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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2012

Dr. Sugarbaker to Receive Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s Mesothelioma Pioneer Award

Dr. David Sugarbaker, Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery, founder and Director of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP), Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, is one of the world’s leading authorities on treating mesothelioma.  The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has recognized his excellence by awarding him its Pioneer of the Year Award. 

Sugarbaker will receive the award at the Meso Foundation’s annual Symposium to be held July 12-13 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. 

According to the Foundation’s announcement, “the Pioneer Award was designed to support individual scientists and clinicians of exceptional creativity who propose pioneering – and possibly transforming approaches – to major challenges in mesothelioma treatment and/or research.”

The Meso Foundation notes that Sugarbaker continues to introduce novel approaches to mesothelioma surgery and “he has contributed a vast array of impressive research topics in peer reviewed medical journals.” In addition, the Meso Foundation says, “He has trained many young surgeons and has inspired countless others to remain committed to mesothelioma research and treatment.” 

Sugarbaker is one of the leading proponents of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), a radical surgical procedure for pleural mesothelioma patients that involves removal of a lung, the diseased lining of the chest cavity and heart, and a portion of the diaphragm.  He has had success with the procedure and one patient has been mesothelioma-free for over five years thanks to Sugarbaker’s expertise. 

Dr. Sugarbaker has dedicated his career to treating malignant pleural mesothelioma and to improving mesothelioma patients’ survival rates.  Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. 

Sugarbaker founded the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham dedicated to the treatment of mesothelioma patients.

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Nancy Meredith is a blog and web content writer with more than 20 years of professional experience in the Information Technology industry. She has been writing about Mesothelioma for 4 years. Follow Nancy on Google+