About Dr. Srikureja For Dr. Daniel Srikureja, a chance encounter was his first hint that he might enjoy a career in medicine. Around age 7, he fell, and got a cut to the head, requiring stitches. His ER doctors gave him a bag full of toy surgical tools. “I remembered how the doctors made me feel better, and I wanted to do that for others, too,” he says. In college, he decided to follow the path of several family members. His father had been a surgeon, his mother a nurse, and his sister had also chosen medical school. Since he’d always loved working with his hands, he realized that his own natural skills, decision-making processes, and interests were a good fit for surgery. Additionally, he has an interest in medical devices and health care valuation and cost containment. Dr. Srikureja was educated at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, where he later spent several years teaching others. He has special clinical interests in foregut (hiatal hernia and disorders of the gastro-esophageal junction) and in hernia surgery. He is fellowship trained in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, with experience in multiple approaches and techniques for abdominal wall reconstruction. He left to join the Beacon Health team because, he says, “I wanted to work for an organization that cares deeply about the community and providing excellent healthcare. And I wanted to be in an area where I would be proud to raise my children.” For Dr. Srikureja, his professional oaths and his faith both inform his work. “My philosophy is that the patient and the surgeon must partner with each other to achieve a common goal,” he says. “For every decision that is made, there are risks and benefits to weigh. And I believe strongly that God is the ultimate healer, and that I am merely His instrument.” In his own words… Who is or was the most influential person/role model in your life?  Both my dad and my Grandpa What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I stocked dairy and frozen foods at a supermarket.  I remember checking dates a lot, and learning how to bag groceries. What is your favorite food? Pasta fagioli, or sashimi. Movie? Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why?  My brother-in-law Chris. He passed away before I met my wife, and I would just want to get to know him better. He seemed to be a lot like me, and everyone says we would have gotten along. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? What are your hobbies, interests? I really enjoy woodworking (I used to work with my grandfather, building cabinets), computers and tech/gaming, food, music, photography, astronomy, and sports. What is something most people don’t know about you?  I have built my own personal computers since college.