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