About

Mission Statement

The Stanford University Department of Surgery is dedicated to inventing the future of surgical care through:

• pioneering cutting-edge research, 

• developing the next generation of leaders, and 

• healing through incomparable surgical skills and compassion. 

6 Divisions


<10 new residents accepted each year


16 Outpatient Clinics

100+ faculty members


$30M+ Sponsored research


50,000+ sq feet of administrative and research space

History

1959 – Clinical portion of Stanford University School of Medicine moves from San Francisco to Palo Alto, CA.

1963 — Affiliations solidified with the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Santa Clara.

1974 — Division of Cardiovascular Surgery applies for departmental status and request is granted

1977Division of Pediatric Surgery is started.

1988 — Divisions of Urology and Neurosurgery become separate departments and Division of Thoracic Surgery joins Department of Cardiovascular Surgery to become Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

1996Asian Liver Center is established.

1999Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is relocated from the Department of Functional Restoration to the Department of Surgery.

2000Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign is founded.

2007 — Goodman Simulation Center (now the Goodman Surgical Education Center) opens

2015 — Division of Emergency Medicine becomes separate department.

2015Dr. Mary T. Hawn is made Chair of the Department of Surgery.

2016 — Stanford-Surgery Policy Improvement and Education Center (S-SPIRE Center) opens.