Thoracic Surgery

At the Division of General Thoracic Surgery, our goal is to provide exceptional, up-to-date, and coordinated care delivered in a timely and compassionate manner.


Lung Cancer

Our Board-Certified Thoracic Surgeons provide high quality care and continue to educate themselves on the most up to date procedures and new technologies. Our facility offers multiple minimally invasive techniques, allowing 96.2% of our clinical stage-I lung cancer patients to undergo minimally invasive surgery. This is well above the national average. This also allows our patients to have shorter hospital stays post-operatively, with our average length of stay being three days. Our collaboration with the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, as well as Memorial Sloan Kettering provides a comprehensive care-team with a multi-disciplinary approach.

If you are between the ages of 55-80 years old, a current smoker or former smoker who quit in the last 15 years, please click here to learn more about lung cancer screening.

VIDEO:
Lung cancer surgery

VIDEO:
Dr. Katigbak’s Medical Rounds on lung cancer


Esophageal Cancer

Our Thoracic Surgery surgeons are leaders in the state for minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer, specifically using the DaVinci XI Robot.

VIDEO:
Dr. Kachala’s Medical Rounds on minimally invasive esophageal cancer surgery

VIDEO:
Esophageal surgery explanation


Thoracentesis Clinic

For our patients who suffer from pleural effusions, we are able to perform a thoracentesis, coveniently in the office, by our experienced Physician Assistants. This is an outpatient office based procedure that does not require anything more than local anesthesia. This allows patients to return home the same day and avoid lengthy waits in the emergency room. We then are able to continue to monitor progress in the office.


Other Conditions Treated

  • Thymomas
  • Carcinoids
  • Mediastinal cysts
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Paraesophageal hernias
  • Pleural effusions
  • Pneumothorax
  • Rib fractures
  • Esophageal (Zenker's) diverticula

Patient Education


Our Thoracic Surgery Locations:


Meet our Thoracic Surgeons:

Name Specialties Location
Godfrey, Mark Spencer, MD Godfrey, Mark Spencer, MD
4.9 /5
107 surveys
860.696.4306
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Thoracic Surgery
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  • Hartford
Katigbak, Mario Winn, MD Katigbak, Mario Winn, MD
4.9 /5
232 surveys
860.696.4306
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Hartford
  • Bloomfield
  • Manchester
Show Less
Van Backer, Justin, MD Van Backer, Justin, MD
4.9 /5
176 surveys
860.696.4923
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • General Surgery
Show Less
  • New Britain
  • Meriden
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Walker, Daniel, MD Walker, Daniel, MD
4.9 /5
51 surveys
860.696.4306
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • General Surgery
Show Less
  • Hartford
Whang, Brian B., MD, FACS Whang, Brian B., MD, FACS
4.9 /5
70 surveys
475.210.5780
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Bridgeport
Worth, Jennifer, MD, MBA, FACS Worth, Jennifer, MD, MBA, FACS
4.8 /5
88 surveys
860.886.4330
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Norwich
  • Waterford
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