School of Medicine
Showing 1-20 of 34 Results
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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. -
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. -
Michael D. Dake
Thelma and Henry Doelger Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsImproved endovascular procedures and devices to treat aortic lesions, peripheral arterial disease and venous abnormalities. Focused interest in drug-eluting stents and balloons, endovascular stent-grafts, including branched aortic devices and techniques for the endovascular management of aortic dissection. Current clinical research projects include drug-eluting stents for superficial femoral arterial disease and multiple device trials to evaluate stent-grafts for the treatment of aortic lesions.
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James Fann
Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery) at the Stanford University Medical Center, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsCardiac surgery education and simulation-based learning, coronary artery bypass surgery, cardiac valve disease
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Michael Fischbein
Thelma and Henry Doelger Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMolecular and genetic mechanisms of aortic aneurysm/dissection development. Molecular mechanisms of aneurysm formation in Marfan Syndrome. Clinical research interests include thoracic aortic diseases (aneurysms, dissections).
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Rabin Gerrah
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Rabin Gerrah is a cardiothoracic surgeon and specializes in surgical treatment of heart diseases such as ischemic, valvular, structural and congenital heart diseases. He has been trained at Harvard University and Columbia University Hospitals. Dr. Gerrah has been involved in multiple medical research projects and has patented and developed innovative surgical devices and technologies.
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Brandon Alan Guenthart
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Guenthart is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon. He is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
He specializes in providing leading-edge surgical treatment for people with cancer and end-stage heart and lung disease. He performs the full range of surgical procedures ranging from minimally invasive thoracic surgery to heart and lung transplantation. Dr. Guenthart practices all aspects of thoracic surgery, including procedures for benign and malignant conditions of the airway, lung, mediastinum, esophagus, and foregut. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive techniques and has extensive experience in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS), laparoscopic, robotic, endoscopic, and bronchoscopic approaches.
Dr. Guenthart earned his medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine. He completed general surgery residency at Cornell and a post-doctoral research fellowship in tissue bioengineering at Columbia University in the Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering. He then completed cardiothoracic surgery fellowship and advanced fellowship training in cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Stanford University.
Dr. Guenthart has conducted research supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Columbia University. Dr. Guenthart has a particular interest in end-stage lung disease and his research focuses on lung perfusion and bioengineering strategies to promote lung recovery and regeneration. He has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Medicine, Nature Biomedical Engineering, the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. He has made numerous presentations to his peers at national conferences and given invited talks on patient selection, organ allocation, and other aspects of transplantation.
Dr. Guenthart is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Biomedical Engineering Society, American College of Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. -
William Hiesinger, MD
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery)
BioDr. Hiesinger is a board-certified, fellowship-trained specialist in adult cardiac surgery. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Hiesinger’s clinical focus encompasses the full spectrum of cardiothoracic conditions and treatment approaches, such as heart transplantation, mitral and aortic valve repair, surgical treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery bypass, and complex thoracic aortic procedures. He serves as Surgical Director of the Stanford Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, where he leads and directs the surgical implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in patients with end-stage heart failure.
The National Institutes of Health and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation have awarded funds to support Dr. Hiesinger’s research. In the Stanford Cardiothoracic Therapeutics and Surgery Laboratory, Dr. Hiesinger's research spans the disciplines of computer science and cardiovascular biology, and he endeavors to build novel foundational deep learning systems designed to better represent and process high-dimensional inputs and apply these systems towards clinical problems. Additionally, his lab investigates bioengineered devices, tissue engineering, and angiogenic cytokine therapy for the treatment of heart failure.
He has published extensively and his work has appeared in Nature Communications, Nature Machine Intelligence, the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Circulation Heart Failure, the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Vascular Surgery, and elsewhere.
He teaches courses on cardiothoracic surgery skills. He also advises surgeons of the future.
Dr. Hiesinger has won awards for his research and scholarship, including the Surgical Resident of the Year Award, Jonathan E. Rhoads Research Award, Clyde F. Baker Research Prize, and I.S. Ravdin Prize, all from his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. He was a finalist for the Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award from the American Heart Association.
Dr. Hiesinger is a member of the American Association For Thoracic Surgery and serves on the Cardiac Surgery Biology Club. He is also a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and serves on the Workforce on Surgical Treatment of End-Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease national committee as well as the American Heart Association Council for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery. -
Alexander D. Kaiser
Instructor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioAlexander Kaiser, PhD, is an applied mathematician and computational scientist who researches modeling and simulation of heart valves, focused on congenital heart valve disease and its surgical treatment. His recent research explores simulation-guided design of aortic valve repair of complex congenital heart defects. He has developed novel, nearly first-principles modeling methods for heart valves called design-based elasticity. These methods produce robust and realistic flows in fluid-structure interaction simulations. Dr. Kaiser is an Instructor in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University working with Michael Ma and Alison Marsden. He completed his PhD in Mathematics with Charles Peskin at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, where he was awarded the Kurt O. Friedrichs Prize for Outstanding Dissertation in Mathematics.
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Anson Lee
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery)
BioDr. Anson Lee specializes in the surgical treatment of all heart diseases, including ischemic heart disease, structural heart disease, aortic disease, and arrhythmias. He has practiced cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford since 2015. Dr. Lee has a special interest in the surgical treatment of abnormal heart rhythms and minimally invasive techniques to treat heart disease.
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Marc Leon (aka Hongliang Liang) MD, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioMarc Leon (also known as Hongliang Liang), M.D., Ph.D., previously served as Chief Surgeon, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Director of the Division of Coronary Artery Surgery at Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, China. Currently, he is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford Hospital. Dr. Leon is a surgeon member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), and the Chinese American Academy of Cardiology (CAAC). His clinical and research expertise includes the surgical management of cardiopulmonary failure, heart valve disease, and ischemic heart disease, along with the application of stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction. Additionally, Dr. Leon is actively engaged in exploring the application of artificial intelligence in the field of cardiovascular diseases.
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Yihan Lin, MD MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Lin is a cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. She provides the complete spectrum of surgical care for cardiac conditions, including ischemic heart disease, structural heart disease, aortic disease, and arrhythmias.
Dr. Lin's research is focused on surgical education and global disparities in surgical care. She obtained her Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Her research aims to decrease barriers and disparities in surgical care, including in low and middle income settings. -
James Longoria, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery
BioDr. Longoria is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon. He is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Deeply accomplished in all facets of complex adult cardiothoracic procedures, Dr. Longoria is a high-volume surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and an exceptionally low mortality and complication rate.
Dr. Longoria’s surgical experience includes complex mitral valve and tricuspid valve repair, coronary artery bypass grafting, adult congenital repair, as well as procedures for high risk VAD patients. He performs cardiac transplantation, carotid endarterectomy, and implantation of all FDA-approved mechanical circulatory support devices. Additionally, he performs catheter-based valvular procedures (such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR) and open and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pulmonary surgical procedures.
He has an applied interest in atrial fibrillation (AFib) and is a nationally recognized expert in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). Dr. Longoria was issued a method patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for developing the TTMaze (Totally Thoracoscopic) procedure that is central to the Dual Epicardial Endocardial Persistent (DEEP) AFib clinical trial.
Before joining Stanford, Dr. Longoria was the surgical director of cardiac ablation at a prominent AFib center certified by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. He holds patents for a synthetic chord used to connect tissue and for specialized methods he developed to treat cardiac arrhythmias.
At Stanford, Dr. Longoria brings a commitment to patientcentric, personalized care. He is committed to making the experience of surgery as pleasant as possible for his patients. He is also excited for the opportunity to conduct translational research that utilizes the most advanced technology available, in collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines.
For his outcomes and high patient satisfaction ratings, Dr. Longoria has earned awards and recognition, including being named a Top Doctor of Sacramento by his peers for the last five years in a row. He has also been an honoree of the President’s Award for patient satisfaction by the Sutter Independent Physicians.
Dr. Longoria has published articles on genetic variants associated with atrial fibrillation, thoracoscopic left atrial appendage clipping, radiofrequency ablation, and other topics. His work has appeared in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, and elsewhere.
He has made numerous presentations on atrial fibrillation surgery and other topics at conferences including the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.
Dr. Longoria is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American College of Cardiology. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the Heart Rhythm Society.
