Anthony Cassano, MD, MSHA
Dr. Anthony Cassano is the Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Thoracic Surgical Department at Virginia Commonwealth University and its Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia. In his role, he is actively involved in the surgical treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the lungs, airways and mediastinum, and minimally invasive approaches to surgical therapy. He is part of the VCU Massey mesothelioma program, which offers patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma surgical options including pleurectomy and decortication, extrapleural pneumonectomy, and pleurodesis.
Education and Career
Dr. Cassano earned a bachelor of science degree from the Rutgers University College of Pharmacy and then earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine of New Jersey’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He then completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as a research fellowship in Vascular Surgery. After serving as Chief Resident in General Surgery at VCU, he pursued a residency in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital, a Congenital Heart Surgery residency at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and a Thoracic Surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was later named Administrative Chief Resident of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital.[1]
Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Cassano accepted a cardiothoracic surgeon role at Miami Valley Hospital and as a clinical instructor in the Department of Surgery at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine. He then joined the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System as Director of the Thoracic Surgical Department. He is also the Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program.[1]
Professional Memberships and Activities
Dr. Cassano is active within the medical profession. In addition to his role as a reviewer for The Journal of Thoracic Oncology and previously having reviewed for The Journal of Thoracic Diseases, he is a member of several noted medical societies, including:[1]
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
- The American College of Chest Physicians (Fellow)
- The Richmond Academy of Medicine
- The Humera Surgical Society
- The Virginia Thoracic Surgery Club
Research
Dr. Cassano’s research interest focuses on the use of minimally invasive techniques in the surgical treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the lungs. He is actively involved in clinical trials and the development of new devices to improve patient outcomes following chest wall surgery.
Some of the works he has co-authored include:[1]
- Intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery treated with neoadjuvant radiation prior to pulmonary artery resection and reconstruction. Alexander Allen, Steven C. Smith, Raghavendra Pillappa, Sosipatros A. Boikos, Benjamin Medalion, John D. Grizzard, Anthony D. Cassano, Timothy Harris>; Respiratory Medicine Case Reports. 2021 Apr 27
- Does Race or Ethnicity Impact Complications After Pulmonary Lobectomy for Patients With Lung Cancer? Yahya Alwatari, Michel J. Sabra, Jad Khoraki, Dawit Ayalew, Luke G. Wolfe, Anthony D. Cassano, Rachit D. Shah>; The Journal of Surgical Research. 2021 Jun 1
- Rationale and process for N95 respirator sanitation and re-use in the COVID-19 pandemic. Gregory J. Golladay, Kevin Leslie, Wilhelm A. Zuelzer, Anthony D. Cassano, Joshua J. Plauny, Frank E. Daniels, Gonzalo Bearman, Stephen L. Kates>; Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2021 Feb 2
