I have the privilege of treating patients with both benign and malignant conditions of the chest. While in college at Georgia Tech, I envisioned a career as a biomedical engineer. What I quickly learned, however, was that I was more interested in patients and their medical problems than developing the technology to care for them. During my medical education and training, I learned not only how to become a surgeon, but also learned the value of teamwork and family in caring for patients. As a thoracic surgeon, one of the best and most important aspects of my job is being able to establish a relationship with my patients and their families, working together to help them through their illness. Dr. Tong is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Vagotomy, and Mastectomy.

Many years ago, I came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Since that time, those words have guided my professional life from the field I chose to how I care for my patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia. With every individual and their families, I make sure that they appreciate my understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. As a result, I pride myself on reassuring my patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit they know that I have their best interests at heart. Personally, my wife and I are the proud parents of three boys. Consequently, I like to spend my free time making use of their unlimited energy by running them around at all the great parks in the local area. Dr. Klapper is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Esophageal Perforation, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

Carmelo Milano is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Milano is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cardiomyopathy, Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

I am a general thoracic surgeon specializing in the treatment of thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, as well as lung transplantation for patients with end-stage lung diseases. For cancer surgery, I offer minimally invasive approaches—including robotic-assisted and thoracoscopic surgery—that promote faster recovery and reduce postoperative pain. In cases of advanced cancer, I take a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care. Lung transplantation has been the central focus of my career. I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable recovery of patients once debilitated by severe dyspnea. I am honored to be part of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, which has performed more than 2,600 lung transplants, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Before joining Duke, I practiced in Japan, where I personally performed more than 400 lung transplants, including 180 living-donor lung transplants—the largest such experience in the world. Dr. Date is highly rated in 7 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mediastinitis, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

David Rice is a Thoracic Surgeon in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Rice is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.

Wayne Hofstetter is a Thoracic Surgeon in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Hofstetter is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Esophageal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Endoscopy, and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery.

Ara Vaporciyan is a Thoracic Surgeon in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Vaporciyan is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Esophageal Cancer, Thrombectomy, and Nephrectomy.

Jack Roth is a Thoracic Surgeon in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Roth is highly rated in 5 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Endoscopy, and Thymectomy.

Walter Pories is a Thoracic Surgeon in Greenville, North Carolina. Dr. Pories is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Hernia, Compartment Syndrome, Gastric Bypass, and Gastrectomy.

Alberto De Hoyos is a Thoracic Surgeon in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. De Hoyos is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Lung Nodules, and Thymectomy. Dr. De Hoyos is currently accepting new patients.

Jeffrey Hagen is a Thoracic Surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Hagen is highly rated in 16 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Adenocarcinoma, Hiatal Hernia, Thymectomy, and Endoscopy.

Robert Cortina is a Thoracic Surgeon in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dr. Cortina is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Hernia Surgery, and Gastrostomy.

Lynne Hurwitz-Koweek is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Hurwitz-Koweek is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, and Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta. Dr. Hurwitz-Koweek is currently accepting new patients.

Lacey Washington is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Washington is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Pleurisy, and Pleural Effusion. Dr. Washington is currently accepting new patients.

Jonathan Kraut is a Thoracic Surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Kraut is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Lung Nodules, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, and Thyroidectomy.

Joseph Mammarappallil is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Mammarappallil has been practicing medicine for over 17 years is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Pleural Effusion, Lung Nodules, and Pleurisy. Dr. Mammarappallil is currently accepting new patients.

John Frederick is a Thoracic Surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Frederick is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Tina Tailor is a Thoracic Surgeon in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Tailor has been practicing medicine for over 16 years is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, and Pleural Effusion. Dr. Tailor is currently accepting new patients.

Jesse Madden is a Thoracic Surgeon in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Madden has been practicing medicine for over 17 years is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Cardiogenic Shock, Collapsed Lung, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Valve Repair.

I'm proud to work at Duke as it has a tremendous hospital and tremendous people to work with. The quality of care here is excellent and really can’t be compared to anywhere else. That’s what keeps me here. We do more complex heart surgeries here than almost anyone else in the country. When you need heart surgery, you want it done by someone who does a lot of it. Our numbers are comparable to the top places in the country. We do complex surgery and we do it well. The thing about heart surgery is that we make people better. That’s what I really like – helping people who couldn’t breathe or couldn’t walk because their heart was failing, and we were able to make them better. Dr. Gaca is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Aortic Dissection, Cystic Medial Necrosis of Aorta, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Michael Roach is a Thoracic Surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Roach is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

I graduated from Harvard University (BA) and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University (MD). I received training in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. After completing a Fellowship in Thoracic Surgical Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, I joined the faculty at Duke University Medical Center. I am currently Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery, Chief of the Section of General Thoracic Surgery, Director of the Training Program in Thoracic Surgery, and Chief Medical Officer of the Duke Cancer Institute. I specialize in the surgical management of lung cancer and esophageal cancer, with a focus on minimally invasive thoracic surgery. As Vice Chair of Surgery, I am responsible for the development of technology and innovation in the Department. As Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program of the Duke Cancer Institute, I supervise the clinical and research programs in lung cancer and esophageal cancer. I am also involved in improving safety and quality in cancer care, as a member of the Duke Safety and Quality Committee. Dr. Damico is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Lung Nodules, Stomach Cancer, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Medhat Takla is a Thoracic Surgeon in Concord, North Carolina. Dr. Takla is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Heart Bypass Surgery, and Carotid Artery Surgery.

My aim at Duke Health is to provide outstanding care to those in need within a collaborative and high-quality setting. My most significant career accomplishments include establishing the first cardiothoracic imaging service in the Mid-South for heart and lung disease patients throughout the Mississippi Delta. I hope to use my training and relationships to pursue changes in health policy that will allow health services to be more affordable and sustainable in the United States. Dr. Optican is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, and Adenosine Deaminase 2 Deficiency.

I help patients with acquired heart diseases, such as coronary artery blockages and heart valve problems. I use surgical procedures when necessary. Each patient is special in his or her own way, and I will work with the cardiologists to provide the best care possible in each situation. In particular, I am happy to discuss the possibility of providing patients with less-invasive ways of undergoing heart bypass surgery (for example, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft) whenever appropriate. I have been in North Carolina for more than 25 years, and I received all of my medical and surgical training at Duke. Dr. Lin is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).