Meet Serge Kobsa, MD, PhD

Dr. Kobsa is a cardiac surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC and associate director of the USC George and Meryl Young Aortic Center, part of the USC Cardiac and Vascular Institute at Keck Medicine. He also serves as the chief of cardiac surgery at Los Angeles General (formerly Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center).

He treats patients at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital and USC Arcadia Hospital. Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.

An early loss inspired him to study medicine.

“In childhood, one of my closest friends was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. At the time, it was considered an untreatable disease. My friend and I remained close throughout grade school and junior high until he sadly passed away. That experience, combined with my keen interest in science and engineering, as well as working with my hands, led me to pursue medicine as a profession. During medical school, I became especially fascinated with the anatomy and physiology of the heart and lungs. That’s how I became a heart surgeon.”

He left his home country to pursue his education.

“I first came to the United States from Croatia by myself as a foreign exchange student in high school, staying with a host family. That was more than 25 years ago.”

He continues to abide by this work ethic:

“One of my favorite pieces of advice, which I received during my training from a very well-known cardiac surgeon who was a mentor of mine, is that surgeons should aim to achieve a 1:1 confidence-to-competence ratio — meaning that, especially in the type of work we do, it’s very important to have a clear sense of risks and benefits, to be aware of one own’s expertise and capabilities — to always do what is right and necessary and nothing that is not.”

The most rewarding part of his work:

“A lot of my patients have complex and life-threatening conditions. It’s very rewarding for me to see technically demanding operations translate into relatively immediate and major advances in my patients’ lives. Knowing that the work we do in the operating room can improve and even save people’s lives inspires me each day.”

Medical advances help put his patients front and center.

“The practice of cardiac and vascular surgery has definitely changed due to the technological advances in devices and grafts, such as artificial heart valves and vascular grafts. We can now deploy treatments like transcatheter valve replacements and aortic stents in minimally invasive ways.

At Keck Medicine, we don’t view treatment as binary — for instance, either an open-heart operation versus a minimally invasive approach. Instead, we decide as a multidisciplinary team on the best approach for each particular patient and their situation, and then we carry out that plan together. We always put the patient and their needs front and center. I’m a big believer in this approach and am convinced it leads to better patient outcomes.”

What sets apart the cardiac care at Keck Medicine.

“Keck Medicine takes on a lot of the cases that are too complex or high-risk for many other providers. We do our fair share of routine operations, but we also have a tremendous amount of experience treating patients whom others have determined need a higher level of care. Personally and professionally, complex cases have given me the opportunity to grow as a physician and surgeon. It’s something I have not experienced to the same degree anywhere else.”

Collaborative care leads to best outcomes.

“No matter how well a surgery is performed, the fact is that our patients need a lot of complex care. The best thing about Keck Medicine is the people I work with. My colleagues and I are equally committed to the patients we treat. Because our patients need a big team to get them through these operations, we focus on collaborating as a team. Being part of an institution that excels in this is a true privilege.”

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