Cardiothoracic Surgery

Current Residents

Integrated CT Surgical Residents: David Scoville, Peter Chiu, Zach Brewer, Sanford Zeigler, Justin Schaffer, Michael Ma, Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani, George Dimeling, Timothy Pirolli, Clayton Kaiser, Katherine Harrington, Matthew Forrester

Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgical Program Residents
David Scoville - PGY1
David Scoville, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: University of Kansas

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"I enjoy the mental and technical demands of cardiothoracic operations and the intellectual challenge of pre-operative decision making and postoperative critical care management. It is truly an invigorating field."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford’s track record is unmatched and stems from the unique training environment established by Dr. Shumway and perpetuated by current faculty where residents are guided and mentored by leaders in cardiothoracic surgery."

Peter Chiu - PGY1
Peter Chiu, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"Cardiothoracic surgery is both technically demanding and elegant. Further, the patient narratives are the most compelling."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"The opportunity to train under giants in cardiothoracic surgery and join a line of distinguished graduates makes the clinical and research experience at Stanford unparalleled."

Zach Brewer - PGY2
Zack Brewer, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"Cardiothoracic surgeons are the engineers of the surgical community: they carefully plan, design, build, and troubleshoot. CT surgery is where the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and complex co-morbidities of patients intertwines with dexterity, stamina, and empathy to produce a result that no medicine can."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford offers an unparalleled training environment and is committed to training the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. No other place has such a marked place in the history of the field and yet has such a firm grasp of the future."

Sanford Zeigler - PGY2
Sanford Zeigler, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: University of the South
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"Cardiothoracic Surgery is a complex, dynamic field that requires a high level of functioning both with the hands and in the mind. CT Surgery is often transformative for the patients that need it, and can drastically improve their quality of life."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford has a long history of training leaders in CT Surgery, and its Integrated Program is the natural progression of this tradition. The accelerated pace of the program in conjunction with a culture of meritocracy within the University allows residents to assume leadership roles in the OR and hospital far more quickly than would be expected in a traditional training pathway."

Justin Schaffer - PGY3
Justin Schaffer, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"Resolving cardiac pathology has a dramatic impact on the lives of patients. The thrill of the operations and the gratification of instantly seeing the results of your work make the career tremendously satisfying."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"The culture, instilled by Shumway, creates an unparalleled environment for research, innovation, collaboration, and collegiality in the pursuit of excellence in patient care."

Michael Ma - PGY3
Michael Ma, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: Columbia University

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic surgery as a career?
"Cardiothoracic surgery intimately manages 3 of the 4 cardinal vital signs and each of the emergent ABCs. It is unforgiving in its demand for clinical wisdom, technical prowess, and compassion."
What do you enjoy most about training at Stanford?
"Stanford is a place where dreamers and doers are one in the same. Learning to do under giants and dreaming to stand amongst them one day are unique opportunities that leave me forever humbled and grateful."

Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani - PGY4
Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: University of Iowa

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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 - PGY4
George Dimeling, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Graduate: Georgetown University
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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 - PGY5
Timothy Pirolli, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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 - PGY5
Clayton Kaiser, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Duke University
Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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 - PGY6
Katherine Harrington, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: Stanford School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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 - PGY6
Matthew Forrester, MD

Educational Background:
Undergraduate: Arizona State University, Barrett Honors College
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine

Personal Statements:
What do you enjoy most about cardiothoracic 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."

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