K. Eric Sommers, M.D., FACS
Dr. Sommers is one of the most experienced cardiothoracic surgeons in Florida. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive lung and chest surgery techniques including daVinci robotic assisted and video assisted (VATS) thoracic surgery. Dr. Sommers specializes in surgery for lung cancer, sarcoma, esophageal, and other cancers in the chest.
Dr. Sommers obtained his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and his medical degree at Northwestern University in Chicago Illinois. He spent ten years at the University of Pittsburgh for his residency training that included general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and research in the treatment of patients with cardiothoracic illnesses. He has won numerous awards, including an NIH National Research Service Award, and the prestigious Sheridan-Alley Fellowship to study health policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has over 50 publications, presentations, and abstracts in his name.
Dr. Sommers is on staff at Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph’s and University Community Hospital. He served on the staff at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for over 14 years, and served as the President of the Medical Staff at Moffitt. He has served on the faculty of the University of South Florida College of Medicine for over 10 years and currently holds the title of Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery and continues to be active in the education of future surgeons. He was the founding surgical director of the Tampa General Hospital Lung Transplant program, and served as the Director of the Heart Transplant program for three years. He has performed over 5000 cardiothoracic surgeries, over 1000 of which were specifically for lung cancer, and over 100 daVinci assisted robotic procedures, by far the most of any surgeon in the region.
Dr. Sommers specializes in the surgical treatment of thoracic illness. His technique for daVinci robotic lobectomy for lung cancer has been utilized for teaching of other thoracic surgeons. Areas of particular experience include surgery for complicated lung cancer cases, metastasectomy for sarcoma and other tumors, Pancoast tumors, chest wall tumors, mediastinal tumors including thymoma, germ cell tumors; esophageal cancer, and malignant pleural effusions. He is the most experienced surgeon for these problems in the Tampa Bay area. In addition, he served as the Director of the venous access device program at Moffitt and supervised the insertion of over 2000 ports for chemotherapy and other reasons.
Dr. Sommers has extensive experience across the full spectrum of cardiothoracic surgery but has a special focus which includes:
- Lung cancer using video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robotic techniques
- Lung nodules and lesions
- Pancoast tumors
- Chest wall tumors
- Mediastinal tumors
- Benign and malignant esophageal disease
- Disorders of the trachea (airway)
- Thymic disorders (thymomas)
- Germ cell tumors
- Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
Curriculum Vitae :
Current Position: President and Managing Member
July 2010-Present Florida Heart and Lung Surgery, PL
509 S. Armenia Ave., Suite 200
Tampa, FL 33609
Current Academic
Appointment: Clinical Associate Professor
2010-Present Department of Surgery
University of South Florida College of Medicine
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33612
Education:
1977-1981 Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
B.A. English Literature
1981-1986 Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL
M.D.
Postgraduate Training and Fellowship Appointments
1986-1987 Intern, General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
Medical, Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Richard L. Simmons, M.D., Chairman
1987-1989 Junior Resident, General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Richard L. Simmons, M.D., Chairman
1989-1991 Resident in Surgical Research, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, Department of Biology
1991-1992 Resident, General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Richard L. Simmons, M.D., Chairman
1992-1993 Chief Resident, General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Richard L. Simmons, M.D., Chairman
1993-1995 Resident, Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Bartley P. Griffith, M.D., Professor and Chief
1995 Elective Clinical Fellow, Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Tirone E. David, M.D., Professor and Chief
1995-1996 Chief Resident, Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Bartley P. Griffith, M.D., Professor and Chief
Academic Appointments and Employment:
1989-1991 Visiting Research Biologist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
1996 Visiting Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA
1996 -2010 Assistant Professor Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, University of South Florida
2008 – 2010 Assistant Member, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thoracic Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
2000 –2010 Member, Sarcoma Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
2006 - 2008 Director, VADS Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
2008 – 2010 Associate Member of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Department of Thoracic Oncology
Moffitt Cancer Center
Licenses
Pennsylvania 1986, Inactive MD 040946E
Florida 1996, Active ME 0074265
Board Certifications
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 1997 – Present
American Board of Surgery, Inactive
Teaching Experience
National symposia
Cardiac Transplantation: Overview of Today’s Services and Tomorrow’s Opportunities Morton Plant Hospital Medical Surgical Conference, Clearwater, FL, 5/26/98
Patient Device Selection and Management of a Successful VAD program, The Society of
Thoracic Surgeons 36th Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1/29/00
Lung Cancer: “Modern surgical approaches” presented February 2, 2001, Joint Cancer Conference of the FL Universities, Orlando, Florida
“Post cardiotomy failure: the dead & near dead heart” presented February 25, 2001, Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons 2001 Annual Meeting, Aventura, Florida.
Neo-adjuvant Treatment for N2 NSCLC: Point/Counterpoint. Moffitt Comprehensive Lung Cancer, Conference, Duck Key, FL, 2/7/03
Teaching and Training Experience:
Medical Students:
2006 – Present University of South Florida
Interdisciplinary Oncology Clerkship BCC 8117
Clinic Supervisor
4th Year Medical Students
2007 University of South Florida
ABSITE Lecture Review Series
Title: Congenital Heart Disease/Endocrine
Co-Lecturer
Fellows:
2006 – Present Surgical Oncology Fellows Rotation
Training and Supervision of Cardiothoracic Fellows, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Thoracic Surgery Service: James Mcoughlin, Brent Keeling, James Lewis, Jeff Farma, Ken Meredith, Mecker Moller, Arnod Sarnaik, George Dittrick, Giao Phan, Mark Gimbel, Alfredo Santillan, Rajendra Bhati
Residents:
2006 – Present Training and Supervision of Cardiothoracic Residents, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Thoracic Surgery Service: Jonathan Hernandez, Misti Wilson,Evan Tummel, Susan Shafii, Jesus Rendon, Mark Hartney, Donald Davis, Heidi Pearson, Farhaad Golkar, Odion Binite, Michael Bradner, Melanie Prince, Lucas Weigand, Richard Mullins, Kent Bogle, Eric Henderson, Nick Lee, Richard Sontchi, Daniel Vasquez, Michael Harrington, Beth Krieger, Nick Panetta, Jason Aston, Farah Khan, Jorge Lopez, Luis Santiago, Drew Rideout, Derek Weichel, Sara Clark, Samir Kapoor, Justin Parker, Jamie Sanchez, Jessica Smith, Timothy Kim, John Mullinax, Ana Parsee, Misti Wilson, Kevin Murtagh, Arthur Parsee, Kelly Swords, Samip Patel, James Williams, Jon Burton, Jonathan Tidwell, Colby Clark, Evan Tummel, David Lewis, Andrew Prather, Brian Dombe, Paul Bradley, Cesar Ercole, Peter Mennie, Humberto Olivero-Lara, Paul Toomey, Gerald Alexander, Vijay Davuluri, Maria Mainolfi, Abhishek Mathur, Robert Gabordi, Richard Burris, Heather Carpenter, Alexis Powell, Jamie Prather
Faculty Mentoring:
Surgical Residents Teaching Conferences in Department of Surgery at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Supervision of Department of Surgery residents at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, VAMC and Tampa General Hospital
Surgical Resident Thoracic Conference in Department of Surgery Didactic Lecture Series
Honors and Awards
Dartmouth Premedical Society Grant, Project Site: Roxas City, Philippines, 1980
NCI Surgical Clerkship, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 1985
“Plato’s cave revisited: A dialogue concerning medical epistemology”, Honorable mention, AOA National Essay Competition, 1986.
NIH National Research Service Award, Project Title: “Cardiac Surgery and Stunned Myocardium: Ca2+ and Energetics”, 1989-1991
The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, 1996 Alley-Sheridan Scholarship Program for Continuing Education, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Research Support
Completed:
PI: K.E. Sommers
Dates: 1989-1991
Source: NIH NRSA
Title: “Cardiac Surgery and Stunned Myocardium: CA2+ and Energetics”.
Total Amount of Award: $21,000
PI: K.E. Sommers
Dates: 2005
Source: St. Jude Medical
Title: Tissue Valve Research
Total Amount of Award: $5,000
Patents
del Nido PJ, Cao-Danh C, Sommers KE, and Ohkado A: An Aqueous Heart Preservation and Cardioplegia Solution. United States Patent # 5,407,793, patent date Apr. 18, 1995.
Sommers KE, Keeling, WB: Stentless Mitral Valve, provisional application pending.
Service
University of South Florida Service
Committees:
2002 –2004 Secretary/Treasurer, Medical Staff Executive Committee, University of South Florida
2004 –2006 President-elect, Medical Staff Executive Committee, University of South Florida
2005 – 2008 Member, University of South Florida Physicians Group (USFPG) Credentials Committee
2006 – 2008 President, Medical Staff Executive Committee, University of South Florida
2007-2008 Member, Self-Insurance Trust Committee, USF College of Medicine
2007 - 2008 Member, USFPG Self Insurance Program Risk Management Committee University of South Florida
Service at other institutions
Administrative Appointments:
1998 -2001 Surgical Director, Cardiac Transplant Program, Tampa General Hospital
1999-2001 Surgical Director, Lung Transplant Program, Tampa General Hospital
Service at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Committees:
2008 – Present O. R. Block Committee, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
2008 – Present O. R. Management Committee, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
2008 – Present First Case Starts Team, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Profession:
1999 – present Ad Hoc Reviewer, The Journal of Heart & Lung Transplantation
2000 – present Ad Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Thoracic Surgery
2008 – present Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Heart Valve Disease
Professional Association Memberships
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Member, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Member, American Association for Advancement of Science
Member, The Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
Member, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Member, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
Member, General Thoracic Surgical Club
Member, American College of Chest Physicians
Member, The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Invited/Peer-Reviewed Publications
Book Chapters
Sommers KE and Watson CG: “The Adrenal Gland” in The Scientific Basis of Surgery Chapter 19, eds. Simmons RL and Steed DL. WB Saunders: Philadelphia, 1992.
Sommers HM and Sommers KE: Laboratory procedures in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases in General Thoracic Surgery, 4th Edition Chapter 15, ed. Shields TW. Lea and Febiger: Philadelphia, 1994.
Ruckdeschel JC, Greene J, Sommers KE, Fields KK: “Complications of Cancer & its Treatment: Respiratory Complications” in Cancer Medicine Chapter 153, eds Kufe DW, Pollock RE, Weichselbaum RR, Bast RC, Gansler TS, Holland JF, Frei E, Decker BC: London 2003.
Articles and Invited Manuscripts
Smith LJ, Sommers KE, Hunt CE and Pachman L: Hyperoxic lung injury in mice: a possible protective role for prostacyclin. J Lab Clin Med 1986; 108:419-488.
Sommers KE: Plato’s cave revisited. A dialogue concerning medical epistemology. Pharos 1987; 50(1): 8-10.
Sommers KE, Simplaceanu E, Siewers RD, Ho C, and del Nido JP: Pyruvate improves postischemic myocardial function and ATP recovery: A 31P NMR spectroscopy study. Surg Forum 1990; 41:241-43.
Sommers KE, Ohkado A, Simplaceanu E, Wise B, Koretsky AP, Ho C, and del Nido PJ: Pyruvate improves postischemic contractile function, energetic efficiency, and calcium regulation. Surg Forum 1991; 42:247-49.
Ohkado A, Sommers KE, Cao-Danh H, and del Nido PJ: Successful prolonged myocardial preservation with a highly buffered arresting solution. Surg Forum 1991; 42:293-95.
Sommers KE, Ohkado A, Simplaceanu E, Koretsky AP, Ho C, and del Nido PJ: The role of magnesium in postischemic cardiac dysfunction. Surgery 1992; 112(2):159-65.
Ohkado A, Cao-Danh H, Sommers KE, and del Nido PJ: Twenty-four hour myocardial preservation with cardioplegia buffering. Surg Forum 1992; 43:319-21.
Sommers KE, Landreneau RJ, Fuhrman C, Hazelrigg SR, Keenan RJ, and Ferson PF: The role of video-assisted thoracic surgery in the management of fungal diseases. Chest Surg Clin No Amer 1993; 3:743-56.
Ohkado A, Sommers KE: Buffering capacity of histidine in cardioplegia analyzed by Myocardial production of lactate and alanine. Kyobu Geka 1993; 46(12):1021-4.
Ohkado A, Cao-Danh H, Sommers KE, and del Nido PJ: Evaluation of a highly buffered, low calcium solution for long-term preservation of the heart. Comparison with University of Wisconsin solution. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1994; 108(4):762-771.
Sommers KE, Edmundowicz D, Katz W, Hattler BG: Primary cardiac lymphoma: echocardiographic characterization and successful resection. Ann Thor Surg 1996; 61(3):1001-3.
Luketich JD, Westkaemper J, Sommers KE, Ferson PF, Keenan RJ, Landreneau RJ: Bronchoesophagopleural fistula after photodynamic therapy for malignant mesothelioma. Ann Thor Surg 1996; 62(1):283-4.
Sommers KE, Griffith BP, Hardesty RL, Keenan RJ: Early lung allograft function in twin recipients from the same donor: risk factor analysis. Ann Thor Surg 1996; 62(3):784-90.
Luketich JD, Sommers KE, Griffith BP, Boujoukos A, Ferson PF, Keenan RJ: Successful management of secondary aortoesophageal fistula. Ann Thor Surg 1996; 62(6):1852-4.
Sommers KE, David TE: Aortic valve replacement with patch enlargement of the aortic annulus. Ann Thor Surg 1997; 63(6):1608-12.
Ninan M, Landreneau RJ, Sommers KE, Tobias J, Luketich JD, Ferson PF, Keenan RJ, Weyant RJ: Standardized exercise oximetry predicts postpneumonectomy outcome. Ann Thor Surg 1997; 64(2):328-33.
Sommers KE, Anderson MB: Thoracic complications in solid organ transplantation. Chest Surg Clin N Am.1999; 9(1):125-38.
Weston MW, Spoto E, Sommers, KE, Sears N, Novitsky-Stenting unprofected left main coronary artery stenosos in heart transplant patients. The Good, Bad, and Ugly, The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2001; 20 (11) 1228-32.
Simon GR, Ruckdeschel JC, Williams C, Cantor AB, Chiappori A, Rocha-Lima CM, Antonia S, Haura E, Wagner H MD, Robinson L, MD, Sommers KE, Alberts WM, and Bepler G. Gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839) in previously Treated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Experience from a single institution. Cancer Control 2003; 10: 1 to 8.
Bepler G, Sharma S, Cantor A, Gautam A, Haura E, Simon G, Sharma A, Sommers KE and Robinson L. RRM1 and PTEN as prognostic parameters for overall and disease-free survival in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004: 22(10): 1878-1885.
Maxey TS, Keeling WB, Sommers KE. Surgical alternatives for the palliation of heart failure: a prospectus. J Card Fail. 2005 Dec; 11(9):670-6.
Ramnath N, Sommers KE, Robinson LA, Nwogu C, Sharma A, Cantor A, Bepler G. Phase II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine in resectable non-small cell lung cancer. Chest 2005; 128:3467-3474.
Bepler G, Zheng Z, Gautam A, Sharma S, Cantor A, Sharma A, Cress WD, Kim YC, Rosell, Rafael, McBride C, Robinson L, Sommers KE, Haura E. Ribonucleotide reductase M1 gene promoter activity, polymorphisms, population frequencies, and clinical relevance. Lung Cancer 2005; 47:183-192.
Bepler G, Li X, Sharma A, Greenberg H, Cantor A, Hazelton T, Walsh F, Chiappori A, Williams Ch, Antonia S, Haura E, Tanvetyanon T, Robinson L, Sommers KE, Alberts M, and Simon GR. The Clinical Value of Tumoral RRM1 and ERCC1 Expression for Treatment Response and Therapeutic Decisions in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. ASCO Educational Book. 2006
Keeling, WB, Sommers KE, Garrett JR, Vohra N, Maxey TS, Blazick E. Bedside modified Clagett procedure for empyema following pulmonary resection. The American Surgeon. 2006 Jul; 72(7):627-30.
Keeling, WB, Sommers KE, Garrett JR, Lewis V, Maxey TS, Blazick E. Routine Evaluation for Aspiration Following Thoracotomy for Pulmonary Resection. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2007 Jan; 83(1):193-6.
Keeling, WB, Maxey TS, Sayad D, Martini N, Blazick E, Sommers KE. A novel stentless mitral valve. Surg Innov. 2007 Mar; 14(1):9-11
Jain Surbhi, Sommers KE, Setzer Matthias, Vrionis Frank. Posterior midline approach for single-stage en bloc resection and circumferential spinal stabilization for locally advanced Pancoast tumors. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine 9:71-82, 2008
Bepler G, Zhou J, Sommers KE, Cantor, A, Li X, Sharma A, Robinson LA. Clinical efficacy and predictive molecular markers of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and pemetrexed in resectable non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol, 2008 Oct: 3 (10):1112-8.
Keeling WB, Hernandez J, Lewis V, Czapla M., Zhu W, Garrett J, Sommers KE. Age is an Independent Risk Factor for Aspiration Following Thoracotomy for Pulmonary Resection. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery; 2010 Sep; 140(3): 573-7.Epub2010 May 27
Gray J, Sommers E, Alvelo-Rivera M, Robinson L, Bepler G, Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Resectable Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Oncology, 2009; 23:879-96
Tanvetyanon T, Robinson L, Sommers KE, Haura E, Kim J, Altiok S, Bepler G, Relationship Between Tumor Size and Survival Among Patients With Resection of Multiple Synchronous Lung Cancers. Journal of Thoracic Oncology 2010 July; 5 (7) 1018-1024
Hernandez J, Humphries LA, Keeling B, Golkar F, Dimou F, Garrett J, Sommers KE, Robotic Lobectomy: Flattening The Learning Curve, Journal of Robotic Surgery, 2010, October
Other Publications
Sommers, KE, “Risky Cosmetic Surgery Business” Op-ed piece, St. Petersburg Times, 8/12/00
Abstracts
Sommers KE, Simplaceanu E, Siewers RD, Ho C, and del Nido PJ: The role of calcium in myocardial contracture. J Mol Cell Cardiol 1990; 20(I):36.
Sommers KE, Nakamura H, Simplaceanu E, Siewers RD, and del Nido PJ: Function and energetics in postischemic myocardium. J Mol Cell Cardiol 1991; 23(III):544.
Ohkado A, Cao-Danh H, Sommers KE, Morse E, and del Nido PJ: The effect of anaerobic glycolysis and lactate accumulation in the ischemic heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 1992; 23 (III):S51.
Keenan R, Zeevi A, Banas R, Sommers KE, Spichty K, Yousem S, Kocova M, Trucco M, Starzl T, and Griffith B: Micro-chimerism is associated with a lower incidence of chronic rejection after lung transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 1994; 13:A9.
Hamburger A, Sommers K, Gryczynski Z, and Lakowicz JR: Fluorescence lifetime measurements of NADH and tryptophan in intact ischemic rabbit myocardium. Proceedings of SPIE 1999; 3600:49.
Anderson MB, Sommers KE, and Pham SM: Ventricular assist device in support for acute graft failure following heart transplantation using the Abiomed BVS 5000: CT Transpl. 2001: An International Update, Vail, Colorado; Feb. 2001.
Bepler G, Sharma S, Cantor A, Gautam A, Haura E, Simon G, Sharma A, Sommers K, Robinson, L: RRM1 and PTEN as prognostic parameters for overall and disease-free survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: Journal of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Virginia May 2004.
Sommers KE, Garrett J, Hernandez J,: “Robotic Lobectomy: Flattening The Learning Curve” General Thoracic Surgical Club, Presented March, 2010.
Sommers KE, Alvelo-Rivera M, Garrett J, Hernandez J, Golkar, F: “Aquamantys Tissue Link: A New Hemostatic Option in Hight Risk Thoracic Surgery Patients”, General Thoracic Surgical Club, presented March 2010.
Prowler V, Hernandez J, Sommers KE; “Colonic Hiatal Herniation Following Esophagogastrectomy ”, Southeastern Surgical Congress, accepted to be presented at the 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting, Birmingham, Alabama, February, 2012.
Presentations
“Acute appendicitis in pregnancy” presented November 4, 1988, American College of Surgeons, Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter Residents’ Day, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“Pyruvate improves postischemic myocardial function and ATP recovery: A 31P NMR spectroscopy study” presented October 22, 1990, American College of Surgeons Surgical Forum, San Francisco, California.
“Pyruvate improves postischemic contractile function, energetic efficiency, and calcium regulation” presented October 26, 1991, American College of Surgeons Surgical Forum, Chicago, Illinois
“Routine evaluation for aspiration following thoracotomy for pulmonary resection” presented March 9 – 11, 2006, General Thoracic Surgical Club, Tucson, AZ.
“The role of magnesium in postischemic myocardial dysfunction” presented February 26, 1992, Society of University Surgeons meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Twenty-four hour myocardial preservation with cardioplegia buffering” presented October 25, 1993, American College of Surgeons Surgical Forum, New Orleans, Louisiana.
“Impact of donor and recipient risk factors on early graft function in ‘twin’ recipients from the same donor” presented January 29, 1996, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Orlando, Florida.
“Aortic annulus enlargement for aortic valve replacement” presented November 8, 1996, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association 43rd Annual Meeting, Cancun, Mexico.
“Fluorescence lifetime measurements of NADH and tryptophan in intact ischemic rabbit myocardium” presented January 26, 1999, Photonics West, San Jose, California.
“Ventricular support with the Abiomed BVS 5000: 40 consecutive cases” presented October 1-2, 1999, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Heart Failure Summit V Symposium, Cleveland, Ohio.
“Patient device selection and management of a successful VAD program” presented January 29, 2000, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 36th Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Lung Cancer: “Modern surgical approaches” presented February 2, 2001, Joint Cancer Conference of the FL Universities, Orlando, Florida
“Post cardiotomy failure: the dead & near dead heart” presented February 25, 2001, Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons 2001 Annual Meeting, Aventura, Florida.
“Pulmonary resection in patients with emphysema and extremely poor pulmonary function”, Cardiac and General Thoracic Surgery Update 2004, December 10 – 12, 2004, Scottsdale, AZ.
“Beside modified Clagett procedure for empyema following pulmonary resection”, Southeastern Surgical Congress, February 18 – 21, 2006, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
“Extended Pulmonary Resection for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, New Advances in Neuro-Oncology and Thoracic Oncology”, September 12-13, 2008, Sarasota, FL
“Lung Cancer Updates for the 21st Century”, 11th Annual Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology Conference, October 2-5, 2008, Denver, CO.
“Age is an Independent Risk Factor for Aspiration Following Thoracotomy for Pulmonary Resection” Keeling WB, Hernandez J, Lewis V, Czapla M., Zhu W, Garrett J, Sommers KE, presented by W. Brent Keeling in the Resident Competition at the AATS, May 9-13, 2009, Boston, MA.
“Robotic Lobectomy: Flattening The Learning Curve” 23rd Annual Meeting of the General Thoracic Surgical Club, March 11-14, 2010, Carlsbad, CA.
“Aquamantys Tissue Link: A New Hemostatic Option in Hight Risk Thoracic Surgery Patients”, 23rd Annual Meeting of the General Thoracic Surgical Club, March 11-14, 2010, Carlsbad, CA.
“Transition from VATS to Robot-Assisted Pulmonary Resection”, Miami Robotics Symposium, October 13-16, 2010, Miami, Fl.
Invited Seminars
Bayfront Medical Center’s Grand Rounds,St. Petersburg, FL, Complex Pleural Disease -, 01/1997
Columbia/HCA, Complex Pleural Disease, New Port Richey, FL, New Port Richey Hospital’s Grand Rounds, 01/1997.
Tampa General Hospital’s Surgical Grand Rounds,Tampa, FL, Surgical Approaches to End Stage Lung Disease , 01/1997
Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital’s CME Program,Port Charlotte, FL, Common Thoracic Surgical Problems (Part I), 02/1997
Bay Pines VA Medical Center’s Surgical Grand Rounds,Bay Pines, FL, New Options in Aortic Valve Surgery , 03/1997
Columbia Regional Medical,Center Bayonet Point, Hudson, FL New Options in Aortic Valve Surgery,–, 03/1997
St. Anthony’s Hospital’s CME Program,St. Petersburg, FL, Complex Pleural Disease, 04/1997
Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital’s CME Program,Port Charlotte, FL, Common Thoracic Surgical Problems (Part II), 06/1997
Tampa General Hospital’s Surgical Grand Rounds,Tampa, FL, Approaches to End Stage Lung Disease , 11/1997
Morton Plant Hospital Medical Surgical Conference,Clearwater, FL, Cardiac Transplantation: Overview of Today’s Services and Tomorrow’s Opportunities, 05/1998
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 36th Annual Meeting,Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Patient Device Selection and Management of a Successful VAD program, 01/2000
Joint Cancer Conference of the Florida Universities,Orlando, FL, Lung Cancer: Modern Surgical approaches, 02/2001
FL Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons 2001 Annual Meeting,Aventura, FL, Post Cardiotomy Failure: The Dead & Near Dead Heart, 02/2001
Point/Counterpoint: Moffitt Comprehensive Lung Cancer Conference,Duck Key, FL, Neo-adjuvant Treatment for N2 NSCLC:, 02/2003
Other Education:
Executive Program in Health Care Policy, “Coping with the Health Care Revolution”, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1996.
Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy , University of Maryland at Baltimore College of Medicine, 1998.
Laser safety and clinical applications, UPMC 6/1994, Passed
Minimal Access Surgery for Thoracic Malignancies NIH Grant, Credentialed Surgeon
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Thoracic Surgeon
UNOS Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Credentialed Surgeon
DaVinci Robotic Training, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 2/22/09 – 2/24/09.
Tampa General Hospital Staff Leadership Conference, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Orlando, FL
3/11/11 – 3/13/11.