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The region’s highest quality cardiothoracic surgical services.

Cardiothoracic Surgery & Infectious Disease - Dignity Health Medical Group - Bakersfield, CA

Address

3838 San Dimas St, Ste A100

Bakersfield, CA 93301

Hours

Mon

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Tue

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Wed

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Thu

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Fri

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Sat Closed

Sun Closed

Our experienced team delivers quality heart, lung, vascular, and infectious disease care to the Central Valley.

Cardiothoracic Surgery & Infectious Disease - Bakersfield, CA is a medical office that offers many services, including cardiothoracic surgery and infectious disease. When you visit Dignity Health Medical Group for cardiothoracic care, you’ll receive quality treatment that meets humankindness. For over 30 years, we have successfully managed advanced cardiothoracic disease in a complex patient population. The team has performed over 400 cardiothoracic surgical procedures yearly. Whether it is coronary artery bypass surgery, repair or replacement for valvular heart disease, structural heart procedures, lung resections, or other surgical interventions, we can deliver the care you may need and would be honored to be your partner.

CommonSpirit Health Physician Enterprise Vision Award Winner

2023 - Patient Experience - Top Performing Clinic
This award honors clinic sites measured as a Top Performer or as Most Improved, as rated by our patients.

Our cardiothoracic team delivers quality heart, lung, and vascular care to the Central Valley.

Dignity Health Medical Group is committed to providing you with access to the region’s highest quality cardiothoracic surgical services. Through our relationship with Dignity Health – Memorial Hospital and its Sarvanand Heart & Brain Center, your care is coordinated at one of the largest cardiovascular and thoracic in the Central Valley.

For more than 30 years, patients have trusted us with their care. We want you to know that we are behind you every step of the way – from the time of your diagnosis, through surgery, and well into recovery. 

Together our team performs many procedures, such as:

  • Aortic Valve Repair/Replacement
  • Beating Heart Surgery
  • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery
  • Decortication and Pleurectomy
  • Heart Defect Repair
  • Heart Surgery
  • Ventricular Aortic Device Placement, Impella Device
  • Lobectomy (open or video assisted thoroscopic)
  • Lung Removal (partial or complete: open, or resection of lung tumor)
  • Lung Surgery
  • Lymph Node Biopsy or Excision
  • Maze Procedure
  • Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
  • Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement
  • Mitral Valve Surgery
  • Pectus Excavatum or Other Congenital Chest Wall Deformities
  • Saphenous Vein Harvest for CABG
  • Segmentectomy (open)
  • Thoracentesis
  • Thoracoscopic Lobectomy, Segmentectomy, and Wedge Resection
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • Valve Repair or Replacement (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary)
  • Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

Cardiovascular conditions treated:

  • Adult Congenital Heart Disease
  • Aneurysm
  • Aortic Aneurysm
  • Aortic Ectasia
  • Aortic Embolism and Thrombosis
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Aortic Valve Disease
  • Aortic Valve Regurgitation
  • Atherosclerosis of Aorta
  • Benign Tumor
  • Cancers of the Chest
  • Chest Wall Tumor
  • Congenital Aortic Valve Disorders
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Endocarditis
  • Heart Disease
  • Heart Valve Diseases
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lung Neoplasms
    (non-malignant)
  • Mediastinal Tumors
    (malignant and non-malignant)
  • Mesothelioma
  • Mitral Valve Disease
  • Mitral Valve Regurgitation/Stenosis
  • Pericardial Disease
  • Pleural 
  • Neoplasm 
    (non-malignant)
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Septal Defect

Meet the team

The group was founded over 32 years ago by Dr. Bruce Fraizer and Dr. Neil Arbagast, a surgeon trained under world-famous cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, pioneer heart surgeon, and medical device innovator.


I am truly blessed to be able to practice in Bakersfield, my first and only job since completing my training at the University of California, San Diego.  Heart and lung surgery is very complex, and I believe that the only person qualified to assess and evaluate surgical patients is the surgeon himself. Therefore, you, the patient, and I will make all critical decisions.  Please feel free to call the office to schedule an appointment with me. Learn more

I am truly blessed to be able to practice in Bakersfield, my first and only job since completing my training at the University of California, San Diego.  Heart and lung surgery is very complex, and I believe that the only person qualified to assess and evaluate surgical patients is the surgeon himself. Therefore, you, the patient, and I will make all critical decisions.  Please feel free to call the office to schedule an appointment with me. Learn more


My philosophy when providing consultation and medical care to my patients centers on excellent communication and excellent outcomes.  I will take the time to clearly discuss all treatment options, my recommendations, details of surgical intervention/recovery and to answer all your questions.  Your evaulation and care will ALWAYS be provided by me, not a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.  Please call the office to set up an appointment. Learn more

My philosophy when providing consultation and medical care to my patients centers on excellent communication and excellent outcomes.  I will take the time to clearly discuss all treatment options, my recommendations, details of surgical intervention/recovery and to answer all your questions.  Your evaulation and care will ALWAYS be provided by me, not a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.  Please call the office to set up an appointment. Learn more


Board certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery. Learn more

Board certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery. Learn more

Specializing in infectious diseases

The Dignity Health Medical Group – Bakersfield Infectious Disease team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infection related problems and their attendant complications. Our specialist delivers integrated care, keeping the patient’s primary care physician informed and emphasizes communication between patients, families and care providers.

We focus on providing medical care consistent with national guidelines, yet tailored to the needs of our patients. Infectious diseases can be caused by many different organisms, often referred to as germs, and most commonly result from infections with bacteria and viruses. Such diseases remain a significant cause of illness and death in our community, and there is a great deal of concern about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the re-emergence of viral illnesses once controlled by vaccination. Our team focuses not only on providing high-level care for the individual but also on infection prevention, through hand hygiene and vaccine administration, and the judicious use of antibiotics in the community to limit the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

  • Coccidioidomycosis lung infection (Valley Fever)
  • Disseminated Valley Fever
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis B
  • Bone and joint infections
  • Syphilis
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  • Infections in transplant and immunocompromised patients
  • Infections of prosthetic devices
  • Tuberculosis
  • Mycobacterial infections
  • Fungal infections (excluding mold exposure and thrush)

Meet our board-certified specialist


Recognizing that health encompasses more than just physical well-being, I am committed to understanding my patients’ social and emotional needs. A holistic perspective guides me, allowing me to address medical concerns and the broader factors that contribute to a patient’s overall quality of life. Learn more

Recognizing that health encompasses more than just physical well-being, I am committed to understanding my patients’ social and emotional needs. A holistic perspective guides me, allowing me to address medical concerns and the broader factors that contribute to a patient’s overall quality of life. Learn more

Conveniently located in Bakersfield, CA

Care when you need it

With clinics throughout California, a Dignity Health Medical Foundation physician is right around the corner, waiting to assist you along your wellness journey.