Dr. Stephen Laga, MD, Strives for Excellence Both Inside and Outside of the Operating Room
By Space Coast Daily // August 31, 2024
Doctors are held to a higher standard of excellence than people in many other professions because their decisions directly affect the health and lives of their patients.
A doctor who lacks the care and attention to properly listen to, study, and diagnose their patients will lack the expertise and knowledge to properly treat them, which can make their practice inconsistent at best or actively harmful at worst. This goes especially true for surgeons, who are trusted to physically open and modify patients’s bodies to improve, and often save, their lives.
For Dr. Stephen Laga, MD, striving for excellence is a fact of life, not merely part of the job description. As a highly experienced Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon with over 40 years of dedicated medical service, Dr. Laga has repeatedly demonstrated his expertise and devotion to providing the highest possible standard of care. His commitment to advancing care procedures and surgical techniques has led him to affiliate with multiple prestigious institutions across the United States, and that same drive to excel extends out of the operating room and into his personal life.
Education and Service
Inspired by the television appearances of Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. Stephen Laga knew that the doctor’s path was the one for him. Dr. DeBakey’s extreme medical acumen and keen business sense consistently inspired and motivated Dr. Laga to learn more, provide better care, and innovate in his field.
“Many of the instruments we use today in Cardiothoracic Surgery are named after him,” Dr. Laga explains. “He was a true innovator and entrepreneur while at the same time helping hundreds of thousands of people. My goal is to be more like him.”
Following his chosen career path, Dr. Stephen Laga enrolled at Adelphi University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1975. He then proceeded to pursue his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine. In 1979, with his MD in hand, he went on to complete his general surgery residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center and a cardiovascular surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. While at his residency, he also completed his Master’s in Surgery from the University of Illinois, Chicago, as part of a research paper.
When asked, he credits a single patient as the defining moment that crystallized his career path as a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon. “Early in my career, I took care of a patient with an aortic dissection. When the patient did well, it gave me the confidence to continue as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon performing difficult cases.”
However, his professional career as a doctor and surgeon would be interrupted by the call of service. As a self-described American patriot, Dr. Laga signed on as an officer with the USAF Medical Corps from 1985 to 1988. His service as Chief of General Surgery at USAF Tinker Hospital was recognized and given several decorations, including the Outstanding Unit Award. When his time in the service was up, he jumped headfirst back into his surgery career.
A Career of Excellence
Dr. Stephen Laga has built a long-term career in quality care and is striving for excellence at every opportunity. He’s certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Medical Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons. He is currently affiliated with Froedtert South in Kenosha, WI, but has practiced at many renowned hospitals across the United States, including but not limited to:
• Westlake Hospital, Melrose Park, IL
• Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst, IL
• St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN
• CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Hospital, Lufkin, TX
• Northwest Health Springdale Hospital, Springdale, AR
• Freeman Hospital West, Joplin, MO
His philosophy of care centers the patient above all else. That approach involves meeting the unique needs of each patient by keeping up to date on research, collaborating with patients and families, and educating patients on their medical conditions and treatment options, all while treating them with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances. By giving patients the support and information they need to make informed decisions, Dr. Laga can give them the highest quality, evidence-based medical care possible.
As a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Stephen Laga focuses on treating diseases of the chest, lungs, esophagus, and heart. More specifically, Dr. Laga specializes in cardiac, aortic, and cardiovascular surgeries, with specific expertise in heart bypass surgery. Dr. Laga’s single and only metric for success is his patients’s own satisfaction and continued positive health outcomes.
One particular case stands out in his memory as a proud success. The patient in this case came in with an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm—a fragile bubble in the major artery connecting to the heart. Left untreated, the aneurysm could rupture and kill the patient with little recourse or chance of being saved. Fortunately, Dr. Laga was able to operate successfully on the patient without issue, and she was able to go back to her family and live a long and happy life.
Personal Life
Dr. Stephen Laga works hard and studies extensively, but does make sure to take the time to be with his family. Dr. Laga takes great pride in his family and their successes. He has been married to his wife for 45 years, and together they have three children: two daughters and a son. One daughter works as an attorney for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis; the other is a graphic artist for McDonald’s in Chicago; and his son is a civil engineer designing roads for the city of Chicago. As a dedicated Catholic, he’s also very involved with his church’s various activities outside of his own working hours.
In every aspect of his life, Dr. Stephen Laga strives for excellence, attainment, and achievement. From his decades-long career as a successful Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon to his loving family to his community support, Dr. Laga works to improve the lives of the people around him. He hopes to continue innovating in his field and helping patients through his practice in the foreseeable future.
