Adult Cardiac Surgery In the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Current Residents

Integrated CT Surgical Residents: Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani, George Dimeling, Timothy Pirolli, Clayton Kaiser, Katherine Harrington, Matthew Forrester

Traditional Thoracic Surgery Residents: David Joyce, Bo Yang, Anthony Caffarelli, Ahmad Sheikh

Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgical Program Residents
Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani - PGY1
Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: University of California, Irvine
Med School: University of Iowa

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"Cardiac surgery is my joie de vivre."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"The faculty; they're cool, generous, funny and of course masters of surgery."

George Dimeling - PGY1
George Dimeling, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: University of Virginia
Grad: Georgetown University
Med School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"I cant think of anything more important than repairing someone's heart."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Camaraderie, tradition, and cardiac surgery--its pretty much like heaven."

Timothy Pirolli - PGY2
Timothy Pirolli, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences
Med School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"The complexity and challenges, the gratitude of the patients, and constant mental and physical stimulation of the procedures."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"The people, the weather, the history of the department along with the mentorship of the current faculty. Also, because of the integrated program, I never have to do a Whipple!"

Clayton Kaiser - PGY2
Clayton Kaiser, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: Duke University
Med School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"Improving patients' lives through challenging operations."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Working with smart, talented fellow residents and being trained by world experts in the field of CT surgery who are dedicated to our education."

Katherine Harrington - PGY3
Katherine Harrington, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: Stanford University
Med School: Stanford School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"I find the physiology and anatomy of the heart fascinating, and I enjoy being able to impact people's lives in such a tactile, concrete way."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"I'm very happy to be able to train in the first integrated program, thus being able to focus on CT surgery for my entire residency. I'm looking forward to learning from some of the leaders in the field here at Stanford."

Matthew Forrester - PGY3
Matthew Forrester, MD

Educational Background:
Undergrad: Arizona State University, Barrett Honors College
Med School: Emory University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"Cardiothoracic surgery requires a thorough knowledge of complex physiology and anatomy to directly intervene and alter dynamic physics to alleviate patient illness and significantly improve quality of life."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford provides a training environment in which I am able to focus on cardiothoracic surgery through a directed integrated training program. CT surgery at Stanford has a profound historical importance and I am able to learn from leaders and innovators of both the past and present."

Traditional Thoracic Surgery Residents
David Joyce - PGY7
David Joyce, MD

Educational Background:
Med School: Harvard Medical School
Gen Surgery Training: The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"As a field, it presents the most technically challenging operations currently performed and provides treatment for the most common diseases affecting Americans today."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Working with the cardiothoracic surgeons at Stanford is like playing basketball on the 1992 Dream Team—it may well be the most highly skilled group of surgeons assembled in the history of the profession."

Bo Yang - PGY7
Bo Yang, MD

Educational Background:
Med School: Hunan Medical University
Gen Surgery Training: University of Arizona College of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"I enjoy the challenge and complexity of cardiothoracic surgery."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Excellent surgeons dedicated to teaching residents and complex aortic  
surgery."

Anthony Caffarelli - PGY8
Anthony Caffarelly, MD

Educational Background:
Med School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Gen Surgery Training: Stanford School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"The privilege to offer a surgical solution to complex cardiovascular problems, all while working within a team focused on providing excellent care to patients and their families."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"The opportunity to train at an institution that (1) maintains a focus on resident education and (2) creates an environment to become the best cardiothoracic surgeon possible."

Ahmad Sheikh - PGY9
Ahmad Sheikh, MD

Educational Background:
Med School: UC San Francisco
General Surgery Training: Massachusetts General Hospital

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about CT surgery as a career?
"CT surgery is challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford embodies a tradition of excellence in cardiovascular training. It is an honor to be here."

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