James Gordon McPherson III, MD

Dr. James McPherson is medical director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Ventura County. Dr. McPherson is board certified in thoracic surgery and performs all aspects of adult cardiac, general thoracic 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 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 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 joined Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Ventura County expanding patient outreach to include both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. His practice is focused on minimally invasive cardiac surgery, including trans catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), treatment of lung cancer using the DaVinci robotic platform and endovascular treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Under Dr. McPherson's leadership, St. John's has grown to become one of the busiest robotic thoracic surgery programs in Southern California. He is a firm believer that minimally invasive approaches decrease both postoperative pain, hospital length of stay and will lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes. Dr. McPherson continues to serve the community by mentoring high school and college students who are pursuing a career in medicine. He serves on the St. John's Foundation Board of Directors. 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. He is also passionate about music and listens to an eclectic variety of music ranging from Miles Davis to Mozart.

Dr. McPherson offers patient-centered care with minimally invasive approaches to heart, lung and aortic disease. Dr. McPherson uses the latest advancements in technique and technology to perform all aspects of adult cardio thoracic surgery. His philosophy of collaboration with referring physicians ensures continuity of care.