Dr. Jonathan Aaron Praeger, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Jonathan Aaron Praeger, who serves patients in Los Angeles, California.

A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Praeger is an attending physician and Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at Keck Medicine of USC – Los Angeles. He believes in the importance of taking time to get to know each patient and working together to come up with a personalized treatment plan. 

The doctor has a particular interest in minimally invasive solutions for atrial fibrillation. He also specializes in surgery of the aortic root, aortic arch as well as valve repair and replacement.  As associate director of mechanical circulatory support he treats the sickest patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VADs). 

Pertaining to his educational pursuits, he graduated cum laude with his medical degree from Semmelweis Medical University in Hungary in 2009. After relocating to the United States, he completed his residency in general surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2016, followed by a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Hawaii in 2017. 

Furthermore, Dr. Praeger completed an intensive fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Keck Medicine of USC, winning a spot over hundreds of applicants for one of the most competitive programs in the nation. Over the last three years, patients have been impressed with both his exceptional surgical skill and his caring bedside manner.

Passionate about his profession, he is triple  board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery (ABS), as well as cardiothoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS).

Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of organs inside the thorax. Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in surgical procedures inside the thorax, which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. Alongside performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs.

Recommended Articles

• Reasons Why You Need a Biopsy

  OverviewA biopsy is a procedure that involves the removal of a sample tissue in the body to examine it closely under a microscope. The tissue is mainly examined to diagnose a certain disease. Some may use a needle or surgical methods to remove any lumps or suspicious nodules in the body. Some...

• Femoral Hernia: Get the Facts

  Our human bodies are a complex network of nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and visceral organs. While our skin is the outermost layer holding everything together, on the inside, it is a network of strong muscle fibers that hold all our internal organs in place. A hernia occurs when there is a weak...

• What Happens During a Laminectomy?

  What is a laminectomy?You may experience back pain that affects your day-to-day activities. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a surgical procedure called laminectomy.Laminectomy is a surgical operation, in which the lamina is removed. This helps relieve pressure that is exerted on the nerve...

• What to Expect if You Need a Hysterectomy

  What is Uterus?Uterus is a hollow muscular and inverted pear shaped structure. It lies in the pelvic cavity between the urinary bladder and the rectum.  It is attached by ligaments to the pelvic wall. The uterus consists of a body called corpus a narrow uterine cavity called internal Os and the...

• How is the Recovery for a Cholecystectomy?

  How long does it take for you to recover from a cholecystectomy? The length of the recovery period depends on whether you had a laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy. Many people who have keyhole surgery are released from the hospital the same day of the surgery. It may take up to 2 weeks for these...

• What are Kidney Stones: Get the Facts

  Kidney stones is a condition that's rate of infection is increasing every day especially in people aged between 20 and 40 years old. Statistics have indicated that around 20 percent of the world's population suffer from kidney stones. Among these, 20 percent are men while 10 percent are women.  ...