Thoracic Oncology Program - Homepage
Johannes Kratz, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Interim Chief of Thoracic Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Van Auken Endowed Chair in Thoracic Oncology
Director, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery
Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program
Medical Director of Robotic Surgery, UCSF Health
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the Thoracic Oncology Program is poised to conquer it. UCSF provides state-of-the-art care to patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, sarcoma and cancer that has metastasized to the chest. The program is led by Johannes Kratz, MD, Interim Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery and Program Leader of the Thoracic Oncology Program. Patients receive treatment from a dedicated multidisciplinary team of specialists. At UCSF, one of the world's leading biomedical research centers, patients also have access to clinical trials for promising new drugs.
We are proud to be a regional, national, and international referral center for lung cancer. Our surgeons are known for their willingness to be aggressive in the appropriate case. We are also a high volume center for thoracic surgery, the largest on the West Coast. Our post-operative mortality rates are among the lowest anywhere.
We have extensive experience in performing minimally invasive thoracic surgery. That means shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, and a more rapid return to normal activities. For patients who need chemotherapy after surgery, it means they can begin their treatment faster and are better able to tolerate higher doses.
Our medical oncology group is led by Matthew A. Gubens, MD, MS, two the region's foremost and highly regarded thoracic oncologists. Other specialists treating patients, from radiation oncology, pulmonology, pathology, and imaging, are similarly dedicated and highly skilled. All have special expertise in treating patients with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.
The Thoracic Oncology Lab is pursuing a variety of strategies to treat and cure lung cancer, mesothelioma and esophageal cancer. These include the investigation of molecular pathways such as Wnt and Hh, the role of inflammation in lung carcinogenesis, isolation of lung cancer stems cells, and the Lung Cancer Systems Genetics Project, An Approach to Individualized Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy. Eventually, these efforts will have a major impact on these diseases.
UCSF Thoracic Surgery – At the Forefront of Medical and Surgical Innovation
UCSF Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery stands at the forefront of surgical innovation, leveraging its strategic location in Silicon Valley to collaborate with industry leaders and bring the latest technological advancements to its patients. Discover the groundbreaking advancements in robotic surgery at UCSF, where innovation meets precision to redefine patient care.
Featured surgeons: Dr. Johannes Kratz, Dr. Diana Yu, Dr. Stanley Rogers, and Dr. Jasleen Kukreja
Featured UCSF programs: Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery, Lung Transplant Program.
Our mission is to develop the next generation of leaders in academic surgery.
A gift to the Thoracic Oncology Progam helps us discover new treatments and cures for lung cancer, esophageal cancer and mesothelioma.
