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Dr. James McPherson is board certified in thoracic surgery. For over 20 years he has performed all aspects of adult cardiac, general thoracic and endovascular aortic and peripheral vascular surgery. Dr. McPherson received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Southern California. (USC). He then attended Tulane University where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree as well as a Masters in Public Health.
He then completed his general surgery training at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center (now Mount Sinai) in New York City. There, he continued his interest in cardiovascular surgery while working with Dr. George Green, a pioneer in the use of the internal mammary artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery. As Chief Resident, McPherson was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. McPherson returned to USC for his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship where he studied under renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Vaughn Starnes. In addition, Dr. McPherson studied esophageal and pulmonary surgery with Dr. Tom DeMeester, an international leader in this field.
After serving four years on the USC faculty, Dr. McPherson founded the Los Angeles Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Group, focusing on minimally invasive heart valve surgery, early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. In 2016, he accepted a position at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard as Medical Director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in starting the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program and introduced robotic assisted thoracic surgery for treatment of lung cancer.
In 2021, Dr. McPherson relocated his practice to New Jersey where he now focuses on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic (chest) diseases. He is an expert on the DaVinci Xi robotic platform, a cutting edge technology that results in smaller incisions, less pain and blood loss and a more rapid return to active living compared to open surgery.
Dr. McPherson continues to serve the community by encouraging students to pursue a career in medicine. He is fluent in English and Spanish and has made numerous television and radio appearances educating the public on heart, lung and vascular disease. In his free time, he enjoys travel and is an avid fan of tennis, scuba diving and college football.  An avid lover of cinema and music, he listens to an eclectic variety of music ranging from Miles Davis to Mozart.
Dr. McPherson and his wife Valarie live in Montville, New Jersey. They have four daughters who are graduates of Howard University, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (Los Angeles), Charles R. Drew University and USC.
