Miguel F. Alvelo-Rivera, MD
Dr. Miguel Alvelo-Rivera is a thoracic surgical oncologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan. He specializes in the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and other thoracic malignancies including malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Dr. Alvelo-Rivera works as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes medical oncologists, pulmonologists, and radiation oncologists as well as nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and others dedicated to delivering the highest quality care to patients. His philosophy of care centers on treating patients as if they were his own family, maintaining quality of life, and achieving a quick recovery that returns them to normal life.[1]
Education and Career
Dr. Alvelo-Rivera attended medical school and completed his initial medical residency at the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Puerto Rico Medical School. He then completed a fellowship in Thoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, where he had the advantage of working with the team that introduced the minimally invasive surgical technique that is now the standard of care for managing esophageal cancer.[1]
Professional Activities
In addition to being a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Alvelo-Rivera advocates on behalf of rural and underserved communities. He spent five years initiating and developing a thoracic surgery program in north-central Michigan to allow patients access to care without having to travel.[1]
Research
Dr. Alvelo-Rivera’s research interests focus on the management of thoracic cancer, as well as advancing minimally invasive approaches to surgery of the lung and foregut. He has been invited to participate as a visiting surgeon and lecturer at national and international locations ranging from Abu Dhabi and Germany to India, Argentina, and The Netherlands.[1]
His publications include:[2]
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer. Jhanelle E. Gray, Eric Sommers, Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, Lary A. Robinson, Gerold Bepler>; Oncology. 2009 Sep 15
Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment of Sigmoidal Esophagus in Achalasia. Matthew J. Schuchert, James D. Luketich, Rodney J. Landreneau, Arman Kilic, Yun Wang, Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, Neil A. Christie, Sebastien Gilbert, Arjun Pennathur>; Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2009 Mar 27
Revisional surgery after esophagectomy: an analysis of 43 patients. Michael S. Kent, James D. Luketich, Wilson S. Tsai, Patricia Churilla, Michael P. Federle, Rodney J. Landreneau, Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, Matthew J. Schuchert>; The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2008 Sep 1
