Dameron Hospital has partnered with Stanford Health Care and the Stanford School of Medicine to bring a new level of cardiac and thoracic treatment to San Joaquin County by leveraging the brightest minds in medicine with state-of-the-art technology and advanced surgical techniques. This innovative program offers:
- Access to breakthrough clinical care and research programs.
- Minimally invasive cardiac and thoracic surgeries, which result in less pain and shorter recovery times.
- Fewer physical restrictions after surgery (e.g., patients can drive and lift objects during the recovery process).
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery pertains to all organs in the thorax, such as the heart, lung, esophagus and other chest organs. Common cardiothoracic procedures include:
- Heart valve repair.
- Tumor removal.
- Surgery for coronary artery disease.
- Arrhythmia surgery.
- Ventricular Remodeling.
- Structural heart defect repair.
- Lung surgery for cancer.
- Minimally invasive heart and lung surgery.
Our Physicians
Eric Keyser, MD, FRCSC, FACC
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Diplomat ABS, ABTS
Medical Director, Stanford Cardiac Surgery Program at Dameron Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
Board-Certified: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery; American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellow: Fellow of the American College of Cardiology; Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Cardiac Surgery & General Surgery
MD: McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Québec
Residency: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center; General Surgery, McGill University Faculty of Medicine Montreal, Québec
Fellowship: Advanced Clinical Adult Cardiac Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Fellowship: Clinical Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec
Fellowship: Cardiopulmonary Physiology Research & Research in Cardiothoracic Surgical Critical Care, The Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec
Professional Interests: Trained and experienced in more advanced procedures and minimally invasive CT surgery
Maria Currie, MD, PhD, FRCSC
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Stanford Cardiac Surgery Program at Dameron Hospital
Clinical Instructor, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (Specializing in heart and lung transplantation, ECMO, VAD)
Fellow: Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
Medical Education: Dalhousie University Medical School, Halifax, NS, Canada
Residency: Cardiac Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Ph.D.: Biomedical Engineering (Augmented reality & haptics for cardiac valve surgery), Western University, London, ON, Canada
Programs/Certifications: HeartWare, HeartMate II, and HeartMate III LVAD training programs in Dallas, Cleveland Clinic, & Stanford University, respectively; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Program in Vascular Research
Cardiac Surgery at Dameron Hospital
Second Stanford Surgeon Joins Cardiac Team
Coronary Artery Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronary artery disease is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S. In this case, certain risk factors, such as smoking, high cholesterol, and diabetes, can cause plaque to build up inside the coronary arteries, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart.
If left untreated, the plaque can harden and rupture, creating blood clots that can limit blood flow and trigger angina, or chest discomfort. This pain typically starts in the chest and can move to other locations in the body, like the arms, jaw, and back. When blood flow is cut off from the heart for an extended period, it can lead to heart attack, stroke and other serious health complications.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease
You may be at risk of developing heart and lung disease if you exhibit the following symptoms:
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Shortness of breath.
- Discomfort in the chest, arms, back, jaw and/or neck.
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue.
If any of these symptoms persist and you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor, go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately.
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