About the Division of Cardiac Surgery
Welcome to the division of cardiac surgery
Each year, our surgeons perform more than 3,000 cardiac surgical procedures for both adults and children, making us one of the largest and busiest cardiac programs in the Western United States. We pride ourselves on being early adopters of new medical technology and advancing the boundaries of clinical care in pursuit of excellence.
Educating the next generation of cardiac surgeons is inherent to our mission. We believe that rigorous training, combined with a wealth of opportunities for hands-on experience and independent decision-making, is the key to producing the future leaders of our field.
In addition to providing top-quality clinical care, we are committed to conducting groundbreaking clinical and basic science research. Residents training at the Keck School of Medicine of USC will also be intimately involved with this research as part of their training.
Our residents and fellows gain experience with a high volume of cases, a diverse patient population and the full spectrum of clinical environments. We look forward to welcoming you to the unique learning opportunity that is the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
—Craig J. Baker, MD, chief of the division of cardiac surgery
About Craig J. Baker
Craig J. Baker, MD, received his medical degree from Georgetown University. He followed with seven years of general surgery training at the University of Southern California. While at USC, Dr. Baker spent two years in the cardiothoracic research laboratory, where he co-authored numerous papers on reperfusion injury, lung transplantation, beating heart surgery, living lobar lung transplantation and pediatric cardiac surgery.
After a three-year cardiothoracic residency at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dr. Baker subsequently accepted a fellowship in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Baker had the privilege of working under the direction of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Vaughn Starnes, MD. The following year Dr. Baker accepted a position in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine.
Dr. Baker is currently the chief of the division of cardiac surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. He also serves as vice chair of surgical education and directs the cardiothoracic surgery training program. Dr. Baker has achieved national recognition for his involvement in cardiothoracic education. He has developed a comprehensive educational curriculum, including a highly structured simulation training program. In 2017, after 20 years at USC, Dr. Baker was appointed chief of the division of cardiac surgery.