The Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery was established fifty years ago by Leon Goldman, MD, at the time Chair of the Department of Surgery and the father of California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Dr. Goldman recruited the late Benson Roe, MD to join the faculty and establish the Division for Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Roe pioneered the use of induced hypothermia for cardiac surgery patients, and in 1969 performed the first heart transplant in San Francisco. His work continued through the leadership of Scot Merrick MD, former Chief of Division, and then through Jasleen Kukreja, MD, MPH, who served as Program Director from 2017 until 2021.