Meet the Doctors
Dr. Kevin M. Casey MD, FACS
Dr Kevin Casey moved to Santa Barbara in 2016 after serving as a physician in the United States Navy. During his career in the military, he served as the Ship Surgeon on the USS Ronald Reagan, as a vascular and trauma surgeon in Kandahar, Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror, and as the surgical liaison on the USNS Mercy during the 2015 Pacific Partnership.
Over the past five years, Dr. Casey has become an active member of the medical community and larger Santa Barbara community. He was President of the Central Coast Medical Association in 2020 and currently serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Dr. Casey continues to participate in academic medicine, publishing multiple journal articles in peer-reviewed publications. He has been the lead or co-investigator in over 30 peer-reviewed articles on topics such as peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and dialysis access. He is the only surgeon on the Central Coast who routinely
performs first rib resections for thoracic outlet syndrome and recently published a manuscript on these outcomes in the Annals of Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Casey believes in the phrase cura personalis or care for the whole person. He treats patients as people, not just vascular diseases or medical conditions. He and his team look forward to meeting, talking with, and treating you or your family member. For more information, please contact the SBVS office at 805.456.8890.
Dr. Daniel B. Alfson, MD
Originally a native of North Central Texas, Dr. Daniel B. Alfson recently moved to California to join Santa Barbara Vascular Specialists after completing his comprehensive surgical education and training—General Surgery residency in Los Angeles followed by Vascular Surgery fellowship in Boston. Thanks to his diverse transcontinental training, he brings with him a breadth of experience and innovation in technology for both open surgical and minimally invasive endovascular therapy. As such, his competencies in Vascular Surgery are broad and include management of aortic aneurysms and dissections, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, vascular trauma, hemodialysis access, treatment of DVT, varicose veins, and chronic venous insufficiency.
Dr. Alfson is also a certified private pilot with a profound interest in aviation. He enjoys hiking and traveling the world, as well as boating and water skiing as part of his family summer lake trip. Dr. Alfson’s family is his most cherished asset, and he strives for perfection as husband to his wife and father to his newborn baby.
Watch Dr. Alfson's Presentation
Dr. Alfson is looking forward to meeting and getting to know you and/or your family member. To consult Dr. Alfson, please call 805.456.8890.
Dr. Sydney S. Guo, MD
Dr. Guo was born in Taiwan. After winning a national violin competition and earning a special visa to pursue a musical career, he came to the US in 1984 at age of 12. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and MD degree from New York University, and completed his General Surgery residency and Vascular Surgery fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Guo has been an attending vascular surgeon in private practice since 2006. He has been practicing in Ventura County since 2009, and maintains medical staff privilege at Community Memorial Hospital, St Johns Regional Medical Center and St Johns Pleasant Valley Hospital, and Los Robles Medical Center. Dr. Guo brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to treat a vast range of vascular pathologies.
Dr. Guo understands the power of surgery in helping the patient, but is equally aware of the pitfalls and complications that may harm the patient. A thorough discussion of the goals and risks of any surgical procedure is paramount in achieving the best surgical outcome. Some patients are better treated with endovascular technique, some are better with open bypasses, and yet others may be best suited for a hybrid procedure of endovascular and open techniques at the same time. As such, it must be an educational process for both the doctor and the patient. Patients will be treated as if they are family. A successful outcome for every case is a happy smiling patient and their family, who are restored as much as possible to their previous lifestyles. Dr. Guo treasures his wife, 2 children, and his Josef Gagliano violin made in 1770.
Dr. Guo is looking forward to meeting and getting to know you and/or your family member. To consult Dr. Guo, please call 805.456.8890.
Dr. Edward N. Li, MD, FACS
Born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon, Dr. Li grew up an avid soccer player, cyclist, and violinist. After high school, he moved to the East Coast and completed his undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1996. He attended New York University School of Medicine, graduating in 2000. He did his general surgery residency at the University of Maryland, then stayed there to do a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Afterwards, he did another fellowship in vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2009, Dr. Li entered private practice in Los Angeles and worked at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for three years. In 2013, he and his young family moved to Santa Barbara.
Dr. Li joins Santa Barbara Vascular Specialists, bringing more than 10 years of experience in treating a large variety of vascular problems, including the treatment of peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms, dialysis access, varicose veins, deep venous thrombosis, and venous insufficiency. Technical innovations in vascular surgery are constantly evolving, and Dr. Li believes in being current with the latest validated treatments and procedures. Dr. Li strives to treat patients the way he would want to be treated: with respect, honesty, and compassion. He understands patients sometimes will have to make difficult medical decisions.
To help people make informed decisions, he always tries to educate them to the best of his ability. No one should face complex or frightening medical decisions alone. He will always be your advocate. Dr. Li is looking forward to meeting and getting to know you and/or your family member. To consult Dr. Li, please call 805-456-8890.