Central California Heart & Lung Surgery

08/26/2026

What a special day honoring Dr. Khwaja and the Fresno Heart team!

A grateful patient recently made a generous, anonymous gift to celebrate the care he received at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital. During his stay, he kept track of every single team that impacted his journey.

To say thank you for saving his life and wonderful care he received, he treated our staff to a special meal and honored Dr. Shamsuddin Khwaja along with 13 teams across the hospital. “From my pre-op testing to my final discharge, I was treated with compassion and the highest professional standards by everyone I met,” the patient shared.

A massive thank you to Dr. Khwaja for his life-saving skill in the OR, and to every single team member who works quietly behind the scenes and at the bedside. You make Community special every single day! Shoutout to the Care Hero teams that received framed certificates: Registration, STAR Team, Respiratory Therapy, Radiology, Laboratory, Anesthesia, Cardiac Surgery, PACU, ICU, CPCU, Physical Therapy, Nutrition & Dining Services and Environmental Services.

08/20/2026

Fresno, Calif., August 12, 2026 — Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women.1 In the Central Valley and across the United States, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone...

04/20/2026

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

Central California Heart & Lung Surgery was a sponsor of the American Heart Association ‘Go Red for Women’ luncheon on Thursday. Our staff, physicians, patients, and family attended to support women’s heart health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, accounting for almost half of all reported deaths in 2021.

Money raised promotes lifesaving partnerships.

02/24/2026

Teaching skills to help save lives in the south valley

In keeping with our commitment to educate and inform the communities we serve, Central California Heart and Lung Surgery partnered with Adventist Health-Bakersfield to teach as many individuals as possible the skill of Hands-Only CPR.

CCHLS Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Sham Khwaja participated in the Super CPR Challenge, a daylong event held on February 19, 2026.

05/01/2025

CONGRATULATE DR. HEIDI REICH ON HER AHA AWARD!

Dr. Heidi Reich was honored as a Caretaker of the Torch at the Central Valley Heart Ball held by the American Heart Association on April 25, 2025, recognized for her expertise, skill, and compassionate care. The AHA bestows the award to those who inspire others to make positive changes in their lives to improve heart health.

A member of the largest, most experienced cardiothoracic surgery group in Central California, Dr. Reich is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Central California Heart and Lung Surgery. She attended medical school at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, and completed residencies in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, which ranks #1 in California for cardiology and heart surgery and #1 for transcatheter aortic valve replacements.

Learn more about Dr. Reich and all the surgeons at www.myheartlung.com.