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Best General Surgeons in Chula Vista

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated November 22, 2024

Introduction to General Surgery in Chula Vista

Overview of general surgery as a medical specialty

General surgery is a medical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, as well as the thyroid gland.

General surgeons perform a wide range of procedures, including hernia repairs, gallbladder removals, appendectomies, and various types of cancer surgeries.

Importance of choosing the right general surgeon

Selecting the right general surgeon can significantly influence the success of your procedure, your recovery time, and your overall health outcome.

When choosing a general surgeon, consider factors such as their education, board certifications, experience, specializations, and patient reviews.


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List of General Surgeons in Chula Vista

Dr. Carlos Alvarez

Dr. Carlos Alvarez

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(209) 536-5755

American Board of Surgery

Sepulveda Va Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1992)

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1989)

Ucla Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1989)

University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

University of Miami (Undergraduate School, 1984)

Northwestern University (Undergraduate School, 1981)

English

Spanish

Adventist Health Sonora

General Surgery

Colorectal Surgery

Endocrine Surgery

Gastroenterological Surgery

Laparoscopic Surgery

AE

Dr. Amilcar Exume

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

University of California at San Diego (Medical School, 1983)

English

Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center

General Surgery

Dr. Hugo Barrera

Dr. Hugo Barrera

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

University of Maryland School of Medicine (Medical School, 1992)

English

Spanish

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

Dr. Kristian Brown

Dr. Kristian Brown

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

University of California at San Diego (Medical School, 2005)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center

General Surgery

Dr. Stefan Moldovan

Dr. Stefan Moldovan

4.4

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, French, Romanian

American Board of Surgery

Resident In Surgery, Baylor College Of Medicine (Residency Hospital, 2002)

Research Fellow, Dept. Of Surgery, Baylor College Of Medicine (Fellowship Hospital, 1999)

Intern In Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles (Internship Hospital, 1995)

Resident In Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles (Residency Hospital, 1995)

Research Fellow, Dept. Of Surgery, UCLA Medical Center and Va Wadsworth Hospital, Los Angeles (Fellowship Hospital, 1995)

Universitatea De Medicina Si Farmacie Carol Davila, Facultatea De Medicina (Medical School, 1989)

The Gh. Lazar National College (Undergraduate School, 1982)

English

French

Romanian

Palomar Medical Center Poway

Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido

Alvarado Hospital Medical Center

General Surgery

Surgical Oncology

Vascular Surgery

Breast Surgery

Laparoscopic Surgery

Robotic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery

PD

Dr. Phillip Dickinson

4.2

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

American Board of Surgery

HOWARD UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES / MUSIC DEPARTMENT (Medical School, 1999)

English

Spanish

Sharp Grossmont Hospital

General Surgery

AH

Dr. Andrew Hsu

3.7

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

University of Illinois College of Medicine (Medical School, 2002)

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Paradise Valley Hospital

General Surgery

Dr. Stephen Summers

Dr. Stephen Summers

3.7

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

American Board of Surgery

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

English

Spanish

Sharp Coronado Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

NY

Dr. Nicholas Yu

3.7

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Northside Hospital Duluth

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

DK

Dr. David Kupfer

3.1

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

American Board of Plastic Surgery

University Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1991)

University of California, San Diego (Residency Hospital, 1989)

University of California, San Diego (Internship Hospital, 1985)

English

Spanish

Orthopedic Hand Surgery

General Surgery

Cosmetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

YY

Dr. Yifan Yang

3.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

HARVARD UNIVERSITY / SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY (Medical School)

University of California Davis Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2014)

English

Sharp Coronado Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

Dr. Bradford Hsu

Dr. Bradford Hsu

2.7

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

Rush University Medical Center Program (Residency Hospital, 1999)

Rush Presby St Lukes Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1995)

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Medical School, 1994)

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

Dr. Rodolfo Arcovedo

Dr. Rodolfo Arcovedo

2.4

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, German

American Board of Surgery

Metro Grp-U Ill (Residency Hospital, 1999)

Chestnut Hill Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1993)

LaSalle University Schl of Med (Medical School, 1991)

English

German

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

ER

Dr. Edward Racek

2.3

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 216-9549

American Board of Surgery

Seton Hall University (Medical School, 1972)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

MI

Dr. Mohammad Islami

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Case West Res/Luth Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1983)

Case West Res|Genl/Metro/Va/U Hosps (Residency Hospital, 1982)

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Sharp Grossmont Hospital

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

AK

Dr. Alexandra Kharazi

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY / SACRAMENTO (Medical School, 2012)

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Sharp Grossmont Hospital

Paradise Valley Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

VG

Dr. Venustiano Guerra

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

New Rochelle Hospital Medical Center (Residency Hospital)

English

Spanish

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

General Surgery

KM

Dr. Kirollos Malek

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(818) 243-1135

American Board of Surgery

English

Adventist Health Glendale

General Surgery

MB

Dr. Manuel Belandres

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (Medical School, 1967)

English

General Surgery

EG

Dr. Edgardo Gracia-Olea

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

AUTONOMOUS NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF HONDURAS / FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCE (Medical School)

English

Spanish

General Surgery

Vascular Surgery

CE

Dr. Clifton Ewbank

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

English

Sharp Coronado Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

General Surgery

AA

Dr. Ann Amukele

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(216) 273-9800

American Board of Surgery

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK / HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SYRACUSE (Medical School, 2003)

English

General Surgery

DP

Dr. Douglas Palenschat

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES / CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES (Medical School, 1969)

English

General Surgery

RG

Dr. Ruth Gerola

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

English

General Surgery

FG

Dr. Francisco Gracia-Olea

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

AUTONOMOUS NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO / NATIONAL SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES-IZTACALA (Medical School, 1965)

English

Spanish

General Surgery

Doctor Selection Process in Chula Vista

Understanding the local healthcare landscape

Overview of hospitals and medical centers in Chula Vista

  • Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
  • Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego
  • Paradise Valley Hospital

Insurance considerations and network coverage

  • Importance of checking insurance coverage
  • In-network vs. out-of-network providers

Evaluating surgeon qualifications

Board certifications and educational background

  • American Board of Surgery certifications
  • Notable medical schools and residency programs

Experience and specializations within general surgery

  • Years of practice
  • Subspecialties such as colorectal, laparoscopic, and endocrine surgery

Utilizing patient reviews and ratings

Importance of patient feedback

  • Insights into bedside manner and communication skills
  • Patient satisfaction with surgical outcomes

How to interpret star ratings and review counts

  • Understanding the significance of overall ratings
  • Considering the number of reviews in context

Top-Ranked General Surgeons in Chula Vista

Dr. Carlos Alvarez

Background and qualifications

  • Board-certified by American Board of Surgery
  • Multiple fellowships and residencies
  • Educated at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Areas of expertise and patient ratings

  • Specializes in General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Gastroenterological Surgery, and Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Perfect 5.0-star rating from 12 patient reviews
  • Speaks English and Spanish

Dr. Hugo Barrera

Experience and hospital affiliations

  • Affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center and Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego
  • Graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1992

Patient feedback and language capabilities

  • Excellent 5.0-star rating from 14 patient reviews
  • Fluent in English and Spanish

Dr. Kristian Brown

Educational background and certifications

  • Graduated from University of California at San Diego in 2005
  • Specializes in General Surgery

Hospital affiliations and patient ratings

  • Affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center
  • Perfect 5.0-star rating, though based on only 1 review

Dr. Amilcar Exume

Experience and specializations

  • Graduated from University of California at San Diego in 1983
  • Focuses on General Surgery

Patient feedback and hospital affiliations

  • Impressive 5.0-star rating from 11 patient reviews
  • Affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center

Dr. Stefan Moldovan

Extensive educational background and certifications

  • Board-certified by American Board of Surgery
  • Multiple fellowships and residencies, including at Baylor College of Medicine and UCLA Medical Center

Wide range of surgical specialties and patient ratings

  • Specializes in General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular Surgery, Breast Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Robotic Surgery, and Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Strong 4.4-star rating from 18 patient reviews
  • Speaks English, French, and Romanian

Additional Resources for Finding the Right General Surgeon

Professional medical associations and directories

American College of Surgeons

  • Online directory of board-certified surgeons
  • Resources for patient education

California Medical Association

  • Local physician search tool
  • Information on California healthcare regulations

Online healthcare platforms

Healthgrades and similar websites

  • Comprehensive doctor profiles and patient reviews
  • Comparison tools for different surgeons

Tips for using these platforms effectively

  • Verifying information across multiple sources
  • Understanding the context of ratings and reviews

Consultation with primary care physicians

Importance of referrals from trusted healthcare providers

  • Leveraging your doctor's professional network
  • Getting personalized recommendations based on your medical history

Coordinating care between primary and surgical teams

  • Ensuring seamless communication
  • Managing pre and post-operative care effectively