A Stanford University transplant to Visalia will expand cardiac care at Kaweah Health.

Dr. Michael McLean is the first of three cardiothoracic surgeons who will live and work in Visalia, according to Kaweah Health. McLean brings expertise in heart bypass surgery, valve repair, and other cardiac procedures.

“The Kaweah Health cardiothoracic program has a long history of providing award-winning care, and with Stanford Health Care, we will work to help ensure that our community continues to have access to some of the best surgical heart care available for many years to come,” said Gary Herbst, CEO of Kaweah Health, in a news release.

McLean graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. McLean also serves as a clinical assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University. McLean did his residency at SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

He received his training as a cardiac surgeon at the University of Southern California. McLean also has connections to Ghana. According to his LinkedIn, he founded McLean Agro Industries, which operates in Ghana’s most populous region.

Interviews with prospective doctors continue, said Tracy Salsa, director of cardiovascular service line and the cardiovascular co-management program with Kaweah.

“We plan to have them begin practicing by the end of 2024,” Salsa said.

Beyond the agreement with Stanford, Kaweah maintains an affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute.