David J. Finley, MD

As co-director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Complex Airway Program, I help lead a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive care for people with benign and malignant diseases of the airway. Tracheal diseases require not only appropriate diagnosis and treatment, but continued surveillance. I have advanced training in the treatment of these diseases, including benign tracheal stenosis, idiopathic tracheal stenosis, benign tracheal tumors, and malignant tracheal tumors. I perform tracheal resections, tracheal reconstruction, tracheal laser surgery, and placement of tracheobronchial airway stents.

From an early age, I enjoyed working with cars, electronics, and computers.  I have taken that interest and applied it to my research, which involves evaluating new technologies for diagnosing and treating all thoracic diseases. Working with a team of researchers, we develop a concept, test it in the laboratory, and ultimately bring it to the clinical arena by studying it in clinical trials. My research includes developing techniques for advanced robotic surgery, new treatments for airway tumors (including spray cryotherapy), advanced imaging for targeted biopsy and therapy of lung tumors, and electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (which is like GPS for the lung). 

In addition, we are also studying the use of molecular profiling on needle biopsy specimens to diagnose patients with lung cancer. This should allow for a minimally invasive approach (using EBUS) to diagnose patients with lung cancer and provide molecular profiling information to help customize treatment.

My goal is to help patients and their families through the process of determining what is happening, providing treatment, and then helping them recover. By using advanced technology, this can often be done in the least invasive way possible, decreasing pain and improving patient outcomes.