Our Team

Chenwi Ambe, M.D.

Board Certified in both General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology, Dr. Ambe is the most-recent addition to the VSS team. After earning his medical degree from the University of Louisville Medical School, Dr. Ambe completed his General Surgery Residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He also spent two years at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland as a Surgical Oncology Research Fellow and attended the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute during which time he completed his Fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Ambe’s clinical interests and specialties include melanomas, sarcomas as well as esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small bowel and colo-rectal malignancies.

Mark Cunningham, M.D., FACS

“I sincerely believe – and I hope each and everyone of my patients understands – that my approach to patient care is to treat them as if they are part of my very own family. That philosophy is the foundation to every consultation I give and every surgery I perform. I recognize that patients are placing their trust in me. As a result, I am committed to making sure they understand the issue, have all of their questions answered and know that I am going to be with them every step of the way.”

A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Cunningham is Board Certified in General Surgery. After receiving both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from San Jose State University, Dr. Cunningham attended medical school at the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Following graduation, he received his surgical training at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Education Program in Fresno. He then completed a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Served on the faculty as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery for five years.

Dr. Cunningham joined Valley Surgical Specialists in 2002. He performs General Surgery, with specialty focus on:

Vassi Gardikas, M.D., FACS

“For as long as I can remember, I loved the study of anatomy and wanted to be a surgeon, which blended well with just a natural desire to talk to and take care of people – to see them through what I could only imagine was a trying time, to make it easier for them. The tables were turned, however, when I was diagnosed with breast disease, a diagnosis and journey that has had a profound impact both personally and professionally. I now truly understand what my patients are feeling, what they are thinking and even what they are not asking when we sit down and talk. I’ve been there and am a better provider for having that experience.”

Dr. Gardikas completed her undergraduate work at the University of California, San Diego and later received her medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1987. She then received her general surgical training from Valley Medical Center, UCSF Fresno. Dr. Gardikas is Board-Certified in General Surgery and is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Within the scope of general and videoscopic surgery, her main interests are diseases of the breast and treatment of varicose veins.

Deborah Gumina, M.D., FACS

“Like many, I was drawn to medicine, in general, and surgery in particular, for the very simple reason that I wanted to be able to help people. I was fascinated with being able to diagnose, treat and have an immediate impact on people’s lives. Over the years, I have had friends and families afflicted, with among other issues, breast disease, so being able to focus on care for women has been a driving factor in my profession.”

Dr. Gumina has earned her Bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of California, Davis and attended the Loyola University – Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed her surgical training at University Medical Center – UCSF Fresno and was the Chief Resident General Surgery from 1995-1996.

Dr. Gumina is board certified and joined Valley Surgical Associates in 1996. Her special interests include breast surgery, thyroid/parathyroid procedures and the treatment of venous diseases. Dr. Gumina performs venous laser procedures as well as sclerotherapy and surface spider vein laser treatments.

Jonathan W. Holmes, M.D

Certified by the America Board of Surgery, Dr. Jonathan Holmes joined Valley Surgical Specialists in 2013. After completing his undergraduate work at Duke University, Dr. Holmes attended The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Following graduation, he attended St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was its Chief Resident for two years.

As one of Valley Surgical Specialists’s on-staff Surgical Hospitalists, Dr. Holmes specializes in general, robotic and colorectal surgery, and plays an integral role in providing around-the-clock continuity of care for all of Valley Surgical Specialists’ patients.

Ming Lee, M.D., FACS, FRCS(C)

“One of the hallmarks of VSS is the bonds and personal connections we make with our patients. I like to say – and I truly mean it when I do so – that it’s not just, for example, a hernia operation, it’s your hernia operation. Because we treat our patients as we would those closest to us, we provide not only a level of care second to none, but advice, consultation and post-operative follow up to ensure the best results possible.”

Raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Lee attended the University of British Columbia where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology before receiving his medical degree at U.B.C. In 1999, Dr. Lee completed his general surgical residency at UCSF - Fresno and has completed additional training in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons-Canada and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Lee is Board Certified in General Surgery in both Canada and the United States.

Dr. Lee joined Valley Surgical Specialists in 2001, during which time he has been a leading practitioner and educator of robotic surgery using the da Vinci robot at Community Medical Centers. He performs General Surgery, with specialty focus on:

• Thoracic Surgery
• GI Endoscopy
• Colo-Rectal Surgery
• Endocrine Surgery
• Hernia Surgery
• Advanced Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery

Michael M. Maruyama, M.D.

As one of the founders and now the senior member of Valley Surgical Specialists, I have had the privilege and honor of working with the many gifted colleagues on this page. Over the years, they have allowed me to focus primarily on gallbladder and hernia surgeries. I have learned as my focus has narrowed, one can work with more efficiency and facility. The whole joy of the concept of VSS is that we are specialists among ourselves. With over 30 years in practice, I can be true to the principle that surgical care should be based on what I would prefer for members of my own family. Surgical decisions can expeditious and compassionate when that is your standard of care. One must always be a physician first, a surgeon second.

Dr. Maruyama is a founding member and currently the managing partner of Valley Surgical Specialists, whose interests include:

• General Surgery
• Hernia
• Gallbladder
• Robotic Surgery
• Laparoscopic Surgery