Meet The Faculty
At Mayo Clinic, general thoracic surgeons and cardiovascular surgeons are members of the healthcare team who work to optimize the patient's condition before, during, and after general thoracic and cardiac surgery. This team is specially trained to meet the patient's needs throughout their surgical experience and return home.
More from the program director
Dear Future Leaders of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery,
It is with immense excitement and pride that I extend a heartfelt welcome to the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. As the program director, I am honored to introduce you to a journey of unparalleled excellence, innovation, and achievement in the dynamic world of cardiac and thoracic surgery.
At Mayo Clinic, we stand as a beacon of excellence in the field, and our legacy (that includes pioneering the very foundation of open-heart surgery) speaks volumes. The names of great visionaries in our field, like Drs. Kirklin, McGoon, Claggett, and Rastelli, resonate through our hallways, reminding us of the giants whose shoulders we stand upon. Today, we continue this tradition of excellence with contemporary influential figures such as Drs. Schaff, Allen, and Dearani, who have held the prestigious positions of presidents in our major societies, AATS and STS. Here, you will be mentored by legends and innovators alike, learning from the very best in cardiothoracic surgery.
Our program is rooted in the preceptorship model of training, which means you'll be working closely with these luminaries, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with a high volume of complex cases. We are committed to offering you exposure to the full spectrum of contemporary cardiac and general thoracic surgery, equipping you with the skills and knowledge necessary for independent practice without the need for further postgraduate fellowship training.
Mayo Clinic is not just a place for education; it's a platform for innovation and groundbreaking research. As part of our program, you'll have access to amazing opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research that shapes the future of our field.
Our goal is simple yet profound - to nurture and train the next generation of leaders in cardiac and thoracic surgery. You are not just residents here; you are the future torchbearers of our discipline. Our Thoracic Surgery Residency Program is not just a program; it's a promise of excellence, a pathway to leadership, and a chance to make an indelible mark on the world of medicine. I invite you to embark on this incredible journey with us, where the highest standards of patient care, education, and research converge. Welcome to Mayo Clinic, where dreams become reality, and excellence is a way of life.
Sincerely,
Arman Arghami, M.D., M.P.H.
Program Director
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Faculty
In addition to caring for patients in clinical practice, Mayo Clinic's faculty is committed to teaching and facilitating the growth of medical knowledge. Many of our faculty members have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields.
See the current cardiac surgery faculty and general thoracic surgery faculty at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Thoracic surgery
Cardiovascular surgery
Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, is one of the largest cardiovascular care centers in the United States. Our surgeons perform more than 3,500 cardiac operations each year. The cardiac surgery practice is high-volume, and our faculty are experts in treating serious conditions and performing complex procedures, including heart failure surgery, heart transplantation, valve repair and replacement, complex congenital heart disease in children and adults, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and implantation of ventricular assist devices, and total artificial hearts. Over 300 cardiac reoperations are performed each year. Our surgeons use the newest surgical techniques, equipment, and devices, including minimally invasive surgery, off-pump bypass, and robotically assisted and percutaneous procedures.
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Arman Arghami, M.D., M.P.H.Program Director View Dr. Arghami's full profile |
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Gabor Bagameri, M.D.Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary View Dr. Bagameri's full profile |
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Juan Crestanello, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of the Republic of Uruguay Medical School View Dr. Crestanello's full profile |
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Richard Daly, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota |
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Joseph Dearani, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. View Dr. Dearani's full profile |
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Kevin Greason, M.D.Associate Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado View Dr. Greason's full profile |
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Alberto Pochettino, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois View Dr. Pochettino's full profile |
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Phillip Rowse, M.D.Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine |
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Sahar Saddoughi, M.D., Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Medical University of South Carolina |
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Hartzell Schaff, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma View Dr. Schaff's full profile |
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Malakh Shrestha, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.Cardiovascular Surgeon
Medical school: Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany View Dr. Shrestha's full profile |
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Philip Spencer, M.D.Instructor in Surgery
Medical school: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts View Dr. Spencer's full profile |
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Elizabeth Stephens, M.D., Ph.D.Associate Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas View Dr. Stephen's full profile |
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John Stulak, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania View Dr. Stulak's full profile |
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Paul C. Tang, M.D., Ph.D.Senior Associate Consultant
Medical school: University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia |
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Mauricio Villavicencio Theoduloz, M.D.Associate Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile View Dr. Villavicencio Theoduloz's full profile |
Thoracic surgery
Mayo Clinic's Division of General Thoracic Surgery provides high-quality, comprehensive diagnosis and surgical care to adult patients with thoracic surgical problems.
The general thoracic surgery staff performs more than 1,800 procedures each year. This includes surgical procedures on the chest wall, lungs, trachea, mediastinum, diaphragm and esophagus. Minimally invasive and robotic procedures are used extensively.
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Shanda Blackmon, M.D., M.P.H.Professor of Surgery View Dr. Blackmon's full profile |
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Stephen Cassivi, M.D., M.S.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada View Dr. Cassivi's full profile |
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Janani Reisenauer, M.D.Associate Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama View Dr. Reisenauer's full profile |
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Sahar Saddoughi, M.D., Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Medical University of South Carolina |
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K. Robert Shen, M.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut |
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Luis Tapias Vargas, M.D.Assistant Professor of Surgery
Medical school: Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia View Dr. Tapias Vargas' full profile |
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Dennis Wigle, M.D., Ph.D.Professor of Surgery
Medical school: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada |
Department resources
The majority of general thoracic and cardiovascular surgery is performed at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus. There are 11 cardiac surgery operating rooms and four general thoracic surgery operating rooms in use daily for elective cases. There are 45 cardiac surgery ICU beds, and 51 progressive care unit step down cardiac surgery beds. General thoracic surgery patients all are cared for on a dedicated respiratory care staff and dedicated pulmonary rehabilitation facility on the general thoracic care unit. There is a large group of over 80 mid-level providers with Physician Assistants/Nurse Practitioners who provide pre and postoperative care to cardiac and general thoracic surgery patients.
Advisers and mentors
You are assigned a dedicated faculty adviser who can provide comprehensive educational advice and personal support. You meet with your adviser periodically throughout the program to review your progress and career goals, and ensure that your educational needs are being met. Your adviser also serves as a contact point for introducing you and your family to Mayo Clinic and the community of Rochester, Minnesota.
You will also meet with the Program Director every six months to review your progress.
Visiting professors
Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during lectures, participate in hospital rounds and have informal discussions with trainees. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these educational opportunities.