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Best Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Tacoma

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated November 22, 2024

Introduction to Cardiothoracic Medicine in Tacoma

Definition and scope of cardiothoracic medicine

Cardiothoracic medicine is a specialized field that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the heart, lungs, and chest. This comprehensive medical specialty encompasses a range of procedures and treatments, from minimally invasive surgeries to complex open-heart operations.

The field of cardiothoracic medicine plays a significant role in maintaining overall health. It addresses various conditions such as heart disease, lung cancer, and congenital heart defects, which can have profound impacts on a patient's quality of life and longevity.

Cardiothoracic medical landscape in Tacoma

Tacoma, Washington, offers a robust selection of cardiothoracic specialists, providing residents with access to high-quality care. The city boasts a number of board-certified physicians with extensive experience in various aspects of cardiothoracic medicine.

Several renowned medical facilities in Tacoma offer advanced cardiothoracic services. These include MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, and MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital. These institutions are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by skilled medical professionals, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care for their cardiothoracic needs.


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List of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Tacoma

Dr. Timothy James

Dr. Timothy James

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(206) 693-4970

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Dartmouth Medical School and Affiliated Institutions, Lebanon, NH (Fellowship Hospital)

Dartmouth Medical School and Affiliated Institutions, Lebanon, NH; Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL (Residency Hospital)

Yale School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

St. Anne Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Bridget Lonergan

Bridget Lonergan

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Daniel Cuadrado

Dr. Daniel Cuadrado

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (Fellowship Hospital)

Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA (Residency Hospital)

University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MD

Dr. Mia Debarros

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Clare Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Jamal Anyalebechi

Dr. Jamal Anyalebechi

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Daniel Mumme

Dr. Daniel Mumme

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center - General Surgery. University of Utah - Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Residency Hospital)

University of Utah (Residency Hospital, 2012)

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2010)

University of Minnesota / Duluth Campus (Medical School, 2005)

Concordia University (Undergraduate School, 2001)

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Allen Graeve

Dr. Allen Graeve

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Tennessee Med Centers; Medical College of Virginia; University of New Mexico Hospital; Virginia Commonwealth University; University of Tennessee Medical Center (Residency Hospital)

University of New Mexico Hospital (Internship Hospital)

Creighton University School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Spanish

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

Dr. Keith Havenstrite

Dr. Keith Havenstrite

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2001)

Eisenhower Army Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 1999)

Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 1995)

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

MN

Dr. Muhammad Nuri

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Urdu

Phone

(215) 590-2708

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Aga Khan Medical College (Medical School, 1998)

English

Urdu

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Seattle Children's Hospital

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Michael Meyer

Dr. Michael Meyer

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Brooke Army Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

Tripler Army Medical Center (Internship Hospital)

Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (Medical School)

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Craig Hampton

Dr. Craig Hampton

4.8

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 272-7777

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Fellowship Hospital)

University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Residency Hospital)

University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Mn (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Thomas Templin II

Dr. Thomas Templin II

4.6

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI (Fellowship Hospital)

Creighton University School of Medicine (Residency Hospital)

Creighton University School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Baiya Krishnadasan

Dr. Baiya Krishnadasan

4.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Washington (Fellowship Hospital)

University of Washington (Residency Hospital)

University of California (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Allen Rubin

Dr. Allen Rubin

3.4

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

American Board of Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Vascular Surgery Fellowship, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA (Fellowship Hospital)

General Surgery Residency, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA (Residency Hospital)

Medical University of South Carolina (Medical School)

English

St. Francis Hospital

Vascular Surgery

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WS

Dr. Wendel Smith

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Rush University (Medical School, 1988)

English

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Shane Spears

Shane Spears

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

GJ

Dr. George Johnston

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

OREGON HEALTHSCIENCE UNIVERSITY / SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY (Medical School, 1981)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Michael Cavanagh

Michael Cavanagh

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Lance Keck

Lance Keck

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Samar Azzaidani

Samar Azzaidani

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Kelly Mularkey

Kelly Mularkey

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Sean Shipley

Sean Shipley

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 366-5859

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AK

Dr. Andrew Kaufman

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

DM

Dr. David Mauchley

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(206) 520-5000

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Washington / Harborview Medical Center (Medical School, 2004)

English

UW Medical Center-Montlake

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Selecting a Cardiothoracic Specialist in Tacoma

Factors to consider when choosing a doctor

Qualifications and board certifications

  • Review of American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications
  • Additional certifications such as American Board of Surgery

Experience and specializations

  • Years of practice in cardiothoracic medicine
  • Subspecialties within cardiothoracic surgery

Hospital affiliations

  • Major hospitals in Tacoma area (e.g., MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center)
  • Importance of hospital quality in surgical outcomes

Patient ratings and reviews

  • Interpretation of star ratings and review counts
  • Balanced consideration of patient feedback

Resources for researching doctors

Online physician directories

  • Utilization of Healthgrades and similar platforms
  • Cross-referencing information from multiple sources

Hospital websites

  • Accessing physician profiles on affiliated hospital sites
  • Reviewing hospital-specific performance metrics

Recommendations from primary care physicians

  • Importance of professional referrals
  • Discussing options with your regular doctor

Top-Rated Cardiothoracic Specialists in Tacoma

Dr. Timothy James

Education and Certifications

  • Dartmouth Medical School and Affiliated Institutions (Fellowship)
  • Yale School of Medicine (Medical School)
  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery certification

Hospital Affiliations

  • St. Anne Hospital, Burien, WA

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • 5.0-star rating based on 25 reviews
  • Highly regarded by patients

Dr. Daniel Cuadrado

Education and Certifications

  • Vanderbilt University (Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery)
  • University of Maryland (Medical School)
  • American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications

Hospital Affiliations

  • St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma, WA

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • 5.0-star rating based on 3 reviews
  • Positive patient feedback

Dr. Daniel Mumme

Education and Certifications

  • University of Utah (Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency)
  • University of Minnesota / Duluth Campus (Medical School)

Hospital Affiliations

  • MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
  • MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital
  • MultiCare Auburn Medical Center

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • 5.0-star rating based on 7 reviews
  • Well-received by patients

Dr. Allen Graeve

Education and Certifications

  • Multiple residencies including University of Tennessee Med Centers
  • Creighton University School of Medicine
  • American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications

Hospital Affiliations

  • MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
  • MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • 5.0-star rating based on 6 reviews
  • Highly rated by patients

Dr. Muhammad Nuri

Education and Certifications

  • Aga Khan Medical College (Medical School)
  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery certification

Hospital Affiliations

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  • MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
  • Seattle Children's Hospital

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • 5.0-star rating based on 3 reviews
  • Positive patient feedback

Additional Considerations for Choosing a Cardiothoracic Specialist

Language and communication

Doctors who speak multiple languages

  • Dr. Allen Graeve: English, Spanish
  • Dr. Muhammad Nuri: English, Urdu

Importance of clear communication in medical care

  • Discuss the significance of effective doctor-patient communication
  • Highlight how language compatibility can enhance understanding and trust

Gender preferences

Availability of male and female specialists

  • Male specialists: Dr. Timothy James, Dr. Daniel Cuadrado, Dr. Daniel Mumme, Dr. Allen Graeve, Dr. Muhammad Nuri
  • Female specialists: Dr. Mia Debarros, Bridget Lonergan (ARNP)

Considering personal comfort in doctor-patient relationships

  • Discuss the importance of feeling at ease with your chosen specialist
  • Encourage patients to prioritize their comfort when selecting a doctor

Subspecialties within cardiothoracic medicine

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

  • Dr. Muhammad Nuri
  • Dr. David Mauchley

Thoracic Surgery

  • Dr. Allen Graeve

General Surgery with Cardiothoracic focus

  • Dr. Mia Debarros
  • Dr. Allen Rubin
  • Dr. Andrew Kaufman