News + Events

September 1, 2006
The Pacific Surgery Associates, St. Johns Health Center, and the John Wayne Cancer Institue join forces
The Pacific Surgery Associates announce the successful completion of initial negotiations with St. Johns Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute to establish a formal thoracic surgery and thoracic surgical oncology program in Santa Monica. Dr. Robert Cameron will act as the program director. In addition Drs. Jay Lee, Raja Mahidhara, Mary Maish and Dr. Amir Berjis will provide expert thoracic surgery services.

August 2, 2006
The Pacific Surgery Associates hire minimally-invasive Wunderman-Holmes Fellow for 2006-2007
The Pacific Surgery Associates announce the addition of Dr. Amir Berjis as the 2006-2007 Wunderman-Holmes fellow. Dr. Berjis started his education at the Landegg Academy in Switzerland where he earned a Certificate in World Order Studies. He received a degree in Biochemistry from UCLA and subsequently attended the St. Louis University School of Medicine where he received his MD degree. Following this, he completed his general surgery training at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California, and then obtained his cardiothoracic surgery training at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. He joins our group with an interest in minimally-invasive thoracic surgery.

Date:July 10, 2006
The Pacific Surgery Associates increase surgeon numbers to four by hiring two new dedicated thoracic surgeons
The Pacific Thoracic Surgery Associates announce the addition of two new thoracic surgeons. Dr. Raja Mahidhara completed his undergraduate training in Anthropology at Harvard University and subsequently trained in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He successfully finished his cardiothoracic training at UCLA and now joins our group with a research and clinical interest in end-stage lung disease (Lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation). Dr. Jay Lee graduated from the University of California, Riverside with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and then attended UCLA School of Medicine where he received his MD degree. Following this, he completed his initial general surgery training at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC and a Thoracic Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. After finishing his general surgery training at Duke University Medical Center, he trained in cardiothoracic surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He joins our group of dedicated thoracic surgeons with expertise in thoracic oncology.