Sunil Singhal, M.D.
Dr. Sunil Singhal is a thoracic surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He specializes in the surgical treatment of illnesses of the lungs and chest cavity, including pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Singhal also directs thoracic surgery research.
Education and Training
Dr. Singhal earned a degree in physics and mathematics in 1994 from Dartmouth College. In 1998, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medicine. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from Penn’s Wharton School of Finance and Business in 2018.
After leaving Pennsylvania, Dr. Singhal completed his residency and an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He then returned to the University of Pennsylvania to continue his training with a fellowship. He now holds several positions with Penn Medicine.[1]
Current Positions
Dr. Singhal is currently the Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine. Here, he specializes in the surgical treatment of several illnesses, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. He uses minimally-invasive, robot-assisted, and video-assisted surgical technologies.
Dr. Singhal works as part of a multidisciplinary team adding his surgical expertise to the treatment of patients with life-threatening diseases. His other positions include:
- Vice-Chair of Translational Research, Department of Surgery
- Director of the Center for Precision Surgery, Abramson Cancer Center
- William Maul Measey Professor of Surgical Research
- Director of the Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratory
Dr. Singhal is board certified in surgery and thoracic and cardiac surgery. He sees patients at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Hospital.
Thoracic Surgery Research
While Dr. Singhal is known for his expertise as a surgeon, he has also significantly contributed to patient care through research. As the director of the Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine, he guides studies to improve patient care and outcomes.
Current projects in the research lab include studies of intraoperative molecular imaging, tumor immunology, muscle physiology, and cancer genomics.
Dr. Singhal’s team has contributed significantly to greater innovations in treatment for patients. One important development is called TumorGlow, a trademarked surgical strategy that is not yet FDA-approved.
TumorGlow uses fluorescence to make tumors glow. Making the tumor more visible allows surgeons to remove more of the cancerous tissue. This is especially useful around the margins of a tumor, where cancer cells are often left behind to recur. Dr. Singhal and his team have spent more than ten years developing TumorGlow, which surgeons in other specialties are now trying and testing.[2]
Professional Memberships
Dr. Singhal is a well-respected and experienced surgeon and researcher. He has membership in several professional organizations, including:
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American College of Chest Physicians
- American Association for Thoracic Surgery
- American College of Surgeons
- Association for Academic Surgery
- International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Society of Clinical Surgery
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- Society of Thoracic Surgery
- World Molecular Imaging Society
Dr. Singhal belongs to many other organizations and is a sought-after surgeon. His area of specialty, combined with research experience, allows him to help patients with devastating illnesses like mesothelioma.
