Cardiothoracic Surgery near San Diego, CA

Care Philosophy: Im a thoracic surgeon who primarily sees lung and esophageal cancer patients but treats benign esophageal patients as well. Ive been at Duke for about 20 years and enjoy working at a place with top-notch clinicians doing cutting-edge work. I became a doctor because I was always interested in math and science and had the privilege of shadowing a physician who lived next door to me. The more experience I had with medicine the more I liked it. I enjoy surgery because I like the process of identifying problems and then fixing them. The best part of my job is helping patients overcome cancer. Many patients I see arrive feeling anxious but are surprised with how well they do and how quickly they can bounce back from surgery. Watching that process unfold continues to be extremely inspiring. Im originally from Pittsburgh but my family is proud to call North Carolina home.

Biography: Dr. Joseph Chammas, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in San Diego, CA. He is 58 years old and has been practicing for 32 years. Dr. Joseph Chammas, MD is affiliated with Palomar Medical Center Poway, Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido and Palomar Health.

Biography: Dr. Perricone is director of the Cardiothoracic Unit at the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, and surgical director of lung transplantation at UC San Diego Health. He specializes in minimally invasive techniques, including robotic and video-assisted surgeries. As a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, he performs lung transplants, coronary bypass surgery (including ``beating heart,`` or off-pump, surgery), thoracoscopic surgery, and video-assisted lobectomy. He has developed a special technique for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. He is also an expert in surgery for lung cancer and mediastinal tumors. His research includes lung cancer studies that focus on improving surgical treatment and minimizing the need for invasive surgery. Dr. Perricone trained in cardiothoracic surgery at UC San Diego, and has practiced in San Diego since 1992.