| doctors in the United States are specializing in the | | | | •Laser Endoscopy |
| diagnosis and treatment of a rare form of cancer, | | | | •Tracheobronchial and Esophageal Stents |
| Mesothelioma. Learn more about the achievements | | | | Dr. Lary A. Robinson, M.D. |
| and contributions of these doctors in the study of this | | | | Dr. Robinson authored several medical publications and |
| rare disease. | | | | has exerted a lot of effort involving cancer-related |
| According to the National Cancer Institute, | | | | research projects, particularly for mesothelioma and |
| Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer usually caused | | | | lung cancer. He focuses on evaluating treatments of |
| by inhalation of asbestos materials. Some people | | | | different stages of mesothelioma including therapeutic |
| because of their job descriptions are exposed | | | | treatments. |
| regularly to such hazardous chemicals. | | | | Other achievements of Dr. Robinson include: |
| Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer. It takes doctors | | | | •Undergraduate Degree – University of |
| specializing in this disease to detect and treat the | | | | Kansas |
| cancer. Sadly, there are only a few of these doctors | | | | •Medical Degree – Washington University |
| to date. | | | | School of Medicine |
| These doctors are worthy to mention below. | | | | •Fellowship in cardiac research and clinical |
| Dr. Roy Smythe, MD | | | | cardiac – St. Thomas' Hospital in London |
| Professor and Chairman | | | | •Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery |
| Department of Surgery | | | | •American Board of Thoracic Surgery |
| Texas A&M University System Health Sciences | | | | •Certified in Surgical Critical Care |
| Center | | | | •Associate Professor of Surgery and |
| Scott & White Hospital, Temple, TX | | | | Pharmacology |
| Phone: 254-724-2595 | | | | •Clinical Director of the Clinical Perfusion |
| Dr. Smythe attended his medical study in Baylor | | | | Science Education Program |
| University. In 1998, he became a faculty member of the | | | | Dr. Stephen C. Yang, M.D. |
| University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In | | | | Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery |
| 1989, he graduated with the highest honors in Texas | | | | Associate Professor of Surgery and Oncology |
| A&M University in 1989. He was also awarded the | | | | Surgical Director, Lung Transplantation Program |
| Helen Salyer Anderson Medal for Academic | | | | Di6rector, Thoracic Oncology Program |
| Achievement. | | | | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD |
| Between 1989 and 1996, he started a laboratory test | | | | Phone: (410) 614-3891 |
| which led to the first clinical gene therapy for the | | | | Dr. Yang initiated various medical researches including: |
| disease called mesotheliomia. Since then, he worked | | | | •Development of molecular markers for early |
| hand in hand with other specialists in looking for a | | | | diagnosis of lung cancer, recurrent lung cancer and |
| treatment of mesothelioma-inflicted diseases. | | | | surgical resection |
| Organizational Membership: | | | | •Early detection and intervention of |
| •Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery | | | | teleomerase |
| •American Board of Thoracic Surgery | | | | •Molecular biology of mesothelioma |
| •Alpha Omega Alpha | | | | Clinical Expertise: |
| •American Association for Cancer Research | | | | •Lung Cancer |
| •American Society for Gene Therapy | | | | •Lung Diseases: fibrosis, emphysema |
| •Association for Academic Surgery | | | | •Esophageal Cancer |
| •Southern Thoracic Surgical Association | | | | •Mesothelioma |
| Dr. Valerie W. Rusch, FACS | | | | •CT scanning for early diagnosis of tobacco |
| FACS Chief, Thoracic Service | | | | related diseases |
| Phone: 212-639-5873 | | | | •Lung transplantation – Adult and |
| Dr. Rusch is a specialist in many kinds of cancers | | | | Pediatric programs |
| including the mesothelioma. She made several | | | | •Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) |
| research projects to test how patients respond to | | | | •Lung volume reduction surgery for |
| several treatments. She aims to provide the best | | | | emphysema |
| treatment possible for cancer patients. | | | | Professional credentials: |
| Other clinical expertise: | | | | •B.A. Chemistry – Duke University |
| •Thoracic Surgical Oncology | | | | •M.D. Medicine – Medical College of |
| •Lung Cancer | | | | Virginia |
| •Esophageal Cancer | | | | •General Surgery Residency – University |
| •Mediastinal Tumors | | | | Texas Health Science Center in Houston |
| •Mesothelioma | | | | •Cardiothoracic Fellowship – Medical |
| •Pulmonary Metastases | | | | College of Virginia |
| •Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery | | | | •Thoracic Oncology Surgery Fellowship – |
| •Pulmonary and Upper Gastrointestinal | | | | M.D. |
| Endoscopy | | | | |