Our Team
Stanford Hospital & Clinics uses a multidisciplinary team approach in evaluating the need for a heart transplant and in providing the subsequent surgery.
Our team includes cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, clinical nurse coordinators and bedside nurses all with specialized training and experience with the medical management of heart failure, surgical strategies to improve heart function and heart transplantation.
To assist you and your family we also have financial counselors, social workers, physical therapists and spiritual support personnel through our chaplaincy services. Our mission is to provide outstanding clinical care, education and support throughout the transplant process.
Surgeons
Each member of our team of surgeons has performed hundreds of heart transplants. Several have been involved with cardiac transplantation for over 20 years. These surgeons with their vast experience provide you with the best possible care whenever a donor is available. This coverage is provided 365 days a year.
Philip Oyer, MD
Philip Oyer, MD, received both his medical degree and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Chicago. He performed the world's first successful ventricular assist device implantation as a bridge to transplantation.
Specialty: general cardiac surgery, heart transplantation, valvular surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, and ventricular assist device insertion.
Bruce Reitz, MD
Bruce Reitz, MD, is a cum laude graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery. He led the Stanford team that performed the world's first successful human heart-lung transplant in 1981.
Specialty: general cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, valvular surgery including the Ross procedure, thoracic aortic surgery, adult congenital surgery, arrhythmia surgery, and ventricular assist device insertion.
Robert Robbins, MD
Robert Robbins, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi and is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery.
He sits on the Executive Committee of the American Heart Associate's Council on Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeery.
Specialty: general cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, valvular heart surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, adult congenital surgery, arrhythmia surgery, and ventricular assist device insertion.
Ramin Beygui, MD
Ramin Beygui, MD, received his medical degree at the University of California, Irvine, and completed his residency here at Stanford. He completed his general surgery and vascular surgery training at Stanford and his cardiothoracic surgery training at UCLA. He is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, and vascular surgery.
He is currently the Director of the Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery Program at El Camino Hospital.
Specialty: heart and lung transplantation, valvular heart diseases, adult cardiac surgery, coronary artery bypass, aortic aneurysm.
Nurse Coordinators
Joan Miller, RN
After working in Florida and Southern California as an emergency room and OB/GYN nurse, Joan came to Stanford in 1963 where she worked on the cancer and metabolic research centers.
She joined the Heart Transplant program at Stanford in the summer of 1970, originating the role of Heart Transplant Coordinator.
Joan is a charter member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation and founded the nursing sessions of that society. She has contributed to Nursing Journals worldwide, written chapters for Transplant Nursing Texts, presented at scientific sessions, served on the editorial board of a national nursing transplant journal, and lectured on heart and lung transplant extensively.
Over the years, her areas of expertise have expanded to include lung and pediatric transplant. Her favorite areas of nursing are teaching and she especially enjoys the one-on-one interaction with patients and their families.
Patricia Gamberg, RN, CCTC
Pat obtained her nursing degree at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She worked on the cancer research unit and the general clinical research unit.
Pat joined the cardiac transplant program in 1973. She helped to develop the protocols and teaching manual used in our program. Pat was instrumental in the development of the credentialing program for transplant coordinators.
She has served as a resource and mentor for transplant programs throughout the country.
Lisa Levin, RN, BSN, MSN
Lisa was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She studied nursing at Linfield Good Samaritan School of Nursing earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1985. After moving to San Francisco, she obtained her Masters of Science in Transplant and Critical Nursing at University of California, San Francisco in 1991.
Lisa worked in Oregon as an Intensive Care Unit nurse before moving to California. She then worked in the Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit at California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco for seven years before coming to Stanford Hospital & Clinic's Heart-Lung and Lung Transplant Program in 1993.
Lisa initially worked with the donor team traveling to recover organs. She has since been involved in in-patient post transplant care and the formation and management of the pre-lung and heart-lung transplant program.
In addition to her clinical practice at Stanford, Lisa has worked as a legal expert and has lectured at local and national meetings in areas related to heart-lung and lung transplantation.
Molly Kuzman, RN, BSN, MSN
Molly Kuzman earned her General Nursing degree at Universidad Del Valle in Colombia, South America. Molly continued her studies at UCSF to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and her Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Cardiovascular Surgery Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Molly worked as Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist at a neighboring community hospital before coming to Stanford in 1999. Molly joined the Heart/Lung transplant team in 2001.
In addition to her clinical role at Stanford, Molly has made numerous presentations to nurses in congestive heart failure, cardiovascular intensive care, cardiac surgery and care of the heart and lung transplant patient.
During her time off, Molly enjoys long hikes with her Golden Retriever and SCUBA diving.
Christine Hartley, RN, MS
Christine received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco in 1996. She has worked as a staff nurse at Stanford for several years including 5 years in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.
In 2003 Christine earned her Masters of Science Degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiovascular Nursing with a Minor in Education from the University of California, San Francisco.
Christine joined the Heart and Lung Transplant Team as a Nurse Coordinator in 2003. As the In-patient Coordinator she works closely with patients and their family members after their surgery to educate them about the different aspects of transplantation including medications, monitoring for complications, and how to best care for themselves and their transplant.
Christine also works closely with the physicians and nursing staff to coordinate all the necessary aspects of your hospital stay and eventual discharge.
In addition to her clinical role at Stanford, Christine has been a Clinical Instructor for nursing students from the University of California, San Francisco, given several lectures on the care of heart and lung transplant recipients, and authored text book chapters on transplantation.
Specialized Transplant Clinical Social Workers
Allyson Rupp, MSW
Allyson completed her social work master's education at University of California at Berkeley. Her professional career has been dedicated to practice within the medical, healthcare and disability realms.
She performed social work clinical training in the Pediatric Liver Transplant program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. She worked in the cardiac/critical care units and emergency rooms at two hospitals prior to joining the Heart/Lung Transplant team and Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases at Stanford in 2003.
Allyson is particularly interested in the impact of chronic illness on individual and family systems; developing solid, lifelong resources for supporting families, caregivers, and patients; and equity in the healthcare delivery and resources.
She has presented on topics of chronic illness adjustment, post-transplant intimacy, quality of life, and psychosocial treatment aspects for Lung Transplant, Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension conferences in Miami, FL, Toyko, Japan, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She facilitates two monthly support groups for patients and their support persons.
She resides in San Francisco, enjoys running and kayaking, and is a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan.
Transplant Financial Counselors
Deborah Mast
Debbie Mast is the supervisor and Senior Transplant Financial Coordinator for the Solid Organ Transplant Programs. Ms. Mast has over 15 years of experience in the field of transplant financial coordination. She joined the Stanford Transplant programs in 1992 and has been a critical team member in the provision of support to patients and their families as they face the financial challenges associated with transplant care.
In addition to serving as an expert resource to the transplant team to understand the complex insurance and government pay services for transplant, her responsibilities include development of financial education materials, mentoring new staff, and provision of counseling for all potential recipients, living donors, and their families. Debbie received her Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984.
Debbie is a member of the Transplant Financial Coordinator's Association, serving on TFCA committees bringing resources to the transplant financial community.
Suzanne Tegio
Suzanne is a Transplant Financial Coordinator for the Solid Organ Transplant Programs. Suzanne has been involved in many aspects of patient finances since 1992. In 1995 she became the authorization coordinator for the adult Heart and Lung transplant programs.
She joined the Solid Organ transplant team in 1999 as a Financial Coordinator. Her role includes both pre and post transplant financial counseling, authorizations, and admissions. Suzanne is a member of the Transplant Financial Coordinator's Association.