Why Dr. Flores Became a Thoracic Surgeon

Dr. Raja Flores became a surgeon to be able to fix people in a tangible way. During his general surgery residency training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, he was exposed to the surgical treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. He trained under the guidance of a mentor with experience in this field. Dr. Flores fell in love with the idea of being able to surgically treat such a rare and aggressive disease.

Dr. Flores went on to pursue fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and asbestosis soon became some of his areas of surgical expertise. He currently practices as a thoracic surgeon at Mount Sinai Health System affiliated with Icahn School of Medicine, where he also serves as Principal Investigator of the Libby Epidemiology Research Program, and Professor and Chair for the Department of Thoracic Surgery.

How Dr. Flores Relates to His Patients

Dr. Flores has always felt a bond with his patients diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Many of these individuals performed blue-collar work, such as shipyard work, pipe fitting work, or insulation work, exposing them to asbestos. Dr. Flores feels he can relate to his patients because he also has a background in blue-collar work.

Research and Patient Care

Dr. Flores is recognized nationally and internationally for pioneering the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer. This procedures is a minimally invasive thoracic surgery that removes the diseased parts of the lung with three small incisions. It is a gentler and safer surgical approach than opening up the chest cavity, and offers patients a shorter recovery period.

Dr. Flores’s research interests also include multimodal treatment for asbestos-related cancers. This approach employs multiple treatment types, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to more effectively manage a patient’s malignancy.

When facing a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, it is crucial to find the right treatment right away. Contact Dr. Raja Flores today.