School of Medicine
Showing 1-10 of 67 Results
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Leah Backhus
Thelma and Henry Doelger Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery
BioLeah Backhus trained in general surgery at the University of Southern California and cardiothoracic surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. She practices at Stanford Hospital and is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the VA Palo Alto. Her surgical practice consists of general thoracic surgery with special emphasis on thoracic oncology and minimally invasive surgical techniques. She also has special clinical expertise in adult chest wall surgery (including pectus excavated) and hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy or HITHOC (used to treat mesothelioma and other pleural tumors). She is Co-Director of the Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program, and has grant funding through the Veterans Affairs Administration and NIH. Her current research interests are in imaging surveillance following treatment for lung cancer and cancer survivorship. She is a member of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable of the American Cancer Society and the Task Group on Health Equity. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. As an educator, Dr. Backhus is the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic Track Residency and is former Chair of the ACGME Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery.
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Mark Francis Berry, MD
Mylavarapu Rogers Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Berry joined the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Stanford in August 2014. He came to Stanford from Duke University, where he had most recently served as Associate Professor. He received his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine after receiving bachelors and masters degrees in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center after performing a residency in General Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His Cardiothoracic Surgical training included a year dedicated to Minimally Invasive General Thoracic Surgery, a period that also included an American Association for Thoracic Surgery sponsored Traveling Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Berry practices all aspects of thoracic surgery, including procedures for benign and malignant conditions of the lung, esophagus, and mediastinum. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive techniques, and has extensive experience in treating thoracic surgical conditions using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS), laparoscopic, robotic, endoscopic, and bronchoscopic approaches. He serves as the co-Director of the Stanford Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Center (SMITS), and has both directed and taught in several minimally invasive thoracic surgery courses.
Dr. Berry also has a Masters of Health Sciences in Clinical Research from Duke University. His clinical research activities mirror his clinical interests and activities in optimizing short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with thoracic surgical conditions. He has more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, most of which are related to both the use of minimally invasive thoracic surgical techniques as well as evaluating outcomes after treatment of thoracic malignancies. His clinical practice and his research both focus on choosing the most appropriate treatment and approach for patients based on the individual characteristics of the patient and their disease process. -
Thomas Burdon
Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsNew technologies in the area of catheters, clamps, and, visualization devices for aid in cardiac surgery; distribution of, cardioplegia, both anterograde and retrograde as determined by, techniques in technetium pyro-phosphate scans; glucose insulin, potassium as an adjunct in cardiac surgery.
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Elan Chanel Burton, MD, MHA
Clinical Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Burton is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon. She is also a clinical associate professor in the Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Section Chief for Stanford Medicine Affiliates.
She offers her patients exceptional expertise in advanced cardiothoracic surgical techniques. For each patient, she develops a customized, comprehensive, and compassionate care plan.
Dr. Burton has completed specialized training in robotic technique for minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB). This procedure enables surgical access to the heart with a smaller incision than other coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Burton has conducted research on health disparities in cardiovascular disease, diversity in radiology and molecular imaging, and other topics. She received an innovation research grant from the National Science Foundation for her work on an app for emotional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Burton has made presentations to her peers as a guest lecturer on subjects including coronary artery disease, primary cardiac tumors, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. In addition, she has made presentations to the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, American Heart Association, International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation, and other organizations.
Dr. Burton has published articles on advanced surgical techniques as well as issues such as balancing work and family during the COVID-19 pandemic, plus health disparities, biases in healthcare, and social determinants of health. Her work has appeared in the JAMA Network Open, Journal of Cardiac Surgery, JTCVS Techniques, International Social Work, and elsewhere.
Dr. Burton has earned honors including the Coleman Connolly Award in Thoracic Surgery, which recognizes the exemplary efforts of thoracic surgery residents. She also won the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement Award and the Dr. Albert G. Marrangoni Research Award.
She is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, Lillehei Surgical Society, Women in Thoracic Surgery, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety, Women Health Care Executives, Association of Women Surgeons, Society of Black Academic Surgeons, and American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management.
She has volunteered her time and expertise as a high school medical club faculty mentor, as an elementary school community health nutrition interventionist, and with the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. -
Carol Chen, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Carol Chen is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical director of adult heart transplantation at Stanford Health Care. She is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Division of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Chen specializes in all aspects of adult cardiac surgery. She has extensive experience in heart transplantation, including patient selection and donor evaluation. She is also highly skilled in aortic surgery, valve repair and replacement, coronary artery bypass, and mechanical circulatory support.
Dr. Chen’s research interests include mathematical modeling and outcomes in heart transplantation. She has studied the interaction of donor and recipient age in heart transplants, as well as long-term mechanical circulatory support in patients with left ventricular assist device implants.
Dr. Chen has published her research in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Cardiac Failure, the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. She has presented to her peers at international and national meetings, including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Mitral Conclave, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), American Heart Association, and American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Chen is a member of the ISHLT and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. -
Maria Elizabeth Currie, MD, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Maria Currie is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon and a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. With subspecialty training in heart failure, she provides expert care for a broad spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, including cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, and valvular heart disease. As part of a multidisciplinary team, she performs heart, lung, and combined heart-lung transplants. She is particularly skilled in valve surgery and the implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices.
Committed to proactive, patient-centered care, Dr. Currie encourages early referrals from cardiologists and primary care physicians at the first sign of cardiovascular disease. She recognizes that early intervention can significantly improve outcomes and welcomes collaboration around screening, diagnostics, and treatment planning.
Her approach combines advanced surgical techniques with a strong emphasis on clear communication and compassionate care. Dr. Currie prioritizes patient education, ensuring that individuals understand what to expect before, during, and after surgery. Her goal is to achieve the best possible outcomes using state-of-the-art, minimally invasive cardiac technologies.
A passionate advocate for improving surgical safety, Dr. Currie leads translational research focused on enhancing intraoperative visualization—particularly during minimally invasive procedures. Her work includes a published study on the use of augmented reality (AR) guided by transesophageal echocardiography to improve mitral valve repair. Her research has appeared in leading journals such as The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, and Transplant Immunology.
Her interest in emerging surgical technologies is deeply rooted in her background in biomedical engineering, having earned a PhD in the field. She regularly presents on the use of AR systems, 3D visualization, and robotics-assisted procedures at national and international conferences, including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Dr. Currie has received numerous awards in recognition of her research and academic excellence. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and an active member of professional organizations including The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Women in Thoracic Surgery, and the Association of Women Surgeons. She is proud to be part of Stanford Health Care, where she contributes to its long-standing legacy of leadership in cardiac surgery and benefits from cross-disciplinary collaboration with experts in engineering, statistics, and other fields. This environment supports both her research and her mission to provide patients with access to the most advanced, evidence-based care available.
