Professional Societies

• American Medical Association
• American College of Surgeons
• American Board of Surgery
• Orange County Medical Association

Hospital/Surgical Center Affiliations

• Mission Hospital
• Saddleback Medical Center

What do these affiliations mean to you as a patient?

A hospital's reputation is built upon the skills and competencies of their doctors. Basically, good surgeons have privileges at good hospitals. Both Mission Hospital and Saddleback Medical Center are two of the four top-rated hospitals in Orange County, along with Hoag and UCI according to the OC Register's report card for 26 local hospitals.

What do the Professional Societies mean to you as a patient?

Patients rarely have the information necessary to assess the quality or competency of a surgeon. Once a doctor has passed the specified courses and earns a general medical degree, he or she may practice any specialty they wish, regardless of whether they have had any advanced training. Neither the degree nor the title communicate a surgeon's competency.

Board-certification assures you as a patient that the surgeon has passed extremely rigorous written and oral examinations, completed years of formal education, specialized training, and surgical residencies.

When they pass, and only if they pass, do they have the right to call themselves "board-certified" surgeons. Dr. Coccia and Dr. Chang are both "board-certified" surgeons.