The experienced transplant physicians at California Pacific Medical Center have enjoyed outstanding results and are renowned for their excellence and dedication.

Medical Director of the Heart Failure and Transplant Program

Ernest Haeusslein, MD
Dr. Haeusslein has been the lead cardiologist and member of California Pacific’s transplant team since 1989. He is board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine. Dr. Haeusslein is responsible for the medical management and care of all patients throughout the heart transplant process, from evaluation to post-transplant follow-up. Dr. Haeusslein received his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine. His special interests include end-stage heart disease management and pharmacological investigation. He manages a special clinical program for heart failure patients in conjunction with his heart transplant clinic.

Director of the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU)

James Hershon, MD
Dr. Hershon is responsible for post-surgical organ transplant patients while in the MSICU. He is board-certified in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Internal Medicine. Dr. Hershon received his medical degree at the University of Vermont. He has worked in partnership with the California Pacific Cardiology and Cardiovascular team since 1979 and is bilingual in English/Sign English.

Acting Surgical Director, Heart Transplants

G. James Avery, II, MD
Dr. Avery is Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation. He has been at California Pacific Medical Center since 1979. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, he is board certified in Thoracic Surgery. He has 20 years of heart transplant and assist device experience. His special interest is in bridge to transplant.

Devices and Heart Transplant Services

Preben Brandenhoff, MD
Dr Brandenhoff specializes in surgical treatment of patients with acquired heart disease as well as heart and lung transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. A native of Denmark, he received his bachelor's and medical degrees from University of Copenhagen and later served 10 years as staff surgeon and assistant professor at the University Hospital, Rigshospitalet’s Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Following a two-year fellowship in complex cardiac surgery at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in order to obtain US licensing, Dr Brandenhoff served as chief of cardiac surgery in Copenhagen before being recruited as Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF Medical Center. Dr Brandenhoff joined the Heart Failure/Heart Transplant Program at CPMC in May 2007.

J. Donald Hill, MD
Dr.Hill is a cardiac surgeon specializing in the treatment of heart failure including heart transplant, surgery for congestive heart failure and the use of left ventricular assist devices. Dr Hill earned his medical degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He went on to complete his residency in surgery at Cincinnati General Hospital and completed two fellowships, one in thoracic surgery at the Karolinska Hospital Thoracic Clinic in Stockholm, Sweden and another in cardiovascular surgery at California Pacific Medical Center. He is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery as well as certified by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Dr. Hill also has an honorary doctorate of laws from Dalhousie University. Dr Hill’s research interests include cardiovascular surgical techniques for heart transplantation and artificial organs, pathophysiology of serious organ dysfunction and extracorporeal circulation.