Medical Specialty

Thoracic Surgery

Specializations/Clinical Interests

Lung cancer, Esophogeal cancer, Thymic tumors, Minimally invasive video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and Robotic thoracic surgery

Insurance

See Insurance Providers

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery, 2001
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2004

Medical School

The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, 1992

Residency Training

Cardiothoracic Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 2000-2002
General Surgery, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 1995-2000

Fellowship

Thoracic Oncology Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2005
Heart/Lung Transplantation and Congenital Heart Surgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 2003-2004

Academic Appointment

Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

About the doctor

Faiz Y. Bhora, MD, FACS is Director of Thoracic Surgical Oncology and Thoracic Surgical Research, Co-Director of the Airway Program and Associate Program Director of General Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Continuum Cancer Centers of New York. He is Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He received his medical education at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, General Surgery training at George Washington University Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery training at UCLA Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Thoracic Oncology Surgery at The University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bhora's area of interest and specialty is Thoracic Oncology Surgery. He specializes in minimally invasive approaches to thoracic surgical diseases, especially thoracic cancer and in the use of the Da Vinci robot to perform minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Operations where Dr. Bhora is considered expert include Robotic Lobectomy and Segmentectomy, Robotic Heller Myotomy, Robotic Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis and thymoma, Robotic Excision of Duplication Cysts, Neurogenic Tumors etc. He is nationally and internationally known for his expertise in advanced bronchoscopic surgery involving the airway, including Airway Stenting and Endoscopic Excision of Tumors. He has developed one of the largest Interventional Airway Programs in the region. In addition to cancer surgery, Dr. Bhora has an interest in VATS procedures to treat complex thoracic surgical problem, Repair of Pectus Exavatum Deformities and treatment of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax. Dr. Bhora frequently is able to offer treatment with excellent outcomes to even the most complex of patients, including international patients from South America, UAE, Canada and the Sub-Continent. Dr. Bhora works with a team of outstanding professions including 3 NP’s, a dedicated Patient Navigator , social workers, respiratory and physical therapists including reiki experts and pain and palliative care experts as part of the Thoracic Oncology Program. His goal is exceptional, personalized patient care, with a holistic approach.

Dr. Bhora is actively involved in basic science research and in resident and medical student education. In addition to being Associate Program Director in General Surgery, he is an integral part of the Pulmonary Fellowship Training program. Dr. Bhora organizes and moderates the weekly Morbidity and Mortality conference for the Department of Surgery. Dr. Bhora serves on the faculty of a national board review course involved in thoracic surgery resident education. He is Director of Thoracic Surgery Research and Director of the Columbia University Cardiothoracic Preceptorship SU 65R He has mentored 7 pos-doc fellows and over 50 medical students. He has authored several important publications and is regularly asked to present and lecture at national and international meetings. His current research interest involves the radiobiology of lung cancer combined with chemotherapy, the use of stents to palliate lung cancer and outcomes research including robotic lung lobectomy. Dr. Bhora directed the prestigious Ahmad Adaya Cardiothoracic Research Fellowship that has been responsible for the training and mentoring of several young physicians. His current research support is over $750,000 over the next 5 years from government and philanthropic sources.

In addition to his clinical and administrative responsibilities with the department, division, residency program, research, and medical students, Dr. Bhora is the Surgical Representative for the system-wide P4P and Quality Program at Continuum. In this capacity, he has regular meetings with all surgeons at the medical center to discuss issues such as CMI, LOS, flow, quality and efficiency.  He also has an interest in health care information technology and research databases to improve quality, cost efficiency and outcomes.

Dr. Bhora is President of the New York General Thoracic Surgical Club, the premier general thoracic surgical society in the tri-state area and Chair of the Membership Committee of the New York Society of Thoracic Surgeons (NYSTS). He has served on the Executive Committee of the Association for Academic Surgery and the Society for University Surgeons as Co-Chair of the Leadership Committee, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (Research Task Force), ITMIG (Workforce on Thymic Cancer) and the American College of Surgeons (Rep of NY State). He is the recipient of several national awards, including Patient’s Choice Award for 2009-2011 and America’s Top Surgeons 2011 from the Consumer’s Research Council of America.