Discussion

September 30, 2022

Presented by:
Shanda Blackmon , Panelist , Baylor College of Medicine-Michael DeBakey Dept of Surgery
David Rice , Panelist , MD Anderson Cancer Center
Benny Weksler , Panelist , Allegheny Health network
M. Blair Marshall , Panelist , Brigham & Women's Hospital
Harmik Soukiasian , Panelist , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Source:
International Thoracic Surgical Oncology Summit, Sheraton New York Times Square, New York, NY, USA
Sheraton Times Square, Metropolitan East

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Shanda Blackmon

Panelist

Shanda H. Blackmon, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., is a minimally invasive thoracic surgeon. She completed Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas. She was awarded the Clinical Instructorship in thoracic surgical oncology at MDACC, until she was recruited to lead the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Houston Methodist, where she served as Chief of Thoracic Surgery for eight years, serving as the Director of the Thoracic Tumor Board and Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program. She has led esophageal support groups for 17 years. She was recruited to Mayo Clinic- Rochester. She holds several patents for novel technology, developed the UDD App, which is a virtual patient management platform for foregut surgery patients, developed a specialized team for complex esophageal reconstruction, is a Surgery Champion for 3D anatomic modeling and was the Medical Director of Mayo Clinic Consumer Platforms as well as Medical Director for User Experience within CDH. She is Board-certified by ABS & ABTS, currently has the rank of Professor, and has now moved back to Houston to lead the Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute. She serves(d) on the following boards or councils: TSF, STS, WTS, ATS, and STSA. Dr. Blackmon has published over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, given over 500 oral presentations, is internationally recognized, has published more than 100 instructional videos(@ShandaBlackmon for Twitter & https://www.youtube.com/c/ShandaBlackmon/videos). She is a former Deputy Editor for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. She is the Past-President of Women in Thoracic Surgery, former Secretary/Treasurer of TSF, current Secretary/Treasurer of STSA, and was Council Chair & on Board of Directors for STS. She is the author of "The Support Group" which is from Mayo Clinic Press.

David Rice

Panelist

Dr. Rice is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Originally from Ireland, he graduated from the School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin in 1991 and then completed his general surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and cardiothoracic residency at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. He joined the faculty of the Dept. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2001. Dr. Rice was an early adopter of minimally invasive thoracic surgery and has been perfroming robotic surgery since 2011. In addition to MIS his chief clinical interests are in malignant pleural mesothelioma, opioid stewardship and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). He is currently principal investigator on a multicenter trial to evaluate the use of single port robotic surgery for thoracic cancers.

Benny Weksler

Panelist

Dr. Benny Weksler graduated from the medical school of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and proceeded to train in general surgery at the New York Medical College Program in New York. Following the first three years of his residency, he spent two years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a research fellow. Dr. Weksler went on to complete his surgical residency and then returned to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a fellow in the Thoracic Surgery in the combined New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Program. He continued his training with one year minimally invasive fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In 2001 Dr. Weksler completed his MBA. Dr. Weksler lead the section of thoracic surgery at Jefferson Medical College from 2008-2010. In 2010, he was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as an Associate Professor, Director of Robotic Thoracic Surgery, and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. In 2013 Dr. Weksler was recruited to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center as the chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Professor of Surgery and the Eastridge-Cole Endowed Professor of Thoracic Oncology. In 2018 Dr. Weksler was recruited to be the System Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Allegheny Health Network and Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. Dr. Weksler is a renowned minimally invasive thoracic and esophageal surgeon and has many presentations in national and International meetings. Dr. Weksler is also part of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Innovations. Dr. Weksler’s interests include esophageal cancer, lung cancer, thymomas, diseases of the chest wall, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and surgical endoscopy.

M. Blair Marshall

Panelist

Dr. Marshall is the Michael A. Bell Family Distinguished Chair in Healthcare Innovation at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She is known for her expertise in robotic and other minimally invasive thoracic procedures, surgical coaching, and the development of simulators. She is also the editor of Operative Techniques in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Harmik Soukiasian

Panelist

Dr. Harmik J. Soukiasian, MD, FACS is currently the Tawil Family Endowed Chair in Thoracic Surgery, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery. He is also Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Program Director of the Advanced Robotic Thoracic Surgery Fellowship at Cedars-Sinai.