Central California Heart & Lung Surgery

09/02/2025

Global Health Horizons: A Journey of Compassion and Expertise

In the world of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. John Lin embodies a powerful mission that extends far beyond the operating room. This year, he embarked on a transformative medical mission to Tenwek Hospital in western Kenya, bringing decades of professional expertise and a deeply personal commitment to global healthcare.

His recent trip to the Billy Graham Memorial Heart Lung Institute represents the culmination of years of preparation and passion.

The hospital, a $1.5 billion state-of-the-art facility, challenged Dr. Lin's expectations. Tenwek Hospital demonstrated remarkable surgical capabilities, routinely performing complex procedures like artificial heart valve replacements and extensive lung surgeries. The trip was more than a professional exchange; it was a profound personal journey.

To learn more about Dr. Lin’s transformative experience: https://conta.cc/46g6djG.

07/10/2025

Honoring Fifteen Years of Dedicated Service—Niomi Lazalde

We recently gathered to honor and pay tribute to our office manager, Niomi Lazalde, for an exceptional milestone: fifteen years of dedicated, passionate, and unwavering service. Niomi’s time with Central California Heart and Lung Surgery is a testament to the values, relationships, and accomplishments that define both Niomi and CCHLS.

From entry-level beginnings to seasoned expertise, Niomi’s journey is marked by continual growth and ambition. Her willingness to learn and adapt has set an example for peers and leaders alike.

Moving up through the ranks, from office assistant to surgery scheduler, supervisor, and now our office manager, Niomi applies her professional growth to guide others, share wisdom, and nurture career development in co-workers.

Next time you see Niomi, congratulate her for a job well done!

05/21/2025

Congratulations, Dr. Purewal, on your AHA award!

Sarabjit Purewal, MD recognized for his expertise, skill, and compassionate care, was honored as a Caretaker of the Torch at the Kern County Heart Ball held by the American Heart Association on May 17, 2025. The AHA bestows this prestigious award to those who inspire others to make positive changes in their lives to improve heart health.

A member of the largest, most experienced cardiothoracic surgery group in Central California, Dr. Purewal is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Central California Heart and Lung Surgery. As a board-certified cardiac surgeon who has dedicated more than 50 years to caring for patients and families, he has performed more than 4,000 operations, improving countless lives. Dr. Purewal is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Learn more about Dr. Purewal and all the surgeons at www.myheartlung.com.

05/01/2025

CONGRATULATE DR. HEIDI REICH ON HER AHA AWARD!

Dr. Heidi Reich was honored as a Caretaker of the Torch at the Central Valley Heart Ball held by the American Heart Association on April 25, 2025, recognized for her expertise, skill, and compassionate care. The AHA bestows the award to those who inspire others to make positive changes in their lives to improve heart health.

A member of the largest, most experienced cardiothoracic surgery group in Central California, Dr. Reich is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Central California Heart and Lung Surgery. She attended medical school at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, and completed residencies in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, which ranks #1 in California for cardiology and heart surgery and #1 for transcatheter aortic valve replacements.

Learn more about Dr. Reich and all the surgeons at www.myheartlung.com.

04/16/2025

Shamsuddin Khwaja, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Community Medical Centers

Dr. Khwaja has trained at centers of excellence around the nation and completed training in surgery with distinction. A graduate of UC Berkeley, he attended Boston University School of Medicine where he graduated Cum Laude and with election to the exclusive medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He then was selected for surgical training at the world renowned Dr. Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Khwaja then finished cardiothoracic training at the Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He is Board Certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Khwaja received specialized training in complex open heart cases with Dr. Michael E. Jessen and Dr. Michael A. Wait at the St. Paul University Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

He has acquired additional training in the treatment of Aortic Aneurysm under Dr. Hazim Safi in Houston, Texas and worked with Dr. Vaughn A. Starnes and Dr. Winfield J. Wells at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and University of Southern California, performing pediatric heart surgery as well as heart and lung transplant surgery.

04/03/2025

Are you going to the Clovis Rodeo? It's the last weekend in April.

We're proud to sponsor the rodeo, because we enjoy the skill, the excitement, and the pageantry!

03/28/2025

Fresno Cardiothoracic Surgeon to present at Leadership Institute

Dr. Sujata Subramanian, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Central California Heart and Lung Surgery in Fresno, California, has been selected to present at the 2025-26 STS Leadership Institute in New Orleans.

Dr. Subramanian has specialized training in general surgery, critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons [STS] is a nonprofit professional organization representing surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest.
STS is the largest cardiothoracic surgery organization in the world with more than 7,800 members in 102 countries.

Central California Heart and Lung Surgery is the largest, most experienced Cardiothoracic Surgery Group in Central California.

03/28/2025

Sujata Subramanian, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Dr. Subramanian started her medical education at St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India. Her specialized training in general surgery, critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery will be an asset to the patients in Central California. Her career as a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, with training at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as a year spent at the Cleveland Clinic, will enhance the vast experience our group offers the local community, and will create a surgery resource for the unique group of young patients with adult congenital heart disease.

Dr. Subramanian is board-certified in Thoracic Surgery with sub-specialty certification in Congenital Cardiac Surgery. When Dr. Subramanian is not in the operating room, she enjoys yoga, long walks, reading about history, psychology, and current events, and watching well-made limited-series TV shows and documentaries.

02/05/2025

Dr. John Lin Presented at the First Annual Oncology Symposium

Cardiothoracic surgeon, John C. Lin, MD, joined a panel of experts to share insights into innovative ways to improve lung screening and reduce late stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Held Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Clovis Community Medical Center’s H. Marcus Radin Conference Center, Dr. Lin and fellow presenters explored the role personalized medicine plays in patients treatment plans and how available options to be more compliant with National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines can improve patient compliance and reducing barriers to care.

Central California Heart & Lung Surgery is committed to furthering clinical excellence in our community.

01/22/2025

Welcome Dr. Sarabjit Purewal, our newest cardiothoracic surgeon

Sarabjit Purewal, MD, is a board-certified cardiac surgeon who has dedicated more than 50 years to caring for patients and families. Watching his own mother suffer through bronchial issues as a boy inspired Dr. Purewal to pursue medicine. Since beginning his career in 1974, he has performed more than 4,000 operations, improving countless lives.

As a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Purewal cares for older adults and is well experienced in coronary artery bypass grafts, as well as aortic and mitral surgeries.

Learn more about Dr. Purewal and our excellent team of surgeons at https://myheartlungs.com/.

01/15/2025

Celebrating Ten Years of Service—
Dr. John C. Lin, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Central California Heart & Lung Surgery

Dr. Lin is a man of inspiring accomplishments. He received his cardiothoracic surgery training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which is the highest volume center for heart transplant and percutaneous aortic valve replacement in the United States. He also pursued additional training in aortic stenting and debranching at Harbor UCLA medical center.

When you consider that Dr. Lin also studied and worked at UCSF in the East Bay of San Francisco, at the University of Iowa, and at University of California Berkeley, we are fortunate to have him bring his exceptional skills and training to Central California.

“We live in a unique region of California,” said Dr. Lin. “In the central valley we serve a diverse population, and we see pathology both in the acute and chronic stages. At times the care is absolutely challenging and at times exceptionally gratifying.”

Dr. Lin has mastered the newest technology to provide robotic lung cancer surgery, such as segmentectomy, percutaneous endovascular aspiration device for critically ill endocarditis patients, and percutaneous heart pump for people in heart failure.

“I feel fortunate to perform cardiothoracic surgery as my passion in life. I wake up every day to care for extremely ill patients. By practicing my art and craft, I help bring people back to health and watch them leave the hospital to continue on with their lives.”

Ask Dr. Lin about what’s next and he’ll tell you he wants to drive innovations in cardiothoracic surgery, someday practice and teach his craft overseas, and nurture the next generation to further advance patient care and healing.

Here’s an interesting fact…before his illustrious career as a surgeon, Dr. Lin was a spacecraft engineer at Boeing.

08/15/2024

Check out this recent Med Watch episode with Dr. Khwaja and patient Gary Hill. This segment highlights a success story of a LVAD (left ventricular assist device) placement and subsequent removal.

Local resident Gary Hill receives a very special honor after Community surgeons perform a modern day miracle by removing the heart pump that saved his life.