizes work-life balance more than many competing programs.
The activities of the Department are centered in the Falk Cardiovascular Research Building at Stanford, a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility for the academic offices and research laboratories of the Department. The clinical activities are centered at the Stanford University Hospital, the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and the nearby Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center, with certain rotations at affiliated hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey County. Many rotations emphasize cutting edge technology, such as minimally invasive techniques, simulator practice, and robotic surgery.
Adult Cardiac Surgery
Joseph Woo, MD
Thomas Burdon, MD
William Hiesinger, MD
Yasuhiro Shudo, MD
Bruce Reitz, MD
James Fann, MD
JW MacArthur, MD
James Longoria, MD
R. Scott Mitchell, MD
Jack Boyd, MD
Ioannis Karakikes, PhD
Noot Ruaengsri, MD
Philip E. Oyer, MD, PhD
Ngan Huang, PhD
Claire Watkins, MD
Yihan Lin, MD
D. Craig Miller, MD
Anson Lee, MD
Maria Currie, MD, PhD
Michael Fischbein, MD, PhD
Elan Burton, MD, MHA
Billie-Jean Martin, MD, PhD
Thoracic Surgery
Joseph Shrager, MD
Brandon Guenthart, MD
Mark Berry, MD
Leah Backhus, MD, MPH, FACS
Natalie Lui, MD
Douglas Liou, MD
Irmina Elliott, MD
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Frank Hanley, MD
Olaf Reinhartz, MD
Malcolm Macdonald, MD
Naruhito Watanabe, MD
Richard Mainwaring, MD
Michael Ma, MD
Doff McElhinney, MD
Elisabeth Martin, MD, MPH
Teimour Nasirov, MD
Edwin Petrossian, MD
Stanford has a history of excellence in all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery, including a series of pioneering "firsts," such as 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. Its programs are particularly noted for work in thoracic organ transplantation and treatment of valvular, aneurysm, congenital, and ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary and mediastinal tumors.
Dr. Norman Shumway (center) performs the first heart transplant in January 1968.
Dr. Bruce Reitz (left) and Dr. Norman E. Shumway during the first combined heart-lung transplant performed at Stanford University Medical Center.
Previous Stanford trainees occupy a number of leadership positions throughout academic cardiothoracic surgery in the United States and abroad.
Stanford West is a 628-unit residential, on-campus community of apartments and townhomes. It is University-owned and is located on the northwest side of the Stanford campus, adjacent to the San Francisquito Creek and trail. Virtually everything you need for daily living is easily accessible by bike, on foot, or on the Stanford Marguerite Shuttle. Each apartment has a one-car garage, washer-dryer, and (for a fee) direct connection to SUNet, Stanford's computer network. A beautiful community center includes a lounge, pool, fitness center, and business center.
No description of our program would be complete without emphasizing Stanford University’s prime location within the San Francisco Bay Area, an area rich in natural beauty, culture, and entertainment. Stanford’s agreeable climate makes for pleasant seasons year-round, and various nearby microclimates mean you’re never far from just about any recreational activity imaginable. From sunbathing to skiing, the Bay Area can accommodate.
Stanford campus is located:
- adjacent to downtown Palo Alto, popular for its restaurants, shopping, and specialty theatres
- 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose in the heart of Northern California's dynamic Silicon Valley
- 30 minutes east of beaches and the Pacific Ocean as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains
- 1.5 hours south of the famed Napa Valley wine country
- 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and excellent ski resorts
Local professional sports teams:
- Hockey - San Jose Sharks
- Basketball - Golden State Warriors
- Baseball - San Francisco Giants, Oakland As
- Football - San Francisco 49ers
- Soccer – San Jose Earthquakes
Or watch sports on campus: Stanford Athletics
Or participate in recreational sports on campus: Stanford Recreation & Wellness. Our campus is also home to the Stanford University Golf Course, which is consistently rated one of the finest courses in the world.
