On January 17, Kaweah Health opened its Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic in downtown Visalia.

The clinic, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 505 W. Main St., is now home to Kaweah Health's cardiothoracic surgery team led by Dr. Frederick Mayer. The clinic offers patients surgical procedures to treat diseases and conditions of the heart and chest performed at Kaweah Health Medical Center.

"We are happy to welcome back Dr. Frederick Mayer, who led our inaugural cardiothoracic program," said Gary Herbst, CEO of Kaweah Health. "It has been great to see him return to Kaweah Health and be welcomed with such open arms by our physicians and staff."

Dr. Mayer was recruited in 1996 to lead Kaweah Health's first cardiac and thoracic surgery program. He also cared for heart patients at other hospitals for 10 years, before returning to Kaweah Health in 2019.

Dr. Mayer is the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program Medical Director and is performing cardiothoracic surgery with the support of other cardiothoracic surgeons as he works to grow Kaweah Health's program.

The clinic is 3,000-square-feet with four patient care rooms and staffed by cardiothoracic surgeons, three medical assistants and office staff.