History of the Heart and Vascular Center, San Francisco
California Pacific's Heart Care Legacy
Frank Gerbode, M.D., Founder
Frank Gerbode, M.D. was the founder of the Medical Research Institute and Heart Research Institute at Presbyterian Hospital-Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, now known as the Pacific Campus of California Pacific Medical Center. An internationally known cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Gerbode was a pioneer in open heart surgery, performing the first successful open heart surgery on the west coast in 1954 at what was then Presbyterian Hospital. He surrounded himself with innovators who shared his vision assembling a research group, whose creativity and skill led to the first successful routine membrane oxygenator. He was the chief of cardiovascular surgery at Presbyterian Hospital-Pacific Medical Center from 1960 until 1979 and a prime mover in the development of the heart valve bypass technique, now the standard open heart operating procedure.
A native Californian, Dr. Gerbode was born in the foothill town of Placerville and educated at Stanford University and Stanford Medical School, which was at the time located in San Francisco. In 1959 Stanford Medical School moved to Palo Alto to become part of the Stanford University Campus and Dr. Gerbode stayed in San Francisco. He helped establish a new private medical center, Presbyterian Hospital now known as California Pacific Medical Center, on the site of the former Stanford University School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Gerbode founded and was the first President of the Institutes of Medical Sciences, now the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute. He was the head of the Heart Research division at the Research Institute until his death in 1984.
Dr. Gerbode devoted over 40 years of his career to research, surgery and teaching. He trained surgeons through the world and from the mid 1950’s through the mid 1970’s there were nearly 200 fellows in Dr. Gerbode's Cardiovascular Fellowship program.
Identifying the Best Treatment Options and Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery Specialist for You
Our commitment at CPMC is to help each patient identify the best doctor for their diagnosis and course of treatment. To find the best specialist for Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery , we want to empower our patients to participate in their health care journey. This means encouraging a frank discussion with the doctor about Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery, to identify all appropriate treatment options as well as to discuss symptoms, issues, outcomes, etc., when relevant for Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery. The first step of your journey is research - using online tools such as CPMC's to investigate and understand Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery. The second step is to schedule an initial consultation with a physician or specialist. In some cases, you'll need to go through your primary care physician if you do not have a referral. If you already have a referral,you can schedule an appointment directly with the Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery specialist. The third step is for the specialist in Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery to meet with you and review your history. As part of the diagnosis, you may need testing, so the doctor (surgeon or specialist) can discuss your treatment options and the both of you can determine your best course of action. We have patients at CPMC coming from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California, and many from throughout the United States with respect to Cardiovascular / Heart Surgery. Whether you are from San Francisco, Marin, the San Francisco Bay Area generally or any other location, our physicians will provide the hands-on care you deserve.
California Pacific's Heart and Vascular Center
California Pacific's Heart and Vascular Center is supported by one of the best heart hospital/center networks in the USA, offering quality, comprehensive patient-centered cardiovascular care by a team of top heart surgeons and physicians with leading-edge technology. Serving the entire San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco and Marin County, as well as the entire Northern California region, our team has many of the best cardiovascular surgeons and physicians in California and the United States.
