What is a Thoracic Surgeon? 

Thoracic surgery is a specialized field of surgery that focuses on the organs and structures located in the chest, such as the lungs, heart, esophagus, and diaphragm. Thoracic surgeons are medical professionals who specialize in performing surgical procedures on these organs and structures to treat a variety of medical conditions. 

In this article, we will explore the role of thoracic surgeons, the training and education required to become a thoracic surgeon, and the common procedures that they perform. 

The Role of Thoracic Surgeons 

Thoracic surgeons play a crucial role in the management of a wide range of conditions affecting the chest and its organs. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating both benign and malignant diseases, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and mediastinal tumors. 

In addition to cancer, thoracic surgeons also manage non-cancerous conditions such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and hiatal hernias. They may also perform surgeries to repair injuries to the chest, such as those resulting from trauma or accidents. 

Training and Education 

To become a thoracic surgeon, one must first complete medical school and a general surgery residency. Following this, aspiring thoracic surgeons must complete a thoracic surgery fellowship program, which typically lasts two to three years. 

During their fellowship, thoracic surgery trainees receive specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of thoracic conditions. They also gain experience in performing a variety of surgical procedures, such as lung resection, esophagectomy, and mediastinal tumor resection. 

Top Thoracic Surgeon In Oakland, CA 

1. Dr. Brent J. Lang, MD - 530 John Muir Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

2. Dr. Robert A. Pompa, MD - 985 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

3. Dr. Henry S. Ting, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

4. Dr. John H. Herdman, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

5. Dr. Edward D. Shaw, MD - 531 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607

6. Dr. Bruce B. Gelfand, MD - 2800 Sutter St, Oakland, CA 94611

7. Dr. Timothy J. Carey, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

8. Dr. Paul J. Wohl, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

9. Dr. Joseph T. Liao, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

10. Dr. Michael S. Moore, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

11. Dr. Michael P. Houser, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

12. Dr. Robert J. Rush, MD - 2900 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

13. Dr. Robert F. O'Keefe, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

14. Dr. Charles S. Farinha, MD - 3500 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

15. Dr. Neal D. Gitnick, MD - 1820 E. 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

16. Dr. Michael B. Pinsky, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

17. Dr. Thomas A. Brown, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

18. Dr. James A. Jones, MD - 350 Bon Air Rd, Greenbrae, CA 94904

19. Dr. James M. Graham, MD - 2999 Regent St, Berkeley, CA 94705

20. Dr. Michael J. McEnaney, MD - 2510 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

21. Dr. Steven L. Grubb, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

22. Dr. Steven D. Hovda, MD - 145 Park St, San Francisco, CA 94107

23. Dr. Robert W. Chee, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

24. Dr. Richard P. Krasna, MD - 450 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

25. Dr. Michael J. Craine, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

26. Dr. Kenneth D. Raffin, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

27. Dr. Richard H. Thomas, MD - 1450 Treat Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

28. Dr. Robert A. Backer, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

29. Dr. Glenn W. Laub, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

30. Dr. William F. Cook, MD - 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

31. Dr. Edward J. Doolittle, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

32. Dr. Robert P. Cordero, MD - 2510 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

33. Dr. Kenneth C. Creech, MD - 350 Bon Air Rd, Greenbrae, CA 94904

34. Dr. Patrick A. Coleman, MD - 450 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

35. Dr. Eric S. Fonkalsrud, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

36. Dr. Mark L. Rosen, MD - 531 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607

37. Dr. David A. Hines, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

38. Dr. David L. Lee, MD - 530 John Muir Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

39. Dr. Robert A. Patillo, MD - 985 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

40. Dr. Robert A. Edwards, MD - 2800 Sutter St, Oakland, CA 94611

41. Dr. Kenneth C. Johnson, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

42. Dr. Patrick O. Williams, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

43. Dr. Robert W. Smoot, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

44. Dr. John M. Moore, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

45. Dr. Robert L. Kincaid, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

46. Dr. John E. Krowka, MD - 3500 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

47. Dr. Michael T. Cusick, MD - 1820 E. 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

48. Dr. Michael J. Bishop, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

49. Dr. James P. O'Brien, MD - 2900 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

50. Dr. John D. Rice, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

51. Dr. Mark L. Rosenfeld, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

52. Dr. John M. Burns, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

53. Dr. Paul E. Gebhardt, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

54. Dr. Larry J. Criley, MD - 530 John Muir Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

55. Dr. Steven M. Greenberg, MD - 985 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

56. Dr. Robert E. Putnam, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

57. Dr. Christopher J. Gossett, MD - 531 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607

58. Dr. Kevin S. Lusk, MD - 2800 Sutter St, Oakland, CA 94611

59. Dr. Robert A. Fink, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

60. Dr. Albert S. Lam, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

61. Dr. John A. Bosso, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

62. Dr. Steven M. Lew, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

63. Dr. Philip M. Greenfield, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

64. Dr. Richard J. Mishkin, MD - 3500 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

65. Dr. Thomas A. Newman, MD - 1820 E. 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

66. Dr. Stephen J. Galardi, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

67. Dr. Alan D. Gelfand, MD - 2900 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

68. Dr. Bruce H. Saran, MD - 350 Bon Air Rd, Greenbrae, CA 94904

69. Dr. John G. Konefal, MD - 450 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

70. Dr. David C. Fink, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

71. Dr. Richard H. Ching, MD - 531 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607

72. Dr. Robert D. Yee, MD - 530 John Muir Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

73. Dr. Robert D. Dannenberg, MD - 985 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

74. Dr. Robert S. Warren, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

75. Dr. Kenneth A. Goldstein, MD - 2800 Sutter St, Oakland, CA 94611

76. Dr. Jeffrey L. Smith, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

77. Dr. Charles W. Moore, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

78. Dr. John E. Davis, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

79. Dr. Joseph P. De Bakey, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

80. Dr. William T. White, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

81. Dr. Richard A. Leff, MD - 3500 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

82. Dr. Robert W. Neel, MD - 1820 E. 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

83. Dr. Robert L. Korn, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

84. Dr. Roger J. Deschamps, MD - 2900 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

85. Dr. Robert J. Koning, MD - 7300 Jarvis Ave, Newark, CA 94560

86. Dr. Richard A. Linder, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

87. Dr. Lawrence A. Thomas, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

88. Dr. William F. Johnson, MD - 350 Bon Air Rd, Greenbrae, CA 94904

89. Dr. Ronald S. Krongold, MD - 450 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

90. Dr. Lawrence S. Matthews, MD - 5555 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94521

91. Dr. Robert S. Fishman, MD - 531 Jackson St, Oakland, CA 94607

92. Dr. Jeffrey E. Rubenstein, MD - 530 John Muir Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

93. Dr. Michael J. Peterson, MD - 985 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

94. Dr. Kenneth J. Zaret, MD - 4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

95. Dr. David E. Morris, MD - 2800 Sutter St, Oakland, CA 94611

96. Dr. Richard A. Geist, MD - 2450 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536

97. Dr. David B. King, MD - 5011 Executive Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

98. Dr. Mark W. Alford, MD - 6500 Hillegass Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

99. Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger, MD - 2911 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

100. Dr. Michael A. Rock, MD - 3100 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054