The Thoracic Surgery Residency program at the University of Calfornia, Los Angeles is a two-year ACGME Accredited program. Each year, residents rotate on Cardiac Surgery at UCLA for six months, Thoracic Surgery at UCLA for three, and both the Cardiac and Thoracic surgery services at the West Los Angeles VA for another three.

During their two-year residency, residents are exposed to over 2000 annual cases varying from adult cardiac and thoracic, congenital, minimally invasive cardiac robotic mitral valve repair, heart and lung transplants, and mechanical circulatory support assist devices. Residents attend multiple conferences, such as weekly Morbidity and Mortality conferences, every week, which are also attended by the Cardiac and Thoracic faculty and faculty from other specialties.

At the successful completion of the two-year Thoracic Surgery Residency, residents will be board-eligible for Thoracic Surgery certification through the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, ABTS.

Leadership

Richard J. Shemin, MD

Richard J. Shemin, MD

Robert and Kelly Day Professor

Chief of Cardiac Surgery 

Executive Vice Chair of Surgery

Co director of the Cardiovascular Center

Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program

Director of Cardiac Quality at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Jay M. Lee, MD

Jay M. Lee, MD

Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery

Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program /  Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Surgical Director, Center for Esophageal Disorders

Associate Professor of Surgery

Peyman Benharash, MD

Peyman Benharash, MD

Associate Professor of Cardiac Surgery

Director, UCLA Adult ECMO Program

Associate Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program

Director, UCLA Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories

Glen S. Van Arsdell, MD

Glen S. Van Arsdell, MD

Chief, Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery

Professor of Surgery