Valerie Rusch, M.D., is a thoracic surgeon at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She specializes in treating and diagnosing thoracic cancers, including lung, trachea, bronchi, esophageal, and pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Rusch is currently the Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers and the Vice-Chair for Clinical Research in the surgery department at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Harvey Pass, M.D. is the director of New York University Medical Center’s Thoracic Surgery Division. He also leads several important mesothelioma research programs for the National Cancer Institute and has contributed significantly to the understanding of mesothelioma through clinical trials. Education and Early Career Dr. Pass began his medical career with an undergraduate degree from
Dr. Lebenthal is a pleural mesothelioma specialist previously affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Lebenthal is now the Section Chief of thoracic surgery at Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod, Israel. Education and Early Career Dr. Lebenthal, a native of Israel, studied at Hebrew University
As director of the Swedish Cancer Institute’s Lung Cancer Program, Eric Vallieres, M.D., has a special interest in lung cancer and mesothelioma. Dr. Vallieres is one of only a handful of mesothelioma experts in the country. He is also one of the few surgeons to perform extrapleural pneumonectomy, a radical surgical treatment for mesothelioma. Education and
Tawee Tanvetyanon, M.D. is a medical and research oncologist with expertise in thoracic cancers and cancers of the head and neck. He specializes in both lung cancer and mesothelioma. Dr. Tanvetyanon has devoted clinical and research time to working on this cancer, including using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Education and Early Career Dr. Tanvetyanon was born
Though Georgia-Pacific is best known for its paper products, the company also manufactures construction materials like drywall, which were once made with asbestos. While Georgia-Pacific has not used asbestos for decades, it continues to face lawsuits and billions of dollars in settlements from workers who developed asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. Georgia-Pacific History and Asbestos In
Mesothelioma cancer among veterans is an unfortunate reality. Rates of asbestos-related diseases are high in veterans because of the military’s extensive asbestos use. Veterans exposed during service are eligible to make claims for benefits like health care and disability compensation.
Asbestos and mesothelioma trust funds were created by companies who negligently exposed workers to asbestos. Many of these companies had to create trust funds as a requirement of receiving bankruptcy protection and to ensure victims would receive compensation for their illnesses. The trust funds set aside over $30 billion for current and future claimants.
Marcelo DaSilva, M.D. is an experienced thoracic surgeon who specializes in lung cancer, lung cancer screening, and innovative treatments for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. He is currently the Medical Director of Thoracic Surgery for AdventHealth Orlando. Dr. DaSilva is from Brazil but has specialized in cancer and mesothelioma in the United States for over
Jacques P. Fontaine, M.D. works at Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center where he is part of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center. He adds his experience and talent to developing new multidisciplinary approaches to treating patients with mesothelioma. Dr. Fontaine is also an associate professor of surgery at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. Education