Cardiothoracic Surgery in Washington

Biography: Misho Hubka, MD, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon. His special medical interests include Robotic and Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), lung cancer surgery, esophageal cancer surgery, and complex surgery for benign and malignant disease of the lung, chest wall, esophagus and mediastinum.Dr. Hubka is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, STS Patient Safety Workforce and Western Thoracic Surgical Association. He was named a Top Doctor by Seattle Met Magazine in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Care Philosophy: Craig R. Hampton, MD, FACS, is board certified in general and cardiothoracic surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Dr. Hampton has published numerous related topics including stentless aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. After finishing medical school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Dr. Hampton performed residencies in general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and served as chief surgical resident at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also earned an NIH-funded research fellowship in cardiovascular surgery. Dr. Hampton is interested in all aspects of adult cardiac surgery including aortic root pathology, aortic surgery, arrhythmia surgery, coronary surgery, and valve repairs and replacements.

Care Philosophy: Thomas (TJ) Templin, II, MD, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon who specializes in cardiothoracic surgery for patients ages 15 and older. He has trained extensively in robotic and minimally invasive thoracic and foregut procedures, including minimally invasive lung and esophageal resections, sympathectomy, and anti-reflux revisions. He also has experience with advanced bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy, including EBUS, airway and esophageal stenting, and esophageal dilation. Dr. Templin follows the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, which translates to care for the whole person; he treats individuals, not just diseases. Dr. Templin is a Fellow of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Care Philosophy: I believe good outcomes in cardiac surgery depend on a high level of surgeon involvement in all aspects of care, and clear communication among patient and family, surgeon and clinical teams. Communication begins with a detailed preoperative conversation with patient and family, reviewing the patient's condition and options for treatment, and ends when the patient is well into their successful recovery at home and returns to the care of their primary physicians.

Biography: Joel Sternbach, MD, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon specializes in the minimally invasive treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, pleura and chest wall. He offers surgical solutions for esophageal motility disorders and reflux disease (GERD), and performs robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Biography: Daniel Cuadrado, MD, is a board-certified general and cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in thoracic surgery. Prior to joining Franciscan, Dr. Cuadrado was an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and an active duty Army surgeon. During his 20+ year Army career, he served as a surgeon for the Joint Special Operations Command with nine combat deployments and as the consultant to the Office of the Surgeon General in Cardiothoracic Surgery. He is a graduate of the Army War College with a Master's Degree in Strategic Sciences._x000D_ Dr. Cuadrado is interested in all aspects of non-cardiac thoracic surgery and has had extensive training in minimally invasive and robotic procedures for benign and malignant diseases of the lung, esophagus, pleura and mediastinum as well as anti-reflux surgery. He has experience in robotic navigational bronchoscopy, airway stenting, endobronchial ultrasound, esophagoscopy to include stenting and transoral incisionless fundoplication._x000D_ Dr. Cuadrado is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He has authored numerous book chapters, peer-reviewed publications and served as an editor for Surgical Clinics of North America.

Biography: Dr. Gabriel Aldea, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in Seattle, WA. He is 69 years old and has been practicing for 44 years. Dr. Gabriel Aldea, MD is affiliated with UW Medicine and UW Medical Center-Montlake.

Biography: Madha Kuppusamy, MD, specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery; benign and malignant disease of the lungs and esophagus; mediastinum and chest wall surgery including deformity correction and reconstructive surgery; lung cancer; and esophageal cancer.

Biography: Gautam Velamoor, MD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with special medical interest in aortic surgery, cardiac surgery, aortic valve replacement, and mitral valve repair and replacement. His areas of expertise include adult cardiac surgery, coronary bypass surgery, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair and replacement, and aortic surgery. _x000D_ Dr. Velamoor enjoys the positive, life-altering nature of cardiac surgery. He feels good communication is vital as patient's weigh their treatment choices and take charge of their own health. _x000D_ Dr. Velamoor is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American Medical Association. Formerly Section Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr. Velamoor now serves as Director of Surgical and Perioperative Quality, and Surgical Director of the Structural Heart Program at Virginia Mason Medical Center. He has been named a Top Doctor with Seattle Metropolitan and Seattle magazines consecutively since 2013. _x000D_ Away from work, Dr. Velamoor enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf and traveling.

Care Philosophy: Our team focuses on the individual patient and their unique concerns and issues. With a major focus on communication and comfort we strive to put patients and their families at ease as they strive to deal with and overcome chest disease. We strive to treat the individual and exceed expectations.

Care Philosophy: Allen Rubin, MD, is a board-certified vascular surgeon who performs both open and endovascular procedures. His clinical areas of interest are endovascular treatment for limb salvage, cerebrovascular disease, aortic disease, venous disease and thoracic outlet syndrome.

Biography: Donald Low, MD, has expertise in esophageal resection, malignant and benign disorders of the esophagus, primary and revisional antireflux surgery, management of pneumothorax, pleural effusions and pleural-based malignancy and hyperhidrosis, and treatment of benign and malignant problems of the chest wall, diaphragm and mediastinum. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Dr. Low has special medical interest in thoracic surgery, esophageal surgery and minimally invasive surgery. He is currently the Clinical Director of the largest online database (Esodata.org) that is used to carry out clinical study regarding esophageal cancer. _x000D_ Dr. Low is Chairman of the Virginia Mason Historical Society and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He enjoys outdoor activities and woodworking in his spare time.

Care Philosophy: Sarah Clark, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon who loves being able to use her surgical skills to improve and extend patients' lives. She understands the significance of heart surgery in a patient's life, and she strives to support her patients through the entirety of the surgical process. She loves what she does and seeks to develop collegial relationships with referring physicians in support of providing optimal care for patients. Dr. Clark has extensive experience treating cardiogenic shock with ECMO and has done specialized training with transcatheter aortic valve replacement and transcatheter embolectomy (AngioVac). She is a member of the Southern Thoracic Surgery Association and Women in Thoracic Surgery. She is a candidate member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Away from work, Dr. Clark enjoys trail and ultramarathon running, downhill and backcountry skiing, and spending time with her husband and their two Bernese mountain dogs.

Biography: Dr. John Aita, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in Bellingham, WA. He is 55 years old. Dr. John Aita, MD is affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Biography: Dr. Christopher Burke, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in Seattle, WA. He is 40 years old. Dr. Christopher Burke, MD is affiliated with UW Medical Center-Montlake and UW Medicine.

Biography: Bridget Lonergan, ARNP, serves as the primary nurse practitioner for the Lung Nodule Clinic. Bridget works closelywith a multidisciplinary team including thoracic surgeons, pulmonologist, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologistsand radiologist to ensure patients receive the most appropriate and timely care. She also provides ongoing cancer surveillancefor established thoracic surgery patients of Dr. Krishnadasan and Dr. Templin._x000D_ Bridget believes all persons have the right to access quality, affordable health care. She also believes healthy individualslead to healthy families and communities. Her approach to care is a holistic one, tailored to meet the needs of each uniqueindividual. Listening to her patients and putting them first are cornerstones of her care._x000D_ Bridget is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners._x000D_ Away from work, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, whether hiking, camping, skiing or paddle boarding.

Care Philosophy: My goal is to treat each patient as a distinct individual with the utmost respect and patience. I try to always explain the diagnosis, required work up and ultimately, the surgical plan in great detail while using language that is non-threatening and in layman's terms that everyone can understand. I believe that if the patient understands their diagnosis along with the treatment plan, then there is less anxiety and improved participation in their own care. Ultimately this improves the chance for an uneventful recovery with realistic expectations regarding potential outcomes. I perform very complex operations and I believe that if the patient and family members are educated about what to expect, then the experience will be less frightening for all involved. I approach my patients with the same thoughtfulness and consideration I would give a family member facing a similar illness or major operation. Finally, I strive to improve my own skills as a surgeon and a physician every day.

Biography: R. Christopher King, MD, specializes in adult cardiac surgery, including valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic surgery and critical care. He delivers comprehensive and individualized cardiac surgical care in the pursuit of optimizing each patients outcome. _x000D_ Dr. King is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Western Thoracic Surgical Association.

Care Philosophy: Jamal Anyalebechi, MD, is a cardiac and cardiothoracic surgeon who cares for adult patients. Dr. Anyalebechi prioritizes the well-being of his patients above all else, treating them with respect, compassion and empathy. He works collaboratively with his patients to develop treatment plans tailored to their unique needs and preferences.