Meet Our Team
Our team of board-certified surgeons and physician assistants brings decades of focused vascular expertise to the Monterey Bay community. All procedures are performed locally — no referrals out of the area required.
Brian J. Waddle, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Surgeon · FACS
Dr. Waddle completed his undergraduate training at Pomona College and entered the University of Arizona College of Health Professions as a merit scholar, graduating with honors. He worked for the US Indian Health Services as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship at the University of California, Davis and his surgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Waddle has broad surgical experience and specializes in minimally invasive surgery including advanced laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, endoscopy and DaVinci robotic surgery. He has practiced in Santa Cruz since 2002.
Undergraduate School
Pomona College
Medical School
University of Arizona
Internship
U.C. Davis
Residency
University of California, East Bay
Louis C. Lee, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Surgeon · Fellowship-Trained · FACS
Dr. Lee is a California native who received his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, followed by a master’s degree in molecular biology, ecology and evolution from UCLA. After medical school and residency, he completed a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Lee is the only fellowship-trained expert in the entire Monterey Bay for diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands, as well as endocrine tumors of the pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract. He is active in national organizations including the American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. He is also skilled in DaVinci robotic single-site surgery as well as other advanced minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Lee has practiced in Santa Cruz since 2012.
If you are looking for an experienced thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal surgeon, please select one endorsed by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons:
American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
Undergraduate School
U.C. Berkeley
Graduate School
U.C.L.A.
Medical School
George Washington University
Residency
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Jessica Santillano, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Surgeon · FACS · Fluent in Spanish
Dr. Santillano completed her undergraduate training at Penn State University and pre-medical studies at Harvard University. She entered Temple University School of Medicine after serving in the US Peace Corps, where she volunteered as a Health Educator in Ecuador, South America. She completed her surgical internship and residency at Temple University Hospital in her hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Santillano has broad surgical experience and specializes in minimally invasive surgery including advanced laparoscopy and DaVinci robotic surgery. She is an expert in diseases of the breast, performing surgery for both benign and cancerous lesions. Dr. Santillano is fluent in Spanish, se habla español. She joined the Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay in 2014.
Undergraduate School
Penn State University
Graduate School
Harvard University
Medical School
Temple University
Residency
Temple University
Paul Nguyen, DO, FACS
Board-Certified Surgeon · FACS
Dr. Nguyen is a Bay Area native who completed his undergraduate degree in Human Biology at the University of California, San Diego. He went on to receive his medical degree from Des Moines University in Iowa. He then completed his surgical internship and residency in Detroit, MI. Dr. Nguyen has interests in multiple areas of general surgery, including minimally invasive surgery, hernias, gallbladder, colon, breast, bariatric and endoscopy. He joined the Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay in 2016.
Dr. Nguyen performed the first weight-loss surgery in Santa Cruz.
Undergraduate School
U.C. San Diego
Medical School
Des Moines University
Residency
Saint John Macomb Hospital
Cristina Castellanos, PA-C
Physician Assistant — Certified
Cristina Castellanos Jiménez, PA-C, is a Puerto Rico native who attended University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedra and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art History. After graduating, Cristina dedicated herself to the art industry and her family, until she discovered her passion for medicine. Cristina attended Cabrillo College to complete an associate degree in science and medical assistant certificate. She worked three years as a Medical Assistant lead in Santa Cruz County. In 2021, Cristina graduated from Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, CA, earning her Masters of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies. Cristina worked as a Physician assistant in family practice in Santa Cruz and Watsonville before joining the SAMB team.
Undergraduate School
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedra
Graduate School
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Racquel Cua, PA-C
Physician Assistant — Certified
Racquel Cua, MS, PA-C, is a California native who earned her undergraduate degree in microbiology from California Polytechnic State University at Pomona, followed by a Master’s degree in immunology. She taught Biological Sciences at the university and did research before deciding to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. She graduated from the USC PA program and has works in Primary Care, Emergency Medicine and Surgery in the Bay Area since 1998.
Undergraduate School
Cal Poly Pomona
Graduate School
University of Southern California