A thoracic surgeon is a medical professional who specializes in the treatment of conditions that affect the chest, including the lungs, esophagus, and chest wall. They use surgical techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, such as lung cancer, emphysema, and thoracic trauma.
A thoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures related to the chest, which includes the lungs, esophagus, trachea, pleura, mediastinum, chest wall, and diaphragm. Thoracic surgeons perform surgeries to treat a wide range of conditions such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, emphysema, pulmonary nodules, and thoracic outlet syndrome.
Thoracic surgeons work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as pulmonologists, oncologists, radiologists, and anesthesiologists, to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the chest. They use a range of surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and robotic surgeries, to minimize pain, scarring, and recovery time for their patients.
Becoming a thoracic surgeon requires extensive training, which includes medical school, a surgical residency, and a thoracic surgery fellowship. Thoracic surgeons must also pass board certification exams and maintain their licensure through ongoing education and training.
A thoracic surgeon is a medical specialist who performs surgical procedures on the organs in the chest, including the lungs, heart, esophagus, and other organs. Thoracic surgeons work with a team of medical professionals, including anesthesiologists, nurses, and other surgical specialists.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Diagnose and treat conditions and diseases affecting the chest, including lung cancer, emphysema, esophageal cancer, and heart disease.
Perform surgical procedures to remove tumors, repair or replace damaged organs, and treat other medical conditions.
Work with other medical professionals, including anesthesiologists, radiologists, and nurses, to provide comprehensive patient care.
Manage patient care before, during, and after surgery, including post-operative recovery and rehabilitation.
Qualifications:
A medical degree from an accredited medical school
Completion of a residency in general surgery
Completion of a fellowship in thoracic surgery
Board certification in thoracic surgery
Continuing education to maintain current knowledge and skills in the field
Thoracic surgeons must have excellent hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and the ability to work well under pressure. They must also have strong communication skills to work effectively with other medical professionals and to provide information and support to patients and their families.
According to data from the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, as of 2021, there are approximately 1,400 board-certified thoracic surgeons in the United States.
Here are some additional statistics and demographics related to thoracic surgery:
Gender: The majority of thoracic surgeons in the US are male, with only around 12% being female.
Age: The average age of a practicing thoracic surgeon is around 56 years old.
Location: Thoracic surgeons are most commonly located in urban areas, with the highest concentration of surgeons in states such as California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Work Setting: Thoracic surgeons work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, academic medical centers, private practice, and government agencies.
Training: Becoming a thoracic surgeon typically requires completing a medical degree, a general surgery residency, and a cardiothoracic surgery residency.
Average Salary: According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the median annual salary for thoracic surgeons in the US is around $530,000.
Patient Demographics: Thoracic surgeons primarily treat patients with diseases and conditions affecting the chest and lungs, including lung cancer, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, and pleural effusion. The patient population tends to be older, with a higher prevalence of smoking history and other risk factors for lung disease.
1. Dr. J. William Straface, The Straface Clinic, 1838 Greene Tree Rd, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21208
2. Dr. Joseph S. Conte, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
3. Dr. David F. Bunn, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
4. Dr. Jeffrey A. Jacobs, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2401 W. Belvedere Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
5. Dr. Jeffrey M. Gold, Mercy Medical Center, 301 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
6. Dr. Matthew J. Schuchert, St. Agnes Hospital, 900 Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
7. Dr. Jeffrey H. Gershenhorn, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, 6701 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204
8. Dr. Michael A. Cudnik, Maryland General Hospital, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
9. Dr. Richard J. Finley, Union Memorial Hospital, 201 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218
10. Dr. John A. Pappas, University of Maryland Midtown Campus, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
11. Dr. Howard S. Kaufman, Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21239
12. Dr. David L. Stack, Northwest Hospital, 5401 Old Court Rd, Baltimore, MD 21208
13. Dr. Raymond D. Jablonski, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, 7601 Osler Drive, Baltimore, MD 21204
14. Dr. Bradley M. Portnoy, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
15. Dr. Peter J. Fagenholz, MedStar Harbor Hospital, 3001 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225
16. Dr. David S. Rosen, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2401 W. Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
17. Dr. Christopher M. Binkley, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
18. Dr. Jeffrey A. Milsom, The Straface Clinic, 1838 Greene Tree Road, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21208
19. Dr. David S. Ettinger, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
20. Dr. Michael A. Jacobs, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
21. Dr. Douglas J. Mathisen, The Straface Clinic, 1838 Greene Tree Road, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21208
22. Dr. Jeffrey D. Shipley, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
23. Dr. Robert A. Hieb, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
24. Dr. David M. Sugarbaker, Mercy Medical Center, 301 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
25. Dr. Russell K. Hawkins, St. Agnes Hospital, 900 Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
26. Dr. John N. Mawhinney, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, 6701 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204
27. Dr. Charles A. Rice, Maryland General Hospital, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
28. Dr. Richard S. Pittman, Union Memorial Hospital, 201 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218
29. Dr. William W. Scott, University of Maryland Midtown Campus, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
30. Dr. Charles W. Gabel, Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21239
31. Dr. John J. Kucharczuk, Northwest Hospital, 5401 Old Court Rd, Baltimore, MD 21208
32. Dr. David G. Nicastri, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, 7601 Osler Drive, Baltimore, MD 21204
33. Dr. Michael T. Jaklitsch, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
34. Dr. Steven E. Schonholz, MedStar Harbor Hospital, 3001 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225
35. Dr. Edward M. Hawk, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2401 W. Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
36. Dr. Robert E. Merritt, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
37. Dr. David C. Rice, The Straface Clinic, 1838 Greene Tree Road, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21208
38. Dr. John M. Higgins, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287
39. Dr. Neil A. Christie, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
40. Dr. Kenneth A. Rosenzweig, Mercy Medical Center, 301 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
41. Dr. Richard L. Wahl, St. Agnes Hospital, 900 Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
42. Dr. William G. Chiles, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, 6701 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204
43. Dr. B. Mark Evers, Maryland General Hospital, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
44. Dr. John E. Healey, Union Memorial Hospital, 201 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218
45. Dr. David J. Sugarbaker, University of Maryland Midtown Campus, 827 Linden Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201
46. Dr. John W. Kitzmiller, Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21239
47. Dr. W. Brian Sweeney, Northwest Hospital, 5401 Old Court Rd, Baltimore, MD 21208
48. Dr. John M. Harlan, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, 7601 Osler Drive, Baltimore, MD 21204
49. Dr. John T. Belani, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
50. Dr. Michael P. Jones, MedStar Harbor Hospital, 3001 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225
