Houston Methodist Division of Thoracic Surgery

Our nationally renowned thoracic surgeons specialize in non-cardiac chest surgeries, including procedures involving the airway, lungs, pleura, diaphragm, esophagus, chest wall and mediastinum. We emphasize minimally invasive robotic-assisted treatment that enhance patient outcomes by reducing risk, minimizing pain and scarring and accelerating recovery.

 

Our surgeons are deeply committed to the education of residents and fellows, providing a comprehensive learning experience that extends beyond the operating room.  Educational opportunities include patient-based learning in the clinic, weekly division conferences, thoracic tumor board, suspicious lung nodule conference, general surgery mobility and mortality conferences, general surgery grand rounds, thoracic lecture series and gastrointestinal conferences. These activities collectively strengthen the cognitive foundation of thoracic surgery and foster ongoing professional development. 

 

As leaders in the field, our experts frequently present at national meetings and maintain active membership in professional societies, including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.  This level of engagement reflects our enduring commitment to advancing thoracic surgery through education, collaboration, and professional leadership. 

 

 

Our Faculty ➝   Our Physicians ➝ 

We are proud to collaborate with The Bookout Center, one of the largest and most comprehensive surgical education and research facilities in the world. 

Our physicians regularly publish peer-reviewed papers and conduct work in promising clinical trials for novel treatment options that will benefit patients around the world. This research guides us in providing the best possible clinical outcomes and ongoing advancements in thoracic surgery. 

With our recent collaboration with the Houston Methodist – Rice Digital Health Institute, we are translating innovative ideas into scalable solutions, with a focus on research and development in digital health.  

We are committed to guiding motivated and talented surgeons to become future leaders in surgery. Our faculty, recognized with honors such as the Excellence in Teaching and the Golden Apple Teaching Award, are passionate educators dedicated to helping future generations achieve excellence in the field. 

Our division has developed a robust video-based learning program focused on the use of robotic technology, significantly enhancing the operative experience for general surgery residents and fellows. The curriculum features narrated recording of thoracic procedures, highlighting key operative steps across a variety of cases. 

This structured, video-based approach has been shown to increase resident engagement and participation in robot-assisted thoracic surgery. Additionally, the ability to review resident and fellow-performed cases allows for meaningful reflection and targeted improvement in surgical technique. 

Education at all levels is central to our division’s mission. We provide internships and shadowing opportunities for local high school and university students, along with participation in the summer Fields Rosenberg Summer Surgical Fellowship and the Kadoorie Cardiovascular Internship for exceptional college students with interest in medical careers.  

Residents from general surgery, vascular surgery and plastic surgery programs rotate on our service, gaining valuable thoracic surgery experience.  We also co-direct the highly competitive Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, whose graduates consistently secure prestigious positions and are recognized for their surgical excellence.