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Since 1987, Dr. Robert Cole has maintained a surgical practice of the highest professional caliber within his serene office setting in the West Los Angeles / Santa Monica area.

Personal attention, thorough medical evaluations, impeccable quality care and strong patient communication is Dr. Cole’s top priorities. He spends considerable time with each of his patients, which is refreshingly unique in today’s world where medical and surgical specialists seem too rushed to talk or listen effectively.

Developing trustful relationships with his patients is of utmost importance to Dr. Cole. He takes ample time to simplify and explain complex concepts and offers the best options for optimal outcomes. It is important that the patient feel truly comfortable and fully understand the choices and procedures before them. This kind of assurance puts his patients at ease before surgery which he believes may promote faster healing and an ongoing sense of well-being.

All office visits and surgical procedures are performed by Dr. Cole himself, your care is never handed to a physician’s assistant. He is always available to address whatever questions or concerns you may have. He can usually be reached 7 days a week/24 hours a day for his post-surgical patients. On occasion, he has even been known to make housecalls.

Dr. Cole is often contacted by patients and physicians looking for an honest second opinion regarding the need for surgery. If you find yourself unsure about the need for surgery, call our office to set up a second opinion appointment.

Dr. Cole’s Resume

Education

Colleges:

  • University of California, Los Angeles; Bachelor of Arts, 1974
  • University of South Dakota; Postgraduate Biochemistry Research, 1975

Medical School:

  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 1982

Residency:

  • University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1982-1987

Advanced Coursework:

  • Course Director, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Houston Laser Institute, 1990
  • Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures: Bowel Resection, Appendectomy, Biopsies, 1990- Present

Certifications / Fellowship

Board Certification:

  • National Board of Medical Examiners, 1983
  • American Board of Surgery, 1988
  • Re-Certification, 1998 and 2008
  • Surgery Expert Witness, 2005

Fellowship:

  • American College of Surgeons, 1991

Hospital Affiliations / Board Positions

  • Saint John’s Hospital and Health Center, Santa Monica, California, 1987 – Present:
  • Surgery Center of the Pacific, Santa Monica, California, 1994 - Present

Society Memberships

  • American Society of General Surgery, 1987 - Present
  • The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 1987 - Present
  • The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, 2000 - Present