When newly diagnosed patients and their family members first meet me in the clinic, they are anxious. They can be overwhelmed by finding a treatment that will give them the best results and prevent the cancer from coming back. I take the time to explain the key factors that are driving the disease. We also discuss possible treatment options, the risks and benefits, and the expected short-term and long-term outcomes.
I like patients and family members to be reassured that we are considering every possible therapy and that we are focused on their quality of life. My goal is to help them feel confident in their care and be certain that we will treat them as a whole person — someone with a family, a job, and a desire not to be defined by their cancer diagnosis.
I work closely with thoracic pathologists, interventional radiologists, and pulmonologists to build a personalized treatment plan for each patient. My highly experienced clinical team includes a thoracic nurse and a nurse practitioner. We work together to deliver excellent care and provide personal attention to our patients and their family members.
As a surgeon and a scientist, I have a unique point of view. I treat patients and I study cancer in the lab. My research focuses on the development of biological markers to detect cancer that is at high-risk of coming back. I also study gene therapies, such as immunotherapy (enhancing patients’ own immune systems using genetic and cell engineering) and oncolytic viral therapy (killing cancer cells using genetically engineered viruses). I am working with my colleagues in medical and radiation oncology to use a combination of these treatments to help improve outcomes and lessen side effects.
My laboratory has led many discoveries about early-stage lung cancer and mesothelioma, and we have successfully used these findings to benefit patients. At their annual follow-up appointments after surgery, I make sure my patients are aware of these and other important developments that may help them.
Our immunotherapy research has led to clinical trials for people with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and esophageal cancer (protocols 15-007, 16-040 and 20-328). This work is supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense, the American Association for Cancer Research, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and several other foundations.
I am also honored to mentor surgical trainees and research fellows. The high quality of their training is reflected in their presentations at national and international conferences and submissions to peer-reviewed publications.
In my spare time, I love to write and have published several satirical science fiction articles. I also enjoy cooking for my family and children and traveling internationally, especially visiting friends in rural areas of Europe.
