Research & Projects

Multicenter Thoracic Surgery Registry (MTSR)

The MTSR is a state-of-the-art multi-institutional clinical registry designed by thoracic surgeons to address the most important clinical questions in thoracic surgery. It captures high-resolution, granular data on patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes across a growing network of 20+ institutions nationwide.

Institutional factors associated with adherence to quality measures for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer

Authors: Khorfan R, Cooke DT, Meguid RA, Backhus L, Varghese TK Jr, Farjah F, Bilimoria KY, Odell DD; ThORN Collaborative

This initiative aims to establish a robust, expert-led framework for measuring quality in thoracic surgery, ensuring high-standard care across participating institutions.

Published in: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 162(3), 649-660.e8 (2021)

Robotic Surgery Safety Initiative

A high-impact project cataloging robotic thoracic surgery emergencies to develop better intraoperative response protocols and improve patient safety.

COVID-19 guidance for triage of operations for thoracic malignancies: A consensus statement from Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network

Authors: Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network, Inc; Mara Antonoff, Leah Backhus, Daniel J. Boffa, Stephen R. Broderick, Lisa M. Brown, Phillip Carrott, James M. Clark, David Cooke, Elizabeth David, Matt Facktor, Farhood Farjah, Eric Grogan, James Isbell, David R. Jones, Biniam Kidane, Anthony W. Kim, Shaf Keshavjee, Seth Krantz, Natalie Lui, Linda Martin, Robert A. Meguid, Shari L. Meyerson, Tim Mullett, Heidi Nelson, David D. Odell, Joseph D. Phillips, Varun Puri, Valerie Rusch, Lawrence Shulman, Thomas K. Varghese, Elliot Wakeam, Douglas E. Wood

A critical, rapid-response initiative that provided essential triage and safety guidance for thoracic surgeons during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in: Annals of Thoracic Surgery & JTCVS (2020)

Administrative and clinical databases: General thoracic surgery perspective on approaches and pitfalls

Authors: Kidane B, Wakeam E, Meguid RA, Odell DD; Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network (ThORN) Inc

An foundational guide on the use of clinical and administrative databases, providing a roadmap for high-quality health services research in thoracic surgery.

Published in: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 162(4), 1146-1153 (2021)

Food Deserts Increase Readmission After Esophagectomy for Cancer: A Multi-institutional Study

Authors: Joseph D. Phillips, Kayla A. Fay, Elliot Wakeam, Nathan J. Graham, Caroline M. Godfrey, Hannah N. Marmor, Eric L. Grogan, Robert A. Meguid, Helen J. Madsen, Christina M. Stuart, Uma M. Sachdeva, Danny Wang, Mohamad K. Abou Chaar, Shanda H. Blackmon, Matthew E. Maeder, Jennifer A. Emond, Rian M. Hasson, Timothy M. Millington, David J. Finley

This research highlights the critical impact of food deserts and socioeconomic disparities on esophagectomy readmission rates.

Published in: Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 116(2), 246-254 (2023)

Optimizing health before elective thoracic surgery: systematic review of modifiable risk factors and opportunities for health services research

Authors: Sean M. Stokes, Elliot Wakeam, Mara B. Antonoff, Leah M. Backhus, Robert A. Meguid, David Odell, Thomas K. Varghese Jr

A systematic review identifying opportunities for pre-operative intervention and health services research to improve outcomes in elective surgery.

Published in: Journal of Thoracic Disease, 11(Suppl 4), S537-S554 (2019)

Lessons learned by thoracic surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors: Helen J. Madsen, Anne Lambert-Kerzner, Ellison Mucharsky, Joseph D. Phillips, Elizabeth A. David, David D. Odell, Adam R. Dyas, Robert A. Meguid

A collaborative reflection on how the thoracic surgery community adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting resilient practices and future readiness.

Published in: Journal of Thoracic Disease, 15(2), 507-515 (2023)