Joelle M. Coletta, MD, FACS

Joelle Coletta, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon and chief of the cardiothoracic surgery section at the Veterans Administration Hospital affiliated with UC San Diego. She also performs both cardiac and thoracic operations at Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center.

Her areas of expertise include bypass surgery (including off-pump or "beating heart" procedures), valve repair and replacement, aortic surgery, and adoption of less invasive surgical techniques.

She trained in cardiothoracic surgery at UC San Diego Health from 2002-2004 and then became the department head of cardiothoracic surgery at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. After leaving the Navy, she gained additional experience in mitral valve repair, minimally invasive techniques, and aortic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Coletta joined the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at UC San Diego Health in 2009. She combines her clinical interests in patient care with her genuine enthusiasm for teaching.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Heart Care and Surgery Services.