When Junaid Khan, M.D., takes a careful look at the quality of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s cardiovascular services, the veteran heart surgeon is proud of what he sees and eager to spread the word.

“We’re probably the leading program on the West Coast for minimally invasive heart surgery,” says Dr. Khan. “We’re able, for example, to go into tiny incisions and repair the mitral valve inside the heart without having to break the breastbone and also replace all the valves inside the heart as needed. We do more endoscopic mitral valve repairs than any other center on the West Coast — perhaps three times as many as UCSF or Stanford.

“We also can take out tumors from inside the heart and can perform surgery to remedy atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, and more,“ he continues. “With minimally invasive procedures, patients recover faster. They have less pain and, most important, they’re back to daily activities sooner.”

Dr. Khan applauds the efforts of the Alta Bates Summit Foundation, especially its fundraising for advanced surgical technology. “The Foundation is the reason that Alta Bates Summit has become the center for excellence for cardiac surgery,” he says. “Thanks to the help of the Foundation, the state of California has rated us as one of the top three medical centers for bypass surgery for many years.”

Notwithstanding Alta Bates Summit’s remarkable achievements in cardiovascular services, Dr. Khan insists there’s no cause for the Medical Center to rest on its laurels — nor for the Foundation to figure its job is done. “The need to invest in new technology is always urgent,” says Dr. Khan. “Now, more than ever, we need the Foundation’s and its donors’ support.”