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Craig Owens, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon at Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates.

Dr. Owens studied at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, earning his medical degree. Then, he completed a transitional year internship at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts.

Before entering private practice, Dr. Owens completed a general surgery residency at the Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium in Loma Linda, California, receiving extensive training in all aspects of surgical care. 

Dr. Owens is knowledgeable in various surgical techniques and specializes in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. 

He holds privileges at several area hospitals, including Inland Valley Regional Medical Center; Rancho Springs Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta; Temecula Valley Hospital in Temecula, California; and Menifee Valley Hospital.

When he isn’t meeting with patients or performing operations, Dr. Owens enjoys golfing and car racing. He also believes in continuing education and stays abreast of advances in surgical techniques and technologies.

Dr. Owens is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. He welcomes anyone needing general surgery to Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates today.

Bolaji Nafiu, MD, FACS, is a double-board-certified vascular surgeon at Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates. 

Dr. Nafiu studied at the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Nigeria, earning his medical degree. After graduation, he moved to the United States. He completed a general surgery residency at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Willowbrook, California, and a vascular surgery fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.

As a general and vascular surgeon, Dr. Nafiu treats various medical conditions, including blood clots, carotid artery disease, and chronic venous insufficiency. He also treats aortic aneurysms and peripheral vascular disease.

He holds privileges at several area hospitals, including Inland Valley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar, California; Rancho Springs Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta in Murrieta, California; and Temecula Valley Hospital in Temecula, California.

Dr. Nafiu is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum. He welcomes anyone needing vascular or general surgery to Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates today.

Dr. Rivera graduated from the prestigious Surgery Residency Program at Morristown Memorial Medical Center, Morristown, New Jersey; affiliated with New York Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He successfully completed his Residency program and Chief Resident year, and was awarded the Hughes D. Dougan MD Award : 2010 Chief Resident Teaching Award. Since then, they have been providing the community with excellent cutting edge surgical care, with the best surgical outcomes, lowest complication rates, lowest length of hospital stay and lowest readmission rates; which allow patients a rapid recovery to return to their normal lifestyle. Dr. Rivera treats a wide variety of surgical conditions among which include: skin cancer, soft tissue tumors, hernia repair, gallbladder disease, gallstones, colon cancer, breast cancer, appendiceal cancer, diverticulitis, robotic surgery; and provides emergency surgical care as well. Why go "down the hill" when you can get the same care in your community.

I am a board-certified general and vascular surgeon affiliated with Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates. Raised in Brazil, I'm fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. My passion for science, teaching and helping others led me to medicine, and I discovered my calling in surgery during anatomy class.

After graduating from the Federal University os Santa Catarina in Brazil, I continued my education in New York, completing residency in general surgery and a vascular surgery fellowship on the East Coast. Opting for warmer climate of California, I've been treating vascular diseases for over two decades, cherishing the connection with my patients. I prioritize lasting cardiovascular health beyond surgical interventions. Recently, I joined the faculty at the UHS General Surgery Residency program, where I stay updated on vascular surgery developments while enjoying teaching.

Outside of work, I endulge in cooking, hiking and tennis with family and friends.

 

 

 

Greetings!  I am a board certified general surgeon with over two decades of clinical practice since completing my doctorate and surgical residency at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.  I treat the full spectrum of general surgical problems including hernias, gallbladder disease, breast cancer and benign conditions, with special interest in melanoma and trauma.  I grew up in this area, and spent my youth in extensive manual labor which has contributed to both my dexterity and efficiency of movement.     I decided to become a physician during high school because I wanted to use my talents to help people.  What I like most is being able to treat the whole person, resolving their health problems, and saving lives.  I chose Surgery because it best fit my aptitudes, trained me to handle emergencies, and was adaptable for mission service.  I’ve enjoyed volunteering during my teens at Inland Valley Medical Center, rotating in Kenya during medical school, and service trips to Peru, to China teaching Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), and to India to teach Laparoscopic Surgery.  I enjoy people and helping them survive and thrive, through operations or non-operative management.     I serve my community on our hospital's Ethics Committee, as the trauma director of our regional trauma center, and lead our Surgery Residency trainging the next generation of well qualified surgeons.   I enjoy outings with my family, horticulture, learning every day, exercising/hiking/camping/surfing, and playing the bagpipes.

Francis Essien, MD, FACS, is a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship trained in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery.

Dr. Essien's zeal for the art and science of medicine and surgery began as a teenager at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

An interest in providing excellent patient care brought Dr. Essien to the United States to pursue a natural calling in the surgical specialty.

Passionate about cutting-edge, advanced, minimally invasive, and robotic surgical technology, Dr. Essien’s knowledge and expertise give patients the advantage of a faster recovery. 

The surgeon’s more cosmetic approach also offers less pain and a quicker return to a happier and more productive lifestyle.

Dr. Essien is highly skilled in various procedures, most frequently performing laparoscopic surgery for severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, laparoscopic hernia repairs, hiatal hernia repairs, minimally invasive endocrine surgery, laparoscopic adrenalectomy, and laparoscopic colon resections for benign and malignant conditions.

Dr. Essien also performs laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastric bypass, and revision bariatric procedures.

With a passion for Bariatric surgery, Dr. Essien helps patients achieve their goals of a healthier weight while eliminating the medical illnesses associated with excessive weight and enjoying a better quality of life.

Dr. Essien believes in an individualized and holistic approach to improving the health and wellness of patients.

Outside of caring for patients, Dr. Essien enjoys spending time with family at home, cooking, traveling, cycling, and playing golf.

Book an appointment with Dr. Essien, MD here.

Olivia Mac, MD, is double board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. 

Dr. Mac grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles County and attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. After medical school, she returned to California to complete her general surgery residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente Fontana and then a surgical critical care fellowship at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. 

Dr. Mac became a surgeon so that she could use her skills to help others, as surgeons in the past have helped those in her family. 

In her free time outside of the office, Dr. Mac enjoys baking, playing the piano, and playing with her cats.

She looks forward to welcoming both new and returning patients to Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates.

About Dr. Fischer

Trevan Fischer, MD, FACS, specializes in complex general surgical oncology and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Fischer is an experienced surgeon who offers patients in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Orange, California, the latest surgical techniques to help in the battle against cancer. His thorough understanding of the nature of cancer allows him to perform complex surgeries that help him diagnose and treat a number of conditions, including melanoma, other skin cancers, and soft tissue sarcomas.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Fischer continually strives to stay on top of the latest techniques in treating cancer, and he is actively involved with innovative clinical trials at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate. He also involved in continuing training the next generation of surgical oncologist as faculty member of Cedars Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship program. Cedars-Sinai is consistently ranked among the nation’s top hospitals, recognized for pioneering research, advanced technology, and world-class patient care—providing an unparalleled environment for cancer innovation and collaboration.

Dr. Fischer began his medical career at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, where he earned his medical degree in 2008. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville in 2015, serving as chief resident from 2014-2015. In 2015, Dr. Fischer became a fellow at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, where he completed two years of specialized surgical oncology training. 

To continue his education, Dr. Fischer is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Medical Association.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Fischer’s involvement in research and clinical trials has led to numerous articles, papers, and presentations in peer-reviewed publications and at national conferences.

Dr. Fischer is constantly exploring new ways to gain the upper hand on cancer through state-of-the-art surgical techniques and brings this experience to the Southern California area. He also accepts patients across all of Southern California, including Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and Palm Springs. 

Dr. Fischer has continued his practice in Orange County and sees patients at  Providence St. Joseph. 

I am Dr. Kaylene Barrera, and it my absolute pleasure to be a surgeon in this community. I grew up in Southern California and got interested in Medicine when I was young. My mother had initially wanted to be a social worker, but then went back to school to become a nurse and would ask me to help her study by quizzing her with flashcards.

This led me to college at the University of California, Irvine and medical school at the University of Southern California, where I was fortunate to work with some amazing mentors that inspired me to go into surgery.  My surgical training continued at the State University of New York, Downstate in Brooklyn where I trained at county and university hospitals.  Again, I was blessed to have the most amazing mentors that taught me not only the technical aspects of surgery but the importance of dedication to our patients.  I appreciated how as a surgeon, one could be involved in every aspect of a patient's care, contribute to scientific breakthroughs and be a patient advocate.  Sharing what I have learned and experienced as a surgeon,  I have published 9 peer reviewed publications, 33 national presentations, and four book chapters.  I also have written about impact of meaningful issues such as drug shortage and the opioid epidemic, as these have a profound impact on my patients lives.

My journey has led be back to California, and to a great practice where I feel at home.  My partners and I strive to treat each patient that we take care of like our family.  As a general surgeon I have the opportunity to care for conditions ranging anywhere from lipomas and cysts to hernias, gallbladder disease, hemorrhoids, breast disease, trauma, and intestinal surgery.     Outside of the operating room, I enjoy playing the clarinet and saxophone, being an amateur gardener, and watching reruns of Star Trek TNG.  

Thank you for choosing Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates, looking forward to the opportunity to help you in your wellness journey

Dr. Lamb is a general surgeon dedicated to providing excellent, compassionate, efficient surgical care. She treats a wide variety of surgical diseases, many of which are listed below.