DR. RAJA FLORES

Dr. Raja Flores is currently the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and one of the most respected mesothelioma surgeons in the country.

As a young man growing up in the streets of New York City, Dr. Flores had to overcome many obstacles, including being surrounded by pervasive gang violence and drugs. He persevered, however, and worked a number of diverse jobs to reach his goal of becoming a surgical oncologist.

His humble background and work ethic put him in a unique position to connect to his patients, many of whom share similar backgrounds. Dr. Flores’s approach to patient care is personal, supportive, and always patient-centered.

“With this disease people have their backs against the wall. I like being the one to help them get through it, and in the cases where they can’t, I like working with their families to help them.”- Dr. Raja Flores

Dr. Flores became interested in treating mesothelioma during his training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, home of the International Mesothelioma Program.

Under the mentorship of Dr. David Sugarbaker, world-renowned mesothelioma specialist and innovator of the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), Dr. Flores researched mesothelioma extensively and started on his path to becoming a mesothelioma expert.

Committed to Research and Surgical Innovation

Dr. Flores is heavily involved in mesothelioma research. He’s been the lead investigator in several clinical trials, including a multicenter trial testing the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and adjuvant radiation therapy.

Dr. Flores is also a pioneer when it comes to minimally invasive surgery. He refined video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and has more experience performing this procedure than anyone else in the world. VATS uses three small incisions to access and remove a tumor, rather than one large incision, like the standard thoracotomy.

His development of VATS and other minimally invasive techniques benefits patients tremendously, because smaller incisions lead to faster recoveries and shorter hospital stays. This translates into improved recovery rates overall.

Understanding the Cause of Mesothelioma

Dr. Flores is also greatly interested in studying the cause of mesothelioma, asbestos, and how it brings about mesothelioma. This is evident by his contributions to the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, which curates a searchable database of mesothelioma samples researchers can use to develop new treatments.

He is also the Principal Investigator in the Libby Epidemiology Research Program, the goal of which is to investigate the health consequences posed by long-term exposure to asbestos.

Libby is a mining town in Montana that the highest rate of mesothelioma incidence in the country, partially due to the heavy mining carried out by W.R. Grace Company.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a member of our Patient Help Team can help you get more information about treatment and connect to a specialist like Dr. Flores. Speak to a team member today for free assistance.

Qualifications

Medical Degree MD Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, 1992

Residency Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (1992–1997)

Achievements

Steven and Ann Ames Professorship in Thoracic Surgery Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital Principal Investigator of Libby Epidemiological Program

Research Interests

Multimodal treatment and management of pleural mesothelioma Epidemiology of mesothelioma Minimally-invasive Surgery Chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Finding an Experienced Doctor

Connecting to an experienced doctor is the most important step you can take towards improving your prognosis. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and few doctors have treated or diagnosed it. To get the best, most effective treatment, seek treatment from a mesothelioma specialist.

Our Patient Help Team can review your diagnosis and find an experienced specialist for you. Reach out to a member of our team for help connecting to a specialist, more information on mesothelioma, and assistance finding financial aid.

You can also learn more improving your prognosis in our informational guide. Order a free copy today.