Bio

Dr. Stevens is the CEO and Managing Partner of Cardiovascular Surgical Associates P.C. A seasoned business executive and a very experienced Surgical First Assistant in high-risk cardiovascular surgery, Dr. Stevens received her dual degree with a B.S. in Biology and Engineering from the University of Florida where at 6’0”, she also played D-1 Volleyball for the Gators prior to obtaining her accelerated BSN from Duke University’s School of Nursing. Shortly after, Dr. Stevens was hired by Stryker in its “Personal Protective” division where she utilized her clinical education and bioengineering background to help design the Flyte Hood system for orthopedic surgeons. Yearning to return to clinical care, Dr. Stevens started as a staff perioperative nurse and immediately gravitated to scrubbing in both trauma and cardiac surgery. She then obtained her Master’s Degree with a specialty as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate with the Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) certification. Shortly thereafter, she allied for Duke’s combined DNP and MBA degree in coordination with Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, which she completed in 2017.

Dr. Stevens has been working in high-stakes open aortic surgery mainly as a First Assist. She brings first-assisting experience in over 300 open TAAAs of experience and has written a textbook on the Pearls & Pitfalls in Open Aortic Aneurysm Surgery. She has also contributed to over 260 book chapters on aortic surgery.

Dr. Stevens enjoys spending time with her fiance and family. They split time between their homes in the Pacific Palisades (Southern California), Paradise Valley (Phoenix, AZ), Blackhawk (Northern California) and South Lake Tahoe.

Faith-Based Foundation:

Dr. Stevens is a devout Christian who believes that her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has blessed her with her surgical talents to carry out His will. She views the surgical teams she supports as the vessels of His healing and mercy on the patients who are on the operating table.

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:37–40

Clinical Professorships:

• Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, March 2019.

• Faculty Member, Radcliffe Vascular Institute, April 2019.