Your Medical Team for Lung and Chest Cancers

The University of Colorado Cancer Center Thoracic Oncology Program is home to a world-renowned multidisciplinary medical and scientific team of experts who specialize in the care of lung cancer and other cancers of the chest.

Each doctor on the team has a different area of expertise in lung and chest cancer. Together, they combine their skills to determine and provide what’s best for you, as an individual patient, based upon the type of cancer you have, how far it has spread, and even based upon your genes.

The UCCC Thoracic Oncology Team:

• Provides state-of-the-art care for those diagnosed with lung cancer and related cancers
• Is internationally recognized as a center for developing and setting new standards in the treatment of lung and related cancers
• Is nationally recognized as a center for second opinions on all aspects of lung cancer and thoracic cancer care

The team includes:

Medical Oncologists – Oncologists are doctors who study and treat cancer. Medical oncologists focus on drug-based treatments to control, slow or kill cancer cells. These doctors often function as the “quarterbacks” of the multidisciplinary team. Our medical oncologists are:

• Experts in determining which drugs work in which people
• Experts in combining anti-cancer drugs with radiotherapy and surgery for the best possible outcomes
• Experts in developing new drugs for treating lung cancer and other cancers of the chest

UCCC lung & thoracic medical oncologists:

• Paul A. Bunn, Jr., MD
• D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD
• Robert Doebele, MD, PhD 
• Ana B. Oton, MD
• Heather Coats, NP

Radiation Oncologists (Radiotherapists) – Radiation oncologists use X-rays and other types of medical radiation to control or kill cancer cells in the body. Our Radiation oncologists are:

• Experts in delivering high doses of radiotherapy very accurately in a small number of visits (“stereotactic body radiation therapy”)
• Experts in combining radiation therapy with other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy

UCCC lung & thoracic radiation oncologists:

• Laurie Gaspar, MD, MBA
• Brian Kavanagh, MD
• David Raben, MD

Thoracic Surgeons – Thoracic surgeons are doctors who have received extensive training in operating on the chest. Surgery involves removing cancer from the body through an operation. It can also be used to improve the symptoms caused by cancer, for example, by draining fluid around the lungs affecting breathing. Our thoracic surgeons are:

• Colorado’s only board-certified thoracic surgeons who super-specialize in doing only lung and chest surgery
• Experts in minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer, which has a quicker recovery rate compared to conventional surgery
• Experts in airway reconstruction to leave behind more normal lung after an operation
• Experts in lung transplantation for rare types of lung cancer

UCCC lung & thoracic surgeons:

• John Mitchell, MD
• Michael Weyant, MD

Our team also includes:

• World experts in diagnosing and classifying different lung cancers using microscopy and other laboratory techniques (“pathologists”)
• National leaders in interpreting X-rays and specialist scans of the chest (“radiologists”)
• National leaders in bronchoscopies to look directly inside the lungs, for example to take biopsies or open blocked airways ("interventional pulmonologists") 
• National leaders in preventing lung cancer
• National leaders in using CT scans and other techniques to screen for lung cancers in high-risk individuals

How to Schedule an Appointment

You may schedule to see any of our medical oncologists, radiation oncologists or thoracic surgeons directly.

Medical Oncology (Lung Team Scheduler) - 720-848-0300

Radiation Oncology - 720-848-0150

Thoracic Surgery - 303-724-2808

If you are uncertain which specialist to see, or if you are coming for a second opinion, most people start by seeing a medical oncologist. These doctors are comfortable working as your guide within the multidisciplinary team. Bring as much information about your diagnosis, past treatments, pathology slides, and scans with you as you can.

Request an appointment now.