Hospital

Vice Chair, Clinical Research, Department of Surgery; Chief, Thoracic Service; William G. Cahan Chair: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Phone

(212) 639-5873

Education

MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Residency

M.D., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1975
Residency in General Surgery, University of Washington, 1975-1980
Residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, 1980-1982

Fellowships

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Board Certifications

1. Surgery
2. Thoracic Surgery

Clinical
Expertise

1. Thoracic Surgical Oncology
2. Lung Cancer
3. Esophageal Cancer
4. Mediastinal Tumors
5. Mesothelioma
6. Pulmonary Metastases
7. Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
8. Pulmonary and Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, including Laser Endoscopy
9. Tracheobronchial and Esophageal Stents

Website

Biography/CV (will open new window)

Dr. Valerie Rusch specializes in treating patients with cancers of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, and chest wall, and those with mesothelioma. Her research efforts focus on the genetics of lung cancer and mesothelioma, with an emphasis on predicting how a patient will respond to a particular treatment, and on the development of methods to detect thoracic cancers at an early stage. She has also been a leader in national clinical trials for the treatment of thoracic cancers.

She has published numerous papers on pleural decortications. Her work has been printed in several journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. She has also collaborated on several books including: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, General Thoracic Surgery and Atlas of Procedures in Thoracic Cancer.

Dr. Rusch has gained recognition internationally for her work in surgically treating mesothelioma, and cancers of the lung and esophagus. She currently serves as Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She holds the prestigious William G. Cahan Chair and is also the Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Rusch has worked extensively through a number of NCI Cooperative Groups and has participated on numerous review committees, evaluation panels, subcommittees and professional societies.

In addition to her other leadership positions, Dr. Rusch is a member of the Executive Committee of the American College of Surgeons and has served as editor for The Oncologist. She has also chaired the Lung, Esophagus and Thoracic Malignancies Task Force.

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