Benjamin D. Kozower, MD, MPH

Benjamin D. Kozower, MD, MPH

Expertise


Specialty Areas


  • Lung cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Mediastinal masses/myasthenia gravis
  • Benign esophageal disorders (such as hiatal hernia, diverticulum, achalasia)
  • Pectus excavatum

Common Procedures


  • Lung cancer resection
  • Robotic assisted esophagectomy
  • Robotic assisted thymectomy
  • Robotic assisted Heller myotomy
  • Modified Ravitch repair of pectus excavatum

Common Diagnoses Treated


  • Achalasia
  • Adult pectus excavatum
  • Airway obstruction
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Benign esophageal strictures
  • Chest wall tumors
  • Esophageal tumors
  • Esophageal diverticulum
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Hyperhydrosis
  • Lung nodules
  • Lung and esophageal cancer
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Mediastinal tumors
  • Tracheal disease
  • Tracheal tumors
Education


Board Certifications


American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Degrees


1989-1993, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Medical School: 1993-1997, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Master of Public Health: 2006-2009, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Quality Improvement Science Certificate: 2019-2020, James Anderson Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

Residency


1997-2000, General Surgery Residency, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

2002-2004, General Surgery Residency, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

2004-2006, Thoracic Surgery Residency, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Fellowship


2000-2002, Research Fellow, Thoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Professional Memberships


  • 2022, Chair, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on Research
  • 2021, Chair, Admissions Committee – Society of Clinical Surgery
  • 2021, Member – Southern Surgical Association
  • 2019, Member – Commission on Cancer, Lung Cancer Accreditation Committee
  • 2018, Member – American Surgical Association
  • 2017, Member – Society of Clinical Surgery
  • 2017, Member – General Thoracic Surgery Club
  • 2016, Advisory Council – Lung Cancer Alliance/COPD Foundation Patient Powered Research Network
  • 2015, Member – International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement
  • 2011, Member – American Association for Thoracic Surgery
  • 2010, Member – Surgical Outcomes Club
  • 2009, Fellow – American College of Chest Physicians
  • 2008, Member – Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • Chair, General Thoracic Surgery Database Taskforce (2014-2022)
  • Chair, Public Reporting Taskforce (2019-2022)
  • 2008, Member – Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
  • 2008, Fellow – American College of Surgeons

Awards and Honors


  • 2021 American Association for Thoracic Surgery 101st Annual Meeting Plenary Presentation: Long-Term Patient Reported Outcomes Following Lung Cancer Resection
  • 2015-21 Top Doctor – Castle Connolly, Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery
  • 2017-20 Best Doctors in America List
  • 2020 Barnes Jewish Hospital Team Award for Quality Improvement – History and Physical Template Improvement Effort.
  • 2019-20 Thoracic Program Co-Chair, American Association for Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting
  • 2015-21 Extraordinary Volunteer Leadership Award, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • 2019 Clifford Van Meter President’s Award for the Best Scientific Paper Delivered at the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Annual Meeting
  • 2016 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Technical Expert Panel – Developing Criteria for Assessing Feasibility of Implementing Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Findings.
  • 2016 Outstanding Performance – Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Editorial Board
  • 2015 American Association for Thoracic Surgery Leadership Academy, Seattle, WA
  • 2015 Richard E. Clark Award: Outstanding Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database Paper – Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
  • 2014 Chair, Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database Taskforce
  • 2014 International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, Surgical Representative for the Lung Cancer Standard Set
  • 2013 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Highlighted Research Activity, Complexities of the Volume-Outcome Relationship
  • 2010 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Innovations Exchange, Tobacco Cessation Project
  • 2010 J. Maxwell Chamberlain Memorial Award: Outstanding Paper in General Thoracic Surgery – Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 2010 Academic Excellence Award, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia
  • 2010 Leadership in Academic Matters, University of Virginia
  • 2009 School of Medicine Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Virginia
  • 2009 School of Medicine Academy of Distinguished Educators, University of Virginia
  • 2004 Chief Resident Teaching Award, University of Connecticut
  • 2004 Ludwig J. Pyrtek Award: Outstanding Academic Contribution to the University of Connecticut
  • 2000 Outstanding Pediatric Surgery Resident, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut
  • 1998 Surgical Resident Teaching Award, University of Connecticut
  • 1997 Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • 1994 Strong Children’s Research Fellowship, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York
  • 1993 Xerox Scholarship: Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Rochester
  • 1993 First Prize University of Rochester Public Speaking Contest
  • 1993 Phi Beta Kappa, University of Rochester
  • 1993 Magna Cum Laude, University of Rochester
Research


Areas of Research Interest


  • Management and predictive model development for lung cancer
  • Understanding patient reported outcomes before and after thoracic surgery

Clinical Trials


National Cancer Institute: R01 CA258681 Comparative Effectiveness of Surgery versus Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for Stage I lung Cancer Role: Principal Investigator 2/01/22-1/31/27

Innovations


Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery Developed Quality Composite Measures for Lung and Esophageal Cancer Resection using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database

Publications


Locations


Hospital Affiliations


Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Patients Seen At


Center for Advanced Medicine
Jacqueline Maritz Lung Center
4921 Parkview Place, Suite B, Floor 8
St. Louis, MO 63110
Appointments: 314-362-8089

Siteman Cancer Center West County
#10 Barnes West Drive, (MOB 2), Suite 100
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Appointments: 314-362-8089

News and Stories
Contact


To request an appointment with Dr. Kozower, please call 314-362-8089.