Pioneers in lung disease care
The Section of Thoracic Surgery at WashU Medicine is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for patients with lung disease while achieving research breakthroughs and training future leaders in academic surgery.
We provide comprehensive surgical treatment for diseases of the lungs and esophagus. Our chest service was initially established in 1920 by Evarts Graham, MD, who performed the first successful pneumonectomy for cancer. Thoracic surgeons at WashU Medicine also pioneered the use of lung volume reduction surgery for patients with emphysema. Recent highlights of our program include:
- 2,000+ lung transplants performed
- Ranked among the best for lung disease care by U.S. News & World Report
- High utilization of robotic surgery with excellent outcomes
Research in the section ranges from basic science immunology investigating lung transplant rejection to clinical trials and outcomes research. Discoveries from our NIH-funded Thoracic Immunobiology Lab are furthering our understanding of vital mechanisms including alloimmune response after lung transplantation and pulmonary innate immunity and tumor immunology.
We train future leaders in thoracic surgery through our residency and fellowship programs. In partnership with the general surgery residency at WashU Medicine, we offer an early specialization pathway for cardiothoracic training. Our section also offers a fellowship in mechanical cardiac support and heart transplantation.
High clinical volume
Advanced training
Innovative research
Section chief
Varun Puri, MD, MSCI
Chief, Section of Thoracic Surgery
Professor of Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency
Director, Thoracic Surgery Fellowship
Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship
Video Profile
- Phone: 314-362-7260
Patient care
Thoracic surgeons at WashU Medicine provide the highest level of care for people with benign and malignant conditions of the lungs and esophagus. We offer treatments ranging from airway surgery to procedures for benign esophageal disease, esophageal and lung cancer, and lung transplantation. Many procedures are performed through minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
Education
Our section trains general surgery residents in thoracic surgery and offers an early specialization pathway (4+3) for residents interested in careers in the field. Additionally, we offer a two-year ACGME-accredited fellowship for thoracic surgery and a one-year fellowship in lung transplantation.
Research
The Thoracic Immunobiology Lab at WashU Medicine is an NIH-funded laboratory that studies aspects of thoracic immunology ranging from the alloimmune response after lung transplantation to pulmonary innate immunity and tumor immunology. Other research areas of our section focus on patient outcomes, quality of care for veterans, and advancing treatment for lung cancer.
Our faculty
Wenjun Li, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Section of Thoracic Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Director, Microsurgery Core, Thoracic Immunology Laboratory
- Phone: 314-747-2174
Bryan F. Meyers, MD, MPH
Patrick and Joy Williamson Professor of Surgery
Section of Thoracic Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Phone: 314-362-7260
Nabil A. Munfakh, MD
Professor of Surgery
Section of Cardiac Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Phone: 314-362-7260
