Rudy P. Lackner, MD
Dr. Rudy P. Lackner is a cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Fred & 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 pleural mesothelioma.[1]
Education and Career
Dr. Lackner’s interest in medicine began when he worked as a paramedic in New York City. He attended Manhattan College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, and 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 Medical Center. Dr. Lackner is currently the Vice Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery, Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program, and a professor in the Department of Surgery. He is also the Director of the Comprehensive Thoracic Oncology Program and Etiology of Cancer Program at the Buffett Cancer Center.
Dr. Lackner specializes in thoracic surgical oncology. He treats complex thoracic cancers, like lung cancer, airway tumors, esophageal cancer, and pleural mesothelioma.
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. He also uses a multimodal approach to treat complex cancers.
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
