Our exceptional team of internationally renowned surgeons has been trained in some of the most innovative state-of-the-art cardiovascular and thoracic surgical techniques. Additionally, many of our surgical team actively participate in research clinical trials, allowing patients access to the most current treatments available.

• Peter Anastassiou, M.D.
• G. James Avery, M.D.
• Michael Black, M.D.
• Luis Castro, M.D.
• Robert Ellis, M.D.
• Vincent A. Gaudiani, M.D.
• Anne-Marie Regal, M.D.
• Eddie Tang, M.D.
• Conrad M. Vial, M.D.
• Edward Yee, M.D.

Peter Anastassiou, M.D.

Peter Anastassiou, M.D.
Medical Training: Baylor College of Medicine
Board Certification: Thoracic Surgery
Contact Numbers: (415) 600-0410 or (707) 573-6165


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G. James Avery, M.D.

G. James Avery, M.D.
Medical Training: Columbia University; St. Luke's Roosevelt; Presbyterian Hospital City of New York
Board Certification: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Special Interests: Organ Transplant
Contact Number: (415) 923-3150

Jim Avery, M.D. has been a member of the surgical staff at California Pacific Medical Center for over 25 years. Starting his practice with J. Donald Hill, M.D., the former Surgical Director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Program at California Pacific, in 1979, Dr. Avery is board certified in both General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. Originally from Omaha Nebraska, Dr. Avery completed his B.A. at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut and received his M.D. from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Remaining in New York, he completed both his internship and residency in General Surgery at Roosevelt Hospital. He then went on to complete his residency in Thoracic Surgery in research at Columbia University and clinical at Presbyterian Hospital, both in New York.

Dr. Avery is an active member of several professional associations and is a Charter Member of the Bay Area Society of Thoracic Surgeons.


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Michael Black, M.D.

Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery & Surgical Director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Program

Michael Black, M.D. - Pediatrics
Medical Training: University of Toronto; University of Ottawa
Board Certification: Surgery
Special Interests: Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery; Congenital Heart Disease Surgery; Cardiovascular Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Robotic Surgery
Contact Number: (415) 600-1543

Michael Black, M.D. is the Chief of the division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and the Surgical Director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Program at California Pacific. Prior to joining our surgical staff, Dr. Black was the Director of the Pediatric Fellowship Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario and the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Dr. Black is a pioneer in the use of small incisions on neonates and adolescents. Using robotics and videoscopic techniques, he can precisely repair defects deep inside the heart without unsightly chest incisions or damaging trauma to the heart muscle.

Dr. Black received his M.D. from the University of Toronto where he received the James Colling, O.B.E. Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence and the Lois and K.J.R. Wightman Award. Board certified in Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, and board eligible in Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Black completed his residency and surgical internships in Canada.

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Luis Castro, M.D.

Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery for the CPMC Heart Institute

Luis Castro, M.D. Medical Training: Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford University Medical Center; LAC/USC Medical Center
Board Certification: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Special Interests: Cardiovascular Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Contact Number: (650) 366-0225

Luis Castro, M.D. has performed nearly 3000 surgeries and has particular interest in aortic root reconstruction. He attended the University of Southern California and Stanford Medical School, where he also completed his general surgical training. He received his cardiac fellowship from University of Southern California and is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Additionally, he is a consultant for Medtronic Cardiac Surgery. He is fluent in Spanish. Dr Castro is the Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery for the CPMC Heart Institute.
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Robert Ellis, M.D.

Robert Ellis, M.D.
Medical Training: Temple University School of Medicine; University of Minnesota Hospitals; Baylor College of Medicine; Rockefeller University National Institutes of Health
New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
Board Certification: General Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Contact Number: (415) 386-4640

Robert J. Ellis, M.D. has practiced in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 30 years. During this time Dr. Ellis spent three years performing cardiothoracic surgery in the California central valley town of Stockton, practicing at both St. Joseph's Medical Center and Dameron Hospital. Prior to his arrival in the Bay Area, Dr. Ellis was a Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon and Research Associate with the United States Navy.

Dr. Ellis received his M.D. from Temple University in Philadelphia and his internship at University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis. He continued his medial education completing residencies in General Surgery at Temple University Hospital and New York Cornell Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Immunology Fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York and was the Cardiothoracic Surgery Chief Resident at New York Cornell Medical Center.

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Vincent A. Gaudiani, M.D.

Chief of CPMC's Heart Institute

Vincent A. Gaudiani, M.D.
Medical Training: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; University Hospitals of Cleveland; Stanford University Medical Center
Board Certification: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Special Interests: Cardiovascular Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Contact Number: (650) 366-0225

Vincent A. Gaudiani, M.D. brings a stellar reputation to his role of Surgeon in Chief of CPMC's Heart Institute, coming from a 13-year position as Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. Over the past 25 years, Dr Gaudiani has performed over 10,000 operations. He has focused on valve repair and replacement and electrophysiologic surgery. He has published over 40 scientific papers and has a passionate interest in quality assurance in cardiac surgery. A graduate of Harvard University and Case Western Reserve University Medical School, Dr Gaudiani completed his cardiac surgery training at the National Institute for Health and Stanford University. Board certified in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, he is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Medtronic Cardiac Surgery.
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Anne-Marie Regal, M.D.

Anne-Marie Regal, M.D.
Medical Training: Boston University School of Medicine; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Stanford university Medical Center
Board Certification: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Languages: French
Contact Number: (415) 831-8800

Anne-Marie Regal, M.D. is board certified in both General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. She received her M.D. from Boston University, completed her internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York and her residency at Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Regal has been on staff at California Pacific for over ten years. She has been the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at St. Luke's Hospital and the Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at California Pacific. In 2000, she was the President of the American Heart Association (AHA) San Francisco Chapter and continues to play an active role in the AHA.


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Eddie Tang, M.D.

Eddie Tang, M.D.
Medical Training: University of Southern California; University of California Los Angeles
Board Certification: Cardiovascular Surgery; Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Languages: Cantonese; Mandarin
Contact Number: (415) 387-9992


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Conrad M. Vial, M.D.

Associate Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery for the CPMC Heart Institute.

Conrad M. Vial, M.D.
Medical Training: Stanford University School of Medicine
Board Certification: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Special Interests: Cardiovascular Surgery; Thoracic Surgery
Contact Number: (650) 366-0225

Conrad Vial, M.D. is a lifelong resident of the Bay area and performs both cardiac and non-cardiac thoracic surgery. He has spent the past 19 years at Stanford University, where he received both undergraduate and medical degrees as well as his general surgical and cardiothoracic surgical training and received awards for Best Surgical Teacher and Outstanding Surgical Resident. Following his residency, Dr. Vial completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cambridge University in England in cardiac transplant immunology. Dr. Vial, who is fluent in Italian and Spanish, is particularly interested in cardiac valvular disease and minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery and hold membership in The Transplantation Society. Dr. Vial is the Associate Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery for the CPMC Heart Institute.
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Edward Yee, M.D.

Edward Yee, M.D.
Medical Training: University of California San Francisco
Board Certification: Thoracic Surgery; Surgery; Critical Care Medicine
Contact Number: (415) 387-9992


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