WELCOME
Welcome from the Faculty
On behalf of the faculty and staff, we would like to welcome you to the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Department of Thoracic Surgery has been established to recognize the robust and dynamic growth in general thoracic surgery and to advance patient care through rapid developments in clinical and basic research within a multidisciplinary environment. We partner with our colleagues and referring physicians to ensure rapid access and timely evaluation for new patients and consultations. We provide a patient (and family) friendly environment with excellence in patient care, access to innovative therapy through clinical trials, multidisciplinary evaluation as needed, and processes for continuous improvement in quality and outcomes of therapy. Our faculty focus efforts in didactic and practical graduate medical education. Academic activities in clinical trials and translational research allow for rapid 'bench-to-bedside' application of novel therapeutics. These efforts advance our care of our patients, and the specialty of Thoracic Surgery for the benefit of all.
The faculty and staff in the Department of Thoracic Surgery have developed these programs of care through a refined understanding of cancer biology and thoracic pathophysiology, advances in patient care, and improvements in operative management. Expertise in counseling patients, families, and physicians in strategies for reoperative or complex thoracic diseases, selection and access to clinical investigations (clinical trials) for novel therapy, and implementation of multidisciplinary disease site teams (thoracic surgery, thoracic medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonary medicine, nursing, physical rehabilitation, social work, and others) optimize pre-treatment planning.
We are committed to excellence in patient care by continuously improving clinical services, application of novel scholarly activities in clinical and basic research, and medical education for students, residents, and practicing physicians. We emphasize timely and excellent patient services, academic achievement through research and clinical investigations, education of others, and health services research in thoracic surgery. We will enable our faculty and staff to provide this care and meet the unique and individual needs of our patients and their families by ensuring access to specialty thoracic surgical care, excellent quality of clinical and academic outcomes, and close relationships with our referring physicians to ensure continuity of care in the patient’s home community.
As faculty, we seek a close partnership with physicians and patients in providing care for patients and their families. We would appreciate your comments and look forward to assisting our physician colleagues and patients now and in the future. Once again, welcome to our department.
Mission Statement
The Department of Thoracic Surgery supports the mission, vision, and credo of the
We care for our patients and each other with compassion, excellence in surgery, and in a socially responsible manner, based upon new knowledge and continuous quality improvement.
We advance the comprehensive practice of thoracic surgery through research and by employing new and advanced technologies and treatment options. We provide an educational environment for our residents and students to enhance their abilities as future leaders in the field of thoracic surgery.
Contact Information
Vera Phelan
Assistant to the Chairman
Department of Thoracic Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
1313 21st Ave South
Nashville,
Appts:
Fax:
Email: Vera.phelan@vanderbilt.edu
