Program Leadership

David Rabkin, MD

David Rabkin, MD

Program Director of I-6 Thoracic Surgery Residency & Fellowship Programs

Dr. Rabkin received his MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.  He then attended New York Presbyterian Hospital and completed his general surgery residency.  He subsequently completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Utah, an adult cardiac surgery fellowship in Auckland, New Zealand, and a heart and lung transplant fellowship at UCLA Medical Center.

Alexander Leung, MD

Alexander Leung, MD

Associate Program Director of I-6 Thoracic Surgery Residency & Fellowship Programs

Dr. Leung received his medical school education at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at West Virginia University and a thoracic surgery fellowship at Albany Medical College. This was followed by an advanced fellowship in robotic thoracic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Leung’s clinical practice includes the full spectrum of general thoracic surgery with strong focus on oncologic conditions of the chest with emphasis on lung and esophageal cancer. He also has clinical interests in mediastinal and foregut pathology.

Meet Our Faculty

Adult Cardiac Surgery

Reza Salabat, MD

Reza Salabat, MD

Faculty

Thoracic Surgery

Alexander Leung, MD

Alexander Leung, MD

Associate Program Director of I-6 Thoracic Surgery Residency & Fellowship Programs
Salman Zaheer, MBBS

Salman Zaheer, MBBS

Faculty

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Meet Our Fellows

James Butz, MD

James Butz, MD

PGY-8

The training at Loma Linda is phenomenal. You enter as a trainee with limited surgical skills, and within a matter of months, you've gained the muscle memory from sheer volume to become nearly autonomous in most situations. Your development into a competent, independent surgeon is a primary focus of the faculty throughout your training. The volume and variety of pathologically and clinically complex cardiac and thoracic surgical cases is staggering. Every fellow who graduates from this program leaves fully prepared to enter either academic or private practice.

Dean Spencer, MD

Dean Spencer, MD

PGY-7
Rosanne Thornhill, MD

Rosanne Thornhill, MD

PGY-6

Meet Our Residents

Jason Grellmann, MD

Jason Grellmann, MD

Class of 2028

Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA

Mona Kakavand, MD

Mona Kakavand, MD

Class of 2029

Medical School: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Yingyot Arora, M.D.

Yingyot Arora, M.D.

class of 2030

Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Alumni

YearAcademic/Private PracticeLocation
2022Private PracticeTexas
2021Private PracticeMichigan
2020Private PracticeFlorida
2019AcademicTexas
2018Private PracticeCalifornia
2017Private PracticeKansas
2016AcademicNorth Carolina
2015AcademicMississippi
2014Private PracticeKentucky
2013Private PracticeCalifornia
2012AcademicCalifornia

Alumni Testimonial

I am extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to train at Loma Linda for fellowship. The operative experience and autonomy in patient care at Loma Linda is unparalleled. From the preop work up, to the OR, to the post-op care of patients, the trainee is heavily involved in every step of patient care. This helps the resident learn the judgement, operative skills, and patient management needed to be an independent surgeon through high volume hands on experience. I felt very well-prepared entering practice at a busy academic medical center doing complex cases because of my experience at Loma Linda.

Dr. Samuel Brown

2024 Graduate

 Dr. Samuel Brown