Northwell Health is one of the leaders in lung and chest surgery in the New York metropolitan area. Our surgeons have extensive experience in minimally invasive surgeries, which can decrease pain, shorten recovery time, decrease injury to healthy tissue, and offer more precise visualization of the lungs and chest.

All thoracic surgeons receive advanced training and certification in minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Robotic surgery is often the preferred minimally invasive procedure because of its enhanced precision, flexibility and control during the operation. With robotic surgery, our surgeons can perform any complex procedure historically performed using traditional surgical approaches.

Like robotic surgery, VATS uses advanced video technology that is inserted through small incisions and allows the surgeon to see the interior of the chest without the need for large incisions. In addition to our expertise in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, we utilize emerging technology in navigational bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound and other novel techniques.

We are committed to treating you, not just your condition. That’s why our thoracic surgery specialists work closely with other departments to ensure you’re treated holistically. During treatment, you may receive care from the following departments:

• Anesthesiology and pain management
• Cardiac surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Imaging and radiology
• Medical oncology
• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Pulmonary medicine
• Radiation medicine
• Surgical oncology

We are a national referral center, offering cutting-edge screening and treatment for complex conditions of the lungs and chest. The department is continually implementing new measures to improve the care currently provided to patients and develop new prevention efforts to reduce the risk of diseases. We have expanded our thoracic surgery services to community hospitals so patients can stay close to home for care.

Additionally, we work closely with pulmonologists and critical care specialists to develop early detection programs for lung cancer, emphysema and other conditions. While our program is constantly growing, we make sure we maintain excellent quality of care.

Here's why patients continually choose us:

Cutting-edge medicine – As healthcare leaders, we offer the latest innovations in the field. Almost all of our surgeries are done using a minimally invasive technique, while nationally only 20 percent of thoracic procedures are done this way. Additionally, with the expansion of thoracic surgery at our community hospitals, we now have one of the leading robotic thoracic surgical programs in the United States. Using these techniques, we have lower mortality rates and significantly reduced rates of postsurgical complications.

Experienced physicians – We aren’t only committed to utilizing cutting-edge treatments, but to ensuring all our physicians are properly trained on the equipment. Many of our thoracic surgeons are considered national experts in the field, with years of experience treating complex chest problems. Additionally, all physicians are regularly trained in new surgical techniques and approaches.

Collaborative care – We work as an integrated team to ensure our patients are receiving the best care possible. We try to eliminate all the guesswork of disease management by coordinating care among our pulmonologists, medical oncologists, thoracic pathologists and a variety of therapists and support staff. Additionally, all thoracic teams across the system meet regularly to discuss cases and the best treatment approaches. This assures patients receive a second, third or even fourth opinion without having to see a large number of doctors.