{"id":668,"date":"2026-05-11T03:34:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T03:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.xyz\/staging\/?page_id=668"},"modified":"2026-06-02T07:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T07:35:44","slug":"our-providers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/our-providers\/","title":{"rendered":"Our\u00a0Providers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Meet Our \n Team<\/span>\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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 \u2014 no referrals out of the area required.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Brian J. Waddle, MD, FACS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Board-Certified Surgeon \u00b7 FACS<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

\u200bPomona College<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Medical School<\/h3>

University of Arizona<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Internship<\/h3>

U.C. Davis<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Residency\u200b<\/h3>

University of California, East Bay<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Louis C. Lee, MD, FACS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Board-Certified Surgeon \u00b7 Fellowship-Trained \u00b7 FACS<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Dr. Lee is a California native who received his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, followed by a master\u2019s degree in molecular\u00a0biology, ecology and evolution\u00a0from UCLA. After medical school and residency, he completed a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.\u00a0Dr. Lee is the only fellowship-trained expert in the entire Monterey Bay\u00a0for 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\u00a0robotic single-site surgery as well as\u00a0other advanced minimally invasive techniques.\u00a0Dr. Lee\u00a0has practiced in Santa Cruz since 2012.<\/span><\/p>

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<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

U.C. Berkeley<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Graduate School<\/h3>

\u200bU.C.L.A.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Medical School<\/h3>

George Washington University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Residency<\/h3>

Inova Fairfax Hospital<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Jessica Santillano, MD, FACS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Board-Certified Surgeon \u00b7 FACS \u00b7 Fluent in Spanish<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Dr. Santillano completed her undergraduate training at Penn State University and pre-medical studies at Harvard University. \u00a0She 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 espa\u00f1ol. She\u00a0joined the Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay in 2014.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

\u200bPenn State University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Graduate School<\/h3>

Harvard University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Medical School<\/h3>

\u200bTemple University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Residency<\/h3>

\u200bTemple University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Paul Nguyen, DO, FACS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Board-Certified Surgeon \u00b7 FACS<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

U.C. San Diego<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Medical School<\/h3>

Des Moines University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Residency<\/h3>

Saint John Macomb Hospital<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Cristina Castellanos, PA-C<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Physician Assistant \u2014 Certified<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Cristina Castellanos Jim\u00e9nez, 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,\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedra<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Graduate School<\/h3>

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Racquel Cua, PA-C<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Physician Assistant \u2014 Certified<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Undergraduate School<\/h3>

Cal Poly Pomona<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/figure>

Graduate School<\/h3>

University of Southern California<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u2014 no referrals out of the area required. Brian J. Waddle, MD, FACS Board-Certified Surgeon \u00b7 FACS Dr. Waddle completed his undergraduate training at Pomona College and entered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-668","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=668"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1000,"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/668\/revisions\/1000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/veinclinicmb.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}