Rudy P. Lackner, MD
Dr. Rudy P. Lackner is a thoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, Nebraska. As part of the facility’s lung cancer and thoracic oncology program, he specializes in minimally invasive approaches to treating esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma.[1]
Dr. Lackner uses minimally invasive procedures and video-assisted thoracic surgery for diagnosing malignancies and for removing cancerous tissues in a way that eliminates the need to make larger incisions into the chest. Because this approach does not require cutting muscles on the outside part of the chest or removal of ribs, patients end up with three or four small incisions that are a centimeter or two in size. This allows greater pain control, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries.
Education and Career
Dr. Lackner’s interest in medicine began when he worked as a paramedic for New York City’s 9-1-1 service. He attended Manhattan College, where he earned a bachelor of science degree, then went on to attend medical school at New York Medical College. He then completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center and completed fellowships in Cardiothoracic research and Cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Chicago. He completed a Thoracic Transplantation fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1]
After completing his education, Dr. Lackner spent five years at the University of Nebraska as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, then returned to North Shore-LIJ Health System as the Chief of their Division of Thoracic Surgery. In 2003 he returned to the University of Nebraska, where he holds the titles of Professor in the Department of Surgery, Vice Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery, and Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program. He is also the Director of the Comprehensive Thoracic Oncology Program and Etiology of Cancer Program at the Buffett Cancer Center.
Research
Dr. Lackner is an active researcher. He participates in clinical trials and studies of both primary and metastatic thoracic cancers, with a special interest in the combined use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. He is also interested in the treatment of malignant and benign conditions of the airway and the use of minimally invasive procedures to treat them. His recent publications include:[2]
Mesothelioma: Peritoneal, Version 2.2023
Ettinger, D. S., Wood, D. E., Stevenson, J., Aisner, D. L., Akerley, W., Bauman, J. R., Bharat, A., Bruno, D. S., Chang, J. Y., Chirieac, L. R., DeCamp, M., Dilling, T. J., Dowell, J., Durm, G. A., Gettinger, S., Grotz, T. E., Gubens, M. A., Hegde, A., Lackner, R. P., Lanuti, M., & 23 others, Sep 2023, In: JNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 21, 9, p. 961-979 19 p.
NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 2.2023
Ettinger, D. S., Wood, D. E., Aisner, D. L., Akerley, W., Bauman, J. R., Bharat, A., Bruno, D. S., Chang, J. Y., Chirieac, L. R., DeCamp, M., Dilling, T. J., Dowell, J., Durm, G. A., Gettinger, S., Grotz, T. E., Gubens, M. A., Hegde, A., Lackner, R. P., Lanuti, M., Lin, J., & 23 others, Apr 1, 2023, In: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: JNCCN. 21, 4, p. 340-350 11 p.
Lung Cancer Screening, Version 1.2022 Featured Updates to the NCCN Guidelines
Wood, D. E., Kazerooni, E. A., Aberle, D., Berman, A., Brown, L. M., Eapen, G. A., Ettinger, D. S., Ferguson, J. S., Hou, L., Kadaria, D., Klippenstein, D., Kumar, R., Lackner, R. P., Leard, L. E., Lennes, I. T., Leung, A. N. C., Mazzone, P., Merritt, R. E., Midthun, D. E., Onaitis, M., & 18 others, Jul 2022, In: JNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 20, 7, p. 754-764 11 p.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 3.2022
Ettinger, D. S., Wood, D. E., Aisner, D. L., Akerley, W., Bauman, J. R., Bharat, A., Bruno, D. S., Chang, J. Y., Chirieac, L. R., D’Amico, T. A., DeCamp, M., Dilling, T. J., Dowell, J., Gettinger, S., Grotz, T. E., Gubens, M. A., Hegde, A., Lackner, R. P., Lanuti, M., Lin, J., & 22 others, May 2022, In: JNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 20, 5, p. 497-530 34 p.
Photodynamic therapy with cryotherapy for endobronchial typical carcinoid
Shah, V. N., Berkheim, D. B., Lackner, R. P. & Trujillo, K. P., Oct 2022, In JTCVS Techniques. 15, p. 161-163 3 p.
Professional Memberships
Dr. Lackner is a member of several professional medical and research organizations, including:[1]
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Network
- European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
- General Thoracic Surgical Club
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
