UPMC
General Thoracic
Member Since: 2024
Biography:
My name is Ryan Levy, MD, FACS and I serve as the Division Chief of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery in the UPMC Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at UPMC Passavant & UPMC Hamot, Vice Chair of Thoracic Expansion and Community Outreach and Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After receiving my undergraduate degree at The University of Notre Dame and medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, I completed residencies in both general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery as well as an advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery fellowship at UPMC. I specialize in minimally invasive surgery for lung, esophageal and gastric cancers and treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, paraoesophageal hernias, diaphragm hernias, lung nodules and masses, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer, diseases of the pleura, mediastinal tumors, tracheal disorders, and inflammatory responses to tissue injury. As the Division Chief, I have guided the thoracic surgery program at UPMC into one of Pennsylvania’s premiere sites for complex lung and esophageal surgery and led the introduction of robotic bronchoscopy technology. In addition, I have also published over 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts with a focus on clinical outcomes of minimally invasive esophageal and lung surgery and hold memberships in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the Allegheny County Medical Society.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
AATS means excellence in everyday practice. Everything from clinical practice to longitudinal scholarly pursuits. As the most prestigious cardiothoracic surgery organization, it represents the highest standard.
Why I became an AATS member:
I became an AATS member to hold myself to the highest standard of excellence, clinical care, pursuit of scholarship and most importantly, impact on our specialty.
The first presentation I gave is:
Levy RM, Prince JM, Mollen KP, Yang R, Fink MP, Vodovotz Y, Billiar TR. Systemic Inflammation and Liver Dysfunction after Trauma is Toll-Like Receptor 4 Dependent. Academic Surgical Congress February 2006. (oral)
The first paper I had published is:
Levy RM, Prince JM, Yang R, Mollen KP, Liao H, Watson GA, Fink MP, Vodovotz Y, Billiar TR. Systemic inflammation and remote organ damage following bilateral femur fracture requires Toll-like receptor 4. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Oct;291(4):R970-6. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00793.2005. Epub 2006 May 4. PMID: 16675630
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
I would like to increase my service on patient safety and quality task force committees. My clinical practice is my current professional strength, and I want to leverage this for the organization.
Advice for Trainees:
I always tell our trainees; you have to be able to play all of the positions on the court. Although expertise is important to your prosperity, being able to be capable and competent in all areas is key to success, especially early career success."
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
As a medical student I had the privilege of doing projects with Dr. Bartley Griffith and spending time with him in the operating room. Dr. Griffith convinced me that I had the skill set and drive to be a great cardiothoracic surgeon.
A significant case/patient interaction that impacted my career is:
Watching my own grandmother's battle with lung cancer that presented at a locally advanced stage undoubtedly impacted my decision to become a thoracic surgical oncologist.
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
All of my mentors had the same trait - a relentless pursuit of excellence and a desire to push themselves and the boundaries of cardiothoracic surgery.
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
I am a true believer in the power of clinical trials and emerging technology. This is an exciting time to be a thoracic surgeon as we are witnessing a synthesis of opportunities and growth of cutting-edge technology and the improvement on pharmaceutical therapy.
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
The largest issue modern era CT surgeons are facing is how to maintain meaningful academic productivity in the modern wRVU driven era. I believe organizations such as AATS long known for fostering academic contributions to this field are key to finding balance.
Advice for Trainees:
I always tell our trainees; you have to be able to play all of the positions on the court. Although expertise is important to your prosperity, being able to be capable and competent in all areas is key to success, especially early career success.