Meet our Board of Directors
President and CEO | Mindy Mintz Mordecai
Chairman | John C. Lipham, M.D.
Vice Chairman | Sri Komanduri, M.D., M.S., F.A.S.G.E., A.G.A.F.A.
Secretary | Jeanelle DeSalvo, M.B.A.
Treasurer | William “Jeff” Thomas
Stephen H. Bogart
Dana C. Deighton
Michael E. Hora
Blair A. Jobe, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Vivek Kaul, M.D., F.A.C.G., F.A.S.G.E., A.G.A.F.
Rachel B. Knott, M.P.S.
Craig Lockhart, M.D., M.H.S.
Sarbajit Mukherjee, M.D., M.S.
Stephen G. Muzzy
Stephen C. Yang, M.D.
Meet our Board of Directors
John C. Lipham, MD
John C. Lipham, MD | Chairman
- Chief, Division of Upper GI and General Surgery
- John and Pamela Muzzy Endowed Chair in Upper Gastroenterological Cancer
- Director, Hoag-USC Foregut Cancer Program
- Professor of Surgery
- Department of Surgery
- Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California
- University of Southern California
“I joined ECAN because I saw it as the only organization that was truly trying to make a difference and raise awareness about the link between GERD, Barrett’s and Esophageal Cancer. An alarming number of patients are being diagnosed each year with Esophageal Cancer and almost none of them realize that heartburn is what put them at risk for the development of Esophageal Cancer. The only way to impact this disease is by raising awareness and I am confident that ECAN is the organization that can do this.”
John C. Lipham, M.D. is Chief of the Division of Upper GI and General Surgery and Professor of Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Dr. Lipham is also the Director of the USC Digestive Health Center. He serves as the Foregut Cancer Program Director and Chief of USC Affiliated Academic Programs at Hoag Hospital and is the James & Pamela Muzzy Endowed Chair in Upper GI Cancer.
He focuses on benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus and stomach. His clinical interests include the diagnosis and treatment of GERD, hiatal hernias, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal motility disorders, achalasia, malignant diseases of the esophagus and stomach, and gastroparesis. His current research interests include developing minimally invasive methods of diagnosing and treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s, Esophageal Cancer and gastric cancer.
Dr. Lipham earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin where he was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He subsequently completed his internship and residency training in general surgery at USC. During his training at USC, Dr. Lipham had the opportunity to gain further experience in esophageal and gastric surgery by accepting a six-month position as a Senior Surgical Registrar in England. He then went on to complete a thoracic and esophageal surgery fellowship at USC under the direction of Dr. Tom DeMeester. He joined the faculty of USC in 2001.
Sri Komanduri, MD, MS, FASGE, AGAF
Sri Komanduri, MD, MS, FASGE, AGAF | Vice Chair
- Medical Director, GI Lab
- Director of Interventional Endoscopy
- Professor of Medicine and Surgery
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Feinberg School of Medicine
- Northwestern University
- Chicago, Illinois
“It is essential that we continue to develop innovative strategies on all fronts to stop the rise in Esophageal Cancer in the United States. Working with visionary organizations such as ECAN to educate the public is critical in reaching this goal.”
A leader in therapeutic endoscopy for the past 14 years with a track record for research in Barrett’s esophagus and Esophageal Cancer, Komanduri is the director of interventional endoscopy and medical director of the GI Lab at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
He also serves as an associate professor of medicine (gastroenterology and hepatology) and surgery (gastrointestinal) at the Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern University, where he received Teaching Attending Physician of the Year honors.
Komanduri received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Miami, followed by a master’s degree in clinical research from Rush Medical College, where he also completed a fellowship in gastroenterology. Additionally, he completed a fellowship in therapeutic endoscopy at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a residency at Rush University Medical Center,
A fellow in the American Gastroenterological Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Komanduri most recently was appointed as vice-chair for the AGA’s Center for GI Innovation and Technology. He lives in Downers Grove, Illinois with his wife and children.
Jeanelle DeSalvo, MBA
Jeanelle DeSalvo, MBA | Secretary
- Clinical Account Consultant
- Promega Corporation
- Wyckoff, New Jersey
“My life changed forever in May of 2010 when my boyfriend at the time, Brent Sharpless, was diagnosed with Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. He was a very active and healthy 36-year-old when he first heard the words, “you have Esophageal Cancer.” Like many people, he thought that persistent heartburn was an inconvenience rather than a risk factor for cancer. Brent fought hard to battle his illness and he was an inspiration to those around him – riding his bike to chemo and radiation treatments, cycling 25 miles to raise money for cancer research, and completing a relay triathlon. Despite all of his determination, Brent sadly passed away on June 29, 2011, at age 37 – less than 14 months after his diagnosis.
Brent was determined not only to fight hard for himself, but also to raise awareness and prevent others from going through the perils of fighting Esophageal Cancer. I became aware of ECAN while Brent was ill and I am inspired by all that it has accomplished. ECAN is an outstanding organization and it is an honor to serve on the Board of Directors. I am committed to doing all that I can, including leveraging my sales, marketing, and advocacy experience to further the ECAN mission. I am extremely passionate about seeing Brent’s hope realized and lowering the incidence of Esophageal Cancer through raising awareness of the relationship between heartburn and cancer .”
Jeanelle DeSalvo brings 17 years of healthcare sales and marketing experience to her role as a board member of the Esophageal Cancer Action Network. She received her undergraduate degree in Marketing from West Virginia University in 2001 and then completed her MBA at Saint Louis University in 2010. Jeanelle has worked for companies that range in size from small, start-up companies to Fortune 50 companies. Prior to joining the Promega Corporation as a Clinical Account Consultant, Jeanelle worked for four years as a Senior Sales Director for Verax Biomedical.
The spirit of volunteerism is a cornerstone of Jeanelle’s beliefs. She has volunteered as committee chairperson for the Saint Louis chapter of Susan G. Komen; Marketing Chairperson for the Missouri/Arkansas chapter of the Leukemia Society’s Team in Training; an MBA Advisor for Saint Louis University; and a docent at the Saint Louis Zoo.
Jeanelle DeSalvo serves as Secretary of the ECAN Board of Directors.
Jeanelle currently resides with her husband, Mike in Wyckoff, NJ. They spend their free time cycling, traveling, and hiking.
William “Jeff” Thomas
Esophageal Cancer Survivor
William Jeff Thomas | Treasurer
- Esophageal Cancer Survivor
- Business Owner
- Dallas, Pennsylvania
“I’m excited about being a part of this organization. I feel like everything I have ever been through has prepared me for this position. I’m here to help ECAN spread the word that Heartburn can cause Cancer. Until we find a cure, it’s the simplest and most effective means of prevention. I’ll leave the research to the scientists that ECAN supports, but I’m glad to help with the message!”
Jeff has survived Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma after completing tri-modal treatment in 2012. He is a business owner and community leader in northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Thomas volunteers with several cancer-related organizations including Livestrong at the YMCA and Imerman Angels which is a one-to-one peer program for recently-diagnosed cancer patients.
Jeff heads ECAN’s Fundraising Committee.
Jeff has two adult children and splits his time between Dallas, PA and Durham, NC. In his spare time, he enjoys travel and golf.
Mindy Mintz Mordecai, JD
Mindy Mintz Mordecai, JD | President & CEO
- Widow of Esophageal Cancer patient
“This effort was borne out of my frustration that a disease that could have been cured if found at an early stage stole our family’s happily ever after. Few things are more important to me than working to make sure other families do not suffer the pain Esophageal Cancer has caused my loved ones.”
ECAN’s founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Mindy Mintz Mordecai is passionate the fight against Esophageal Cancer in large part because she lost her husband of 14 years to Esophageal Cancer in 2008, when their daughters were just nine and twelve. From 2014 – 2018, she served as a Patient Advocate on the Esophagogastric Research Task Force of the National Cancer Institute. Mindy was proud to represent ECAN in collaborations that led to formation of the Deadliest Cancers Coalition and the GI Cancer Allliance.
Before launching ECAN, she was an experienced, award-winning media professional and attorney with a proven track record for leadership of nonprofit organizations that achieve positive change on issues of public importance.
In 1989, she graduated with honor from the University of Maryland School of Law and upon graduation became a litigator at Smith, Somerville & Case in Baltimore. In 1991, Ms. Mordecai was recruited to develop and lead an education advocacy project for Advocates for Children and Youth where her work resulted in better educational opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students. She later served as director of Public Safety Policy for the Greater Baltimore Committee where she spearheaded an effort to increase public funding of drug treatment and raised more than $2,000,000 from corporate and foundation sources to establish a community court in downtown Baltimore.
Mindy was an award-winning television reporter and anchor for two decades, working for ten years as a reporter and host for Maryland Public Television where her work received several Emmy nominations. She consistently garnered top journalistic honors while reporting and anchoring at commercial television stations in Indiana and Illinois prior to moving to Baltimore to report and anchor for WBAL-TV in 1986. Mindy also worked in public radio for several years, selected in 1998 as Baltimore City Paper’s Best Radio Talk Show Host.
Ms. Mordecai is the mother of two daughters and resides in Baltimore County, Maryland.
Dana C. Deighton
Esophageal Cancer Survivor
Dana C. Deighton
- Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
- Scripps Research
- All of Research Program
- Esophageal Cancer Survivor
- Alexandria, Virginia
“Having lost my mom to colon cancer, I thought I knew how to protect myself and had already had several cancer screenings. But out of nowhere, at age 43, my life changed instantly when I was diagnosed with Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. A nonsmoker, having always eaten healthy and exercised regularly (with no symptoms of reflux, etc.), I was terrified and really thought my days were numbered. Through perseverance, lots of self-advocacy, and an amazing integrated team of compassionate physicians, I’m living a very healthy, active life — something that was never presented as a possibility. I look forward to sharing my insight and experience with ECAN to help advance awareness, medical care, and hope for others.
Dana Deighton is an accomplished professional with experience in corporate marketing, publishing, and partner/project management. After 20+ years at National Geographic, she is now Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at Scripps Research working on the All of Research Program, a historic effort to accelerate research and improve health by gathering data from one million or more people living in the United States.
Outside of work, she is focused on healthcare advocacy and policy. She serves as an Executive Board Member of ECAN, is a Patient Representative on the Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer Guideline Panel for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a member of NCI Patient Advocate Steering Committee and NCI Esophago-Gastric Task Force and serves on the Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Project Patient Advisory Committee, a project led by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. After many years as a caregiver to family members and surviving her own health crisis, Dana thrives on improving and empowering patient communication and connections to drive better health outcomes.
Dana Deighton is a member of ECAN’s Executive Committee, serving as Chair of the Board’s Marketing Committee.
Dana lives in Alexandria, VA, with her husband and three teenagers, and enjoys travel and walking, and running outdoors.
Michael E. Hora
Michael E. Hora
- Engineer
- Master of Business Administration
- Trustee, Laughing Acres Family Foundation
- Barrett’s Esophagus Patient
- Chicago, Illinois
“20 years ago, I was diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus. A skilled doctor has eliminated this as a problem, other than regular monitoring. I believe I probably has Barrett’s for 20 years before it was discovered. It’s clear to me that early discovery is the answer to avoiding this difficult and deadly cancer.”
Michael entered the world very blessed with two, down-to-earth, ordinary people as parents who were not confused about their values. The second of five children, he was the first of his family to attend college, receiving an engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Later, he received his MBA from a high-quality program at Loyola University of Chicago.
Mr. Hora worked in manufacturing, dealing with basic metals and chemicals before joining the global management consulting firm of A.T. Kearney, a perfect fit for him. There he worked with all types of organizations and businesses from around the globe. The work involved helping companies do better with customers, leading employees to higher levels of contribution, and improving profitability. Michael helped clients improve operations from supply chain efficiency to organizational effectiveness to the development and execution of high-level strategies. Eventually, he became one of a handful of individuals who managed the entire firm.
When he retired, Michael continued and increased his involvement with not-for-profit organizations and has worked in at least 20 different kinds of organizations. He has served on every committee of various boards, often as committee chair and executive board member roles. He currently serves with the American Council for International Education, Providence St. Mel School, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Colorado Wildlife Federation, Kosovo American Education Fund, Greenhouse Scholars, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and others.
Mr. Hora heads ECAN’s Board Development Committee.
Michael and his wife founded the Laughing Acres Family Foundation and serve as its leaders. The foundation’s mission is to help people improve their self-reliance so they can help others.
Michael likes to run outside, hunt, teach firearms safety to young and old alike, read, work on his property in Colorado, and enjoy the City of Chicago. Michael calls himself the luckiest man alive.
Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG, FASGE, AGAF
Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG, FASGE, AGAF
“ECAN is a one of a kind patient advocacy and support organization for esophageal cancer at the national level. I am privileged to help with this mission and amazed at the passion and commitment the ECAN team brings to this cause on a daily basis!”
Dr Vivek Kaul is the Segal-Watson Professor of Medicine & Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. His clinical, research and medical education efforts are focused in Therapeutic Endoscopy, Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound, advanced ERCP and esophageal endotherapy for Barrett’s & Esophageal Cancer. He has specific expertise in complex interventional endoscopy, especially in the patient with GI-cancer. He co-directs the Developmental Endoscopy lab at URMC which is dedicated to education, training and innovation in endoscopy.
Dr. Kaul serves on several national committees with the ASGE and the ACG and is a past Governor of the ACG. He is Chair of the ACG Innovation & Technology Committee. He is a reviewer for several journals, is a sought after speaker and has authored several publications in the field of interventional endsocopy. He co-directs the national ACG hands-on endoscopy workshops. He also serves on the WGO endoscopy committee and regularly lectures and shares his endoscopy expertise at centers in the USA and around the world.
Dr. Kaul is charged with updating ECAN’s Guide for Patients (which should be out soon) and is a member of the ECAN Medical Research Committee.
Blair A. Jobe, MD, FACS
Blair A. Jobe, MD, FACS
- Clinical Professor of Surgery
- Temple University School of Medicine
- Director, Esophageal and Lung Institute
- Allegheny Health Network
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“At this stage in my career, I am most interested in efforts to promote the early detection and prevention of Esophageal Cancer, given the dismal 15 percent survival rate for five years for those diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. I look forward to working with the ECAN board on activities promoting greater awareness, prevention and advocacy.”
A nationally renowned pioneer in the field of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic therapy for the treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal mobility disorders and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Dr. Jobe is chief of surgery at West Penn Hospital and director of the Institute for the Treatment of Esophageal and Thoracic Diseases at West Penn Allegheny Health Systems.
A prolific medical researcher and international lecturer, Jobe serves as the principal investigator for two NIH grants that focus on improving early detection of Esophageal Cancer, specifically on the development of serum and tissue biomarkers, a precursor to a blood test for the early detection and treatment of Esophageal Cancer.
His numerous honors include being named the 2005 Outstanding Researcher of the Year by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and the 2010 Faculty Member of the Year by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery. He also received a Pittsburgh Business Times’ Health Care Heroes award for his discovery of four protein biomarkers in determining the presence of cancer.
Married and the father of four children, Jobe graduated from Loyola Marymount University and Creighton University School of Medicine, and later completed fellowships at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center and Swedish Medical Center.
Rachel B. Knott, MPS
Rachel B. Knott, MPS
- Coordinator, Marketing & Business Development
- Hord Coplan Macht
- Baltimore, Maryland
“My personal connection to Esophageal Cancer is what led me to join ECAN’s mission. In May of 2000, my father’s time with my family was cut short and I believe his life could have been extended, if not saved, if he and his medical providers were aware of the link between GERD and his unfortunate diagnosis.”
Rachel is a project-oriented young professional, passionate about exploring the intersection of science and design within the marketing industry. She enjoys working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, entrepreneurial environment while supporting her like-minded creative colleagues.
Currently, Rachel works in marketing and business development for Hord Coplan Macht, an architectural design firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to joining HCM, she worked as a marketing analyst at Brown Advisory.
She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of South Carolina in 2016 and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Science in 2018 from the University of Maryland, College Park.
A. Craig Lockhart, MD, MHS
A. Craig Lockhart, MD, MHS
- Professor of Medicine
- Director of the Division of Hematology & Oncology
- Associate Director for Clinical Science at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Hollings Cancer Center
- MUSC School of Medicine
- Charleston, South Carolina
“My support of ECAN is based on my dedication to preventing esophageal cancers and finding the best therapies for those stricken with this malignancy.”
Dr. Lockhart is a professor of medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). At MUSC, Dr. Lockhart is the Director of the Division of Hematology & Oncology and Associate Director for Clinical Science at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Prior to joining MUSC, Dr. Lockhart was the Chief of Oncology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to these roles, Dr. Lockhart served on the faculty and in leadership roles at Washington University in St. Louis/Siteman Cancer Center, and at Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Dr. Lockhart has been conducting early phase clinical trials for over 20 years and has been a principal investigator on over 100 Phase I/II and III trials. His specific research interests are to develop and conduct Phase I/II clinical trials of novel therapeutics applied to his specialty area of research, gastroesophageal cancers. In treating these cancers, he aims to incorporate novel agents or molecular/genetic-based treatment into therapeutic trials in the pursuit of precision therapy. He has developed and led multi-institutional clinical trials involving the treatment of GI tumors through national cooperative groups as well as investigator-initiated studies and grant-funded research programs.
Dr. Lockhart has also served on several committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) including the Scientific and Career Development committees. He has been a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines committee for gastric and esophageal cancers.
Dr. Lockhart graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas in 1993. He completed residency training at Barnes Hospital at Washington University, fellowship training in hematology/oncology at Duke University, and a fellowship in drug development at GlaxoSmithKline in the North Carolina Research Triangle Park. He also earned a masters of health science (MHS) in clinical trials at Duke University. He completed his undergraduate degree, a bachelor’s degree in biology, from Rice University.
Sarbajit Muhkerjee, MD, MS
Sarbajit Muhkerjee, MD, MS
- Assistant Professor
- Department of Medicine
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Clinical Assistant Professor
- Department of Medicine
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- University at Buffalo
- The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Buffalo, New York
“Esophageal Cancer claims nearly 400,000 lives annually across the globe and affects the lives of many more patients and their family members. ECAN is doing a phenomenal job in increasing the awareness about this deadly disease as well as providing support to the patients and their caregivers. As a medical oncologist taking care of Esophageal Cancer patients, I am honored to be a part of ECAN’s mission”.
Dr. Sarbajit Mukherjee is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist with a clinical and research focus on gastroesophageal cancers (GEC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NET).
Dr. Mukherjee obtained his medical degree in India in 2010. He then moved to the US and subsequently completed a residency in Internal Medicine. He started his fellowship training in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Oklahoma in 2015. He gained additional experience in translational research and clinical trial design through a master’s degree in clinical and translational science. He has received multiple peer-reviewed grants from national organizations like National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society.
Dr. Mukherjee’s work has resulted in several national/international presentations including poster and oral presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, and peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals like Nature Medicine. He has served on several national/international guideline committees like NCCN and ASCO. Dr. Mukherjee has served as peer-reviewer for multiple scientific journals. He has mentored many medical students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Mukherjee has received several awards including a merit award from ASCO for his research on cancer immunotherapy and memberships in Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Mukherjee’s current work involves understanding the biology of GEC and NET as well as designing novel clinical trials to improve patient outcomes. He is also interested in studying mechanisms of immune dysfunction in obese cancer patients and the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors.
Stephen G. Muzzy
Stephen G. Muzzy
Steve Muzzy is a Director with MF Partners, an investment partnership that focuses on late-stage private equity and real estate investment opportunities.
Steve also serves as an Independent Director for Strategic Student and Senior Housing Trust, a public-non-traded student and senior housing real estate investment trust; as a member of the Board of Advisors at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona; and as Principal of MZ Advisors, a full-service advisory firm providing consultant services to private foundations, schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations.
Prior to his current endeavors, Steve was a banker. He began his banking career with Wells Fargo in 1994, working seven years within Wells Fargo’s Community Bank where he managed various branch offices throughout southern California. In 2001, Steve took on new responsibilities as he moved into Wells Fargo’s commercial banking group. Steve spent time at Commerce National Bank, JPMorgan Chase and, most recently, with OneWest Bank’s middle market banking group.
Steve earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. He is also an alum of the Social Enterprise Executive Education program at Harvard Business School.
A strong supporter of the community, Steve is currently serving as a board member for Casa Teresa, The Orange Catholic Foundation, ECAN (The Esophageal Cancer Action Network), and the Hoag Hospital Foundation. He also has served as a board member at several other non-profit organizations including the Mission Hospital Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank and Team Kids. Steve supports causes that focus on protecting life, Catholic education, and serving the under-privileged and marginalized within Orange County. He resides in Coto de Caza with his wife and their three children.
Stephen C. Yang, MD
Stephen C. Yang, MD
- The Arthur and Patricia Modell
- Professor of Thoracic Surgery
- Professor of Surgery and Oncology
- Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Founding Board Member
Stephen C. Yang, M.D. is The Arthur B. and Patricia B. Modell Professor of Thoracic Surgery and Professor of Surgery and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He serves as the medical student Surgical Clerkship and Curriculum Director, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program, and Associate Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency. Completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia, his training included a general surgical residency at the University of Texas Health Science in Houston, a 3-year thoracic surgical research fellowship at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and a cardiothoracic surgical fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia.
He is the recipient of the 2006 Thoracic Surgery Directors Association Mentor Award, and the 2008 Johns Hopkins Deans Faculty Award for Clinical Teaching. He chairs the Institutional effort in faculty development and educating all faculty in developing their own personal educators’ portfolio. He serves on numerous national and international committees including the Taskforce Chair on the “Looking to the Future” Residency Scholarships for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Chair-elect of the Surgery Clerkship Directors Association. He is the Thoracic Surgery Section Editor for The Annals of Surgical Oncology, co-editor of the book “Current Therapy in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery”, and book series editor-in-chief of “The Early Diagnosis of Cancer.”
His laboratory research interests include using molecular techniques for lung cancer screening and predicting recurrence following surgical resection. His clinical practice and research covers the breadth of general thoracic surgery in pulmonary and esophageal surgery, video-assisted and robotic thoracic surgery, mediastinal and pleural diseases, lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema, and work in the areas of patient safety and geriatric thoracic surgery. Dr. Yang is chair of ECAN’s medical research committee.
Dr. Yang is chair of ECAN’s medical research committee.