Benjamin Wei, MD
Dr. Benjamin Wei is a noted thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeon, researcher, and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Board-certified in surgery, cardiac surgery, and thoracic surgery, Dr. Wei is an expert in robotic-assisted and video-assisted thoracic surgery, techniques that have proven invaluable in the treatment of patients diagnosed with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Wei is also skilled in chest wall reconstruction and organ procurement for lung transplantation.[1]
Dr. Wei is also a highly respected professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Director of the UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program. He has a particular interest in surgical education and has helped develop multiple resources and programs for surgical and cardiothoracic trainees. He is also the program director of the UAB thoracic surgery residency.
Education and Career
Dr. Wei earned a bachelor of science at Yale University before attending medical school at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. After earning his medical degree, he completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and a cardiothoracic fellowship at Duke University.[1]
Upon completion of his education, Dr. Wei joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a surgeon and Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and since then advanced to an Associate Professor and then full Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. As program director of both the UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program and the Thoracic Surgery program, he is able to guide future surgeons in expertise in improving lung cancer and mesothelioma patient outcomes through the use of robotic- and video-assisted surgery, as well as other advanced techniques.
Research
In addition to his role as surgeon and professor, Dr. Wei is an academic researcher, with the majority of his research focused on topics involving medicine and robotic surgery. He has an index of fourteen, has co-authored 73 publications, and received 597 citations. He has also provided peer review of articles for the Journal of Thoracic Disease.[1]
