Smidt Heart Institute Welcomes 2 Pasadena-Based Vascular Surgeons
Theodore Teruya, MD, and Sally Schonefeld, MD, Join Huntington Health, an Affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, Expanding Vascular Surgery Expertise in San Gabriel Valley
Vascular surgeons Theodore Teruya, MD, and Sally Schonefeld, MD, have joined the Division of Vascular Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute to provide care for Pasadena-area patients with vascular diseases at Huntington Health—an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai.
The addition of Teruya and Schonefeld means that patients throughout the San Gabriel Valley now have expanded access to Cedars-Sinai’s top-ranked vascular surgeons and programs.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Teruya and Dr. Schonefeld to the Smidt Heart Institute, providing expert treatment and care for patients with arterial and venous diseases,” said Ali Azizzadeh, MD, professor and director of Vascular Surgery and associate director of the Smidt Heart Institute. “With the addition of these skilled surgeons, we continue to broaden our world-class vascular program at Huntington Health, which is the most comprehensive and innovative facility for vascular care in the San Gabriel Valley.”
Teruya earned a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a medical degree from John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Hawaii and a vascular surgery fellowship at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Teruya has published extensively on a range of arterial and venous disorders. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and is an active member of the American College of Surgeons and is a distinguished fellow of the Society of Vascular Surgery. His academic interests include surgical education and clinical outcomes in vascular surgery. 
Teruya also serves in the U.S. armed forces as commander of the Medical Corps for the Navy Reserve. He is an Afghanistan War veteran who received both a Navy Commendation Medal and a Navy and Marine Achievement Medal.
“I’m thrilled to join the Smidt Heart Institute team, and I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with patients seeking care at Huntington Health, as well as with a team of expert providers,” Teruya said. “To be part of an exceptional health system like Cedars-Sinai—one that prioritizes delivering high-value services to patients, envelope-pushing innovation including clinical trials, and overall excellence in patient care—marks an exciting next chapter in my career.”
Schonefeld earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her medical degree from McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She completed a general surgery internship and residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, as well as a vascular surgery fellowship at Cedars-Sinai.
She has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications, book chapters, presentations and abstracts and is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.
“Having just completed my fellowship at Cedars-Sinai, where I had a terrific vascular surgery training experience, I’m proud to now have the opportunity to join the highly regarded Smidt Heart Institute team,” Schonefeld said. “I look forward to delivering the highest standards of care to patients throughout the San Gabriel Valley, as well as being able to offer them improved quality of life and life expectancy, thanks to new discoveries in diagnostics, treatments and more.”
Cedars-Sinai once again has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, this year as the #2 program in the nation for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery. The Smidt Heart Institute also is #1 for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery in California and Los Angeles.
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