Surgical Associates

What Surgical Associates does

Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay is a privately held, physician-owned general and specialty surgical group practice founded in 1996 in Santa Cruz, California. The practice employs four board-certified surgeons (Brian J. Waddle, MD; Louis C. Lee, MD; Jessica Santillano, MD; Paul Nguyen, DO) and two physician assistants supported by approximately fifteen administrative, billing, and front-desk staff. It operates three office locations across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Salinas, with surgical cases performed at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital, Watsonville Community Hospital, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Santa Cruz Surgery Center, and Central Coast Surgery Center.

The practice spans a broad set of service lines including general surgery (hernia repair, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, GERD/reflux), endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreatic/GI endocrine tumors), colon and rectal surgery, endoscopy, cancer surgery, breast surgery, bariatric/weight-loss surgery (sleeve gastrectomy), DaVinci robotic-assisted surgery, and a dedicated Vein Clinic of Monterey Bay sub-brand offering radiofrequency ablation (Venefit), VenaSeal adhesive closure, ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, and compression therapy. Notable technology and clinical assets include the Intuitive DaVinci robotic platform, Medtronic vein treatment systems, intraoperative nerve monitoring and ioPTH testing for endocrine surgery, Afirma Gene Expression Classifier for thyroid nodule workup, and the Athena Health patient portal for scheduling, billing, and health record access.

Revenue is generated on a fee-for-service professional services basis through insurance reimbursements from PPO, Medicare, Medi-Cal, HMO plans (Kaiser, Sutter/PAMF, Dignity Health Medical Network), and discounted cash rates for self-pay patients with payment plans available. Go-to-market relies on primary care physician referral networks for HMO plans, direct patient appointments for PPO/Medicare/Medi-Cal, hospital affiliation-driven cancer surgery referrals via the Commission on Cancer-accredited Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital program, and Medtronic's Find a Specialist directory for vein patients. The Vein Clinic of Monterey Bay performed over 2,900 pre/post-treatment ultrasounds and more than 1,000 in-office vein procedures across 2024-2025, and the affiliated Dominican cancer center catalogs 500+ newly diagnosed cancer cases annually.

Name

Surgical Associates

Legal name

Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay

Website

https://surgicalassociatesmb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay is a physician-owned surgical group practice serving California's central coast since 1996, with four surgeons and two physician assistants providing general, endocrine, bariatric, cancer, and vein surgery across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Salinas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ambulatory Surgical Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers (621493)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Specialty Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) (HLAFAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surgical Oncology (HLAKAFAG), Office-Based Surgery (OBS) / In-Office Procedure Suites (HLAFAIAD)

Keywords

• General surgical services
• Endocrine surgery practice
• Bariatric weight loss surgery
• Venous disease treatment
• Robotic assisted surgery

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Surgical Procedures and Office Visits: Fee-for-service medical practice generating revenue through surgical procedures, office consultations, and follow-up visits. Revenue driven by insurance reimbursements from PPO, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and HMO plans.
2. Self-Pay/Cash Patients: Discounted cash rates offered for uninsured patients for initial consultations and surgical procedures. Payment plans available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay is a physician-owned private surgical group practice that delivers a broad range of elective and medically necessary surgical procedures across general, endocrine, colorectal, bariatric, breast, oncology, and vein disease specialties. Care is delivered by four board-certified surgeons and two physician assistants across three California central coast offices, with procedures performed at affiliated hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers under accepted insurance plans.

Product overview

Surgical Associates of Monterey Bay is a surgical group practice established in 1996, offering a broad scope of surgical services across four board-certified surgeons and two physician assistants. The practice operates as a unified surgical care platform spanning multiple service lines: General Surgery (hernia repair, appendectomy, gallbladder, reflux), Endocrine Surgery (thyroid/parathyroid/adrenal), Colon/Rectal Surgery, Endoscopy, Cancer Surgery (accredited by Commission on Cancer at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital), Bariatric/Weight Loss Surgery (sleeve gastrectomy), DaVinci Robotic Surgery, and Breast Surgery. Additionally, the Vein Clinic of Monterey Bay sub-brand provides specialized venous disease treatment including radiofrequency ablation (Venefit), VenaSeal adhesive closure, ambulatory phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy. The practice integrates Athena Health's patient portal for patient access to records, scheduling, and billing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Surgery Board-certified general surgeons perform common adult surgical procedures including hernia repair (inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional), appendectomy, cholecystectomy (gallbladder), GERD/reflux surgery, sebaceous cyst removal, lipoma removal, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion; for adult patients in the central coast California service area.
• Endocrine Surgery Fellowship-trained endocrine surgeons specializing in thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound, fine needle aspiration with Afirma Gene Expression Classifier testing, thyroid/parathyroid surgery with nerve monitoring and ioPTH testing, and adrenal surgery (laparoscopic and robotic); for adult patients needing specialized endocrine surgery in the Monterey Bay region.
• Colon and Rectal Surgery Colon resection for diverticulitis, volvulus, polyp or cancer, hemorrhoid banding, and prolapse surgery; for adult patients requiring colorectal surgical intervention.
• Endoscopy Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures including EGD (upper endoscopy), colonoscopy, and hemorrhoid banding; for adult patients needing screening, diagnostic, or therapeutic GI endoscopy.
• Cancer Surgery Oncology surgical operations for breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, colon and rectal cancer, skin cancer, and lymph node biopsies/excisions for lymphoma and leukemia, performed in conjunction with Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital's nationally recognized Cancer Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer; for adult oncology patients in the Santa Cruz County service area.
• Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Robotic or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (the most common bariatric procedure, over 75% of US weight loss surgeries) for patients with BMI greater than 35; for adult patients in Santa Cruz County seeking bariatric surgical care.
• DaVinci Robotic Surgery Robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgical system with 3D high-definition vision, wristed instruments that mimic human wrist movements, and tremor-reduction software, enabling enhanced precision and control for minimally invasive procedures; for adult patients eligible for robotic general, endocrine, bariatric, or other minimally invasive surgery.
• Breast Surgery Comprehensive breast surgery including breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (Mammotome), cyst aspiration, breast biopsy, partial mastectomy/lumpectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, and sentinel lymph node biopsy/axillary dissection; for adult patients with benign or cancerous breast disease.
• Vein Clinic of Monterey Bay Specialized center for diagnosis and treatment of venous disease of the lower extremities, offering radiofrequency ablation (Venefit), VenaSeal closure system, ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, and compression therapy; in 2024-2025 performed over 2,900 pre/post-treatment ultrasounds and more than 1,000 in-office vein procedures; for adult patients with venous disease in the Monterey Bay region.
• Venefit Procedure (Radiofrequency Ablation) Minimally invasive segmental ablation treatment using radiofrequency energy to contract collagen in vein walls, causing them to collapse and seal; clinically proven 93% effective over three years with less pain and bruising than laser ablation; for patients with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency.
• VenaSeal Closure System Non-tumescent, non-thermal, non-sclerosant procedure using a proprietary medical adhesive delivered endovenously to close varicose veins; eliminates risk of nerve injury when treating small saphenous vein and does not require tumescent anesthesia; for patients seeking vein closure without thermal or tumescent anesthesia risks.
• Ambulatory Phlebectomy Outpatient procedure for removal of varicose veins through multiple small stab incisions (approximately 5mm each) performed under local anesthesia, followed by compression stocking and immediate ambulation; for patients with symptomatic varicose veins.
• Sclerotherapy Treatment involving micro-needle injection of sclerosant fluid into veins, causing vein walls to become non-functional and gradually fade away; available since the 1930s; for patients with smaller varicose and spider veins.
• Compression Stockings Therapy Conservative treatment approach for venous disease using compression stockings (available by prescription) or leg elevation to manage symptoms; for patients with venous insufficiency symptoms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% effectiveness over three years for Venefit RF ablation procedure
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital (Dignity Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint cancer care program - Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital is designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program accredited by American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Practice provides oncology surgical services as part of nationally recognized Cancer Center. Dr. Louis Lee serves as Consult Liaison Physician between practice and American College of Surgeons since 2013.
• Intuitive SurgicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of da Vinci Surgical System - advanced robotic surgical platform enabling minimally invasive procedures with 3D-HD vision, articulated instruments, and tremor control for enhanced precision and dexterity.
• MedtroniccoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for vein treatments including Venefit (formerly VNUS Closure) radiofrequency ablation system, ClosureFast catheter, and VenaSeal closure system. Medtronic also provides Find a Specialist directory referral program.
• Dignity Health Medical Network of Santa Cruz CountymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHMO network affiliation allowing practice to accept patients with HMO insurance plans affiliated with Dignity Health Medical Network with appropriate PCP referral.
• California Breast Cancer Detection ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccepts patients for services covered by state breast cancer screening and detection program, providing access to underserved populations.
• Every Woman CountsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccepts patients for services covered by California state program providing cancer detection services to eligible women.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Surgery Partners: Public ASC operator owning and operating outpatient surgical facilities. Relevant as a comparable in the ambulatory surgical space (matching SAMB's vein clinic and ASC-affiliated surgical activity), though far larger, asset-heavy and corporate-owned.
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF): Multi-specialty physician group affiliated with Sutter Health in the Bay Area. Comparable to SAMB as a multi-specialty physician group practice, though much larger, system-integrated and operating across more specialties and locations.

Others

• Athenahealth: EHR and patient portal vendor whose platform SAMB uses for patient engagement, scheduling and billing. Relevant as an enabling technology infrastructure provider in the physician practice ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Slocum-Dickson Medical Group: Independent multi-specialty physician group practice in New Hartford, New York offering a comparable mix of surgical and medical specialties through independent ownership. Mirrors SAMB's model as a physician-owned multi-specialty group practice.
• Kelsey-Seybold Clinic: Large private, physician-led multi-specialty group practice in Houston - structurally similar to SAMB in being a multi-specialty physician group with multiple office locations and comprehensive specialty surgical services.
• Watson Clinic LLP: Physician-owned, multi-specialty group practice in Lakeland, Florida providing a broad range of specialty surgical services. Directly comparable to SAMB's private multi-specialty surgical group model with employed physicians, owned offices and outpatient procedures.

Regional players

• Dignity Health Medical Foundation: Multi-specialty medical group foundation affiliated with Dignity Health/CommonSpirit in California. SAMB operates as a contracted provider in the Dignity Health Medical Network of Santa Cruz County HMO - a directly comparable same-system peer and partial partner.
• Sutter Health Medical Groups: Northern California multi-specialty physician group network affiliated with Sutter Health. SAMB is an in-network provider with Sutter/PAMF, making this a regional comparable health system with a similar patient base and contracting relationship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Surgical-Associates-of-Monterey-Bay-964315693691688
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surgical-associates-of-monterey-bay

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surgical Associates