Meet the Heart Transplant Medical Directors and Team

Unparalleled expertise and experience ensures you receive the best care.

Our multidisciplinary medical team provides unparalleled expertise and experience to ensure that you receive the best care. Meet our multidisclipinary medical team and directors below.

Front row (left to right): Dr. Sam Baradarian, Dr. Christopher Morache, Dr. Peter Hoagland, Dr. Robert Adamson, Dr. Walter Dembitsky, Dr. Brian Jaski, Dr. Raymond Chinn and Dr. Kalman Holdy. Back row (left to right): James Cicciarelli, PhD; Jason Benwell, PT; Kathy Koerner; Kristen Fischer; Marcia Stahovich, RN; Vicki McCalmont, NP; Suzanne Chillcott, RN; Kristi Ortiz, NP; Kathy Spivey, RN; Cynthia Walsh, RN; Leslie Hazard, NP; Sheila Boone, MT; and Dr. Joseph Chammas.
Not Pictured: Jennie Yellin, David Brown, Sheila Kantor, John Englebert and Bruce Williams.

Dr. Robert Adamson

Dr. Robert Adamson, medical director, Cardiac Transplant Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Adamson received his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah, where he also completed his internship and residency in general surgery. Dr. Adamson went on to complete a fellowship in cardiac transplantation at Stanford University Medical Center. 

Dr. Adamson began his practice in San Diego in 1987. He is board-certified in surgery and thoracic surgery and is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Dr. Walter Dembitsky

Dr. Walter Dembitsky, medical director, cardiac surgery and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri, where he also completed his surgical internship. Dr. Dembitsky completed a general surgery residency and was chief resident in general surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He then went on to complete a residency in cardiothoracic surgery and was chief resident in cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University. Dr. Dembitsky completed research fellowships at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass.; Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.; and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Dr. Dembitsky has been practicing in San Diego since 1978. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a noted researcher and author on topics related to the use of mechanical assist device.

Dr. Peter M. Hoagland

Dr. Peter M. Hoagland, FACC, medical director, Cardiology Diagnostic Services at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hoagland received his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. Dr. Hoagland completed his cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Bayside Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.

Dr. Hoagland is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology. He is a published author on the following subjects: aortic stenosis, cardiac transplant, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.

Dr. Brian Jaski

Dr. Brian Jaski, FACC, medical director, Advanced Heart Failure and Clinical Cardiology Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Jaski received his undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering and biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He was a resident in internal medicine at the University of Chicago Hospital and was a clinical research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Jaski is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is a noted author and researcher in topics related to heart failure and cardiac transplantation.

For More Information
To learn more about Sharp's heart transplant services or to find a Sharp-affiliated doctor with the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Institute, search for a San Diego heart surgeon or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about transplant, visit Heart Transplantation in Adult Health or read the Transplant News archive.