‘So beloved by his patients.’ Heart doctor killed in Fresno crash remembered by colleagues

The untimely deaths of a prominent heart doctor and his wife in a car crash Friday night have left the Fresno community in shock.

Dr. Alfred Valles, 50, and Selina Valles, 46, were killed at 9:30 p.m. Friday when they were traveling north on Friant Road and crashed into a tree in the middle divider of Friant near Rice Road, north of Champlain Drive.

Police confirmed Monday the vehicle involved was a Tesla. At the scene Friday night, police said the Valles were traveling at a high rate of speed and that a small fire was sparked near the site; it was extinguished quickly by the fire department.

The Valles were pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.

Alfred Valles had worked at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno since 2012 while Selina Valles was a real estate agent for London Properties in Fresno.

St. Agnes on Saturday sent a memo to staff informing them of the incident, noting that Valles — a Kerman High School and Fresno State graduate before going on to medical school — was loved by many:

“A Central Valley native, Dr. Valles was regarded by nurses and colleagues as a kind, compassionate and exceptionally intelligent physician. He constantly encouraged others to strive for perfection and continuous improvement, and always engaged with his patients’ care teams.”

Dr. Usman Javed worked alongside Valles for the past 12 years. Javed said he was stunned when he heard the news about his friend and his wife.

“Fred was just this amazing individual,” he said. “I just had this utmost respect for this guy because, not only that he’s a colleague — as an associate of the same practice — but it’s just his work ethics, his caring for the patients in general and just like his availability for everybody, whether it’s for his patients, for colleagues alike. He’s one of those you could reach out to at any time and he would be really a selfless guy who wanted to do the best for everybody.”

Cardiac surgeon Dr. Peter Birnbaum also worked closely with Valles. Birnbaum described his friend as “an exceptional doctor.”

“So beloved by his patients,” he said. “So highly regarded and respected by his colleagues. He’s going to be deeply missed and the whole medical community will grieve his loss.”

Valles was named Saint Agnes’ Champion in Care in 2019 after “demonstrating a team spirit and a desire to work collaboratively with Saint Agnes nurses and clinical staff,” the hospital said.

He established the Saint Agnes’ Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement program in 2016, the hospital said.

Valles was board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and was practicing with The Heart Group, a prominent cardiology group in the Central Valley.

“Our thoughts go out to the Valles’ family and friends during this difficult time,” the hospital wrote. “We ask that you join us in praying for the Valles family and all those affected by the crash. The Valles family has requested privacy at this time. As additional details are shared, we will be sure to communicate.”

Neurologist Dr. Alan Birnbaum called the death of Valles an “immense loss.”

Birnbaum shared a time when Valles stepped in to help after another doctor had to drop out of a symposium.

“Very short notice,” he said. “Came in and gave an excellent talk on the role of atrial fibrillation and its relationship to stroke management. Highly respected, very empathetic. I’ve had a number of my own family and close relatives who have become his patients. We’re really going to miss him.”

Longtime patient remembers Dr. Valles

A patient who didn’t want to be identified said Valles looked out for his patients, especially when they needed extra care.

He was taken by surprise when Valles told him he needed to go to Stanford for a heart transplant.

“I didn’t even know I had anything wrong with me,” the man said. “I thought I would just go in for a routine angiogram-type thing.”

The patient was taken to Stanford the next morning and had surgery and recovered.

“He’s so knowledgeable,” he said. “Going to miss him. I’m sure that everybody that works with him is going to miss him, and his patients are going to miss him.”

Others took to social media to remember Valles.

London Properties remembers Selina Valles

London Properties president Patrick Conner said Selina Valles was a “light” and a “joy.”

Valles was with the company for the past four years, Conner said.

“She always had a smile and always had a positive attitude,” he said. “She had just so many strengths. She was positive and enjoyable to be around and she was also extremely thorough and dedicated to her work. She just had a real knack of both being personable and being thorough and conscientious with her paperwork.”

Services are pending.