Biography
Dr. Andrea Pakula is the Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at Adventist Health Simi Valley, a hospital recognized as a Robotic Center of Excellence. Her clinical practice spans the full scope of general surgery, with concentrated expertise in minimally invasive and robotic techniques for hernia repair, bariatric surgery, trauma, and acute care.
Following graduation from St. George's University School of Medicine, where she also earned a Master of Public Health, Dr. Pakula completed her internship and general surgery residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She then pursued advanced subspecialty training through a Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota — one of the most prestigious programs in the country.
Dr. Pakula is deeply committed to surgical education. She trains surgeons from across the country at Adventist Health Simi Valley, which serves as a national Case Observation site for advanced robotic techniques. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she is a frequent presence at major surgical conferences, including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
She was among the first surgeons in Southern California to operate using the Da Vinci 5, the most advanced robotic surgical platform currently available, and was featured by ABC 7 News for this milestone.
Education & Training
Professional Society Memberships
Clinical Focus
Dr. Pakula performs all types of hernia surgery, from straightforward inguinal and umbilical repairs to complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Her bariatric practice includes gastric sleeve, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and revision surgery. She approaches each case with evidence-based protocols and a commitment to minimizing recovery time through robotic and laparoscopic techniques.
Her trauma background means she is equally comfortable managing surgical emergencies and acute care cases, adding depth to her practice that few surgeons in the region can match.