Benjamin Medina

I am a thoracic surgeon who specializes in thoracic surgical oncology. This includes lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, chest wall tumors, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. To achieve the best possible outcomes, I use robotic and minimally invasive techniques and am a proponent of lung-preservation strategies when appropriate. This means less pain, fewer days in the hospital, and a quicker return to normal life.

I am a native of northern New Jersey and received my medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where I was a member of the AOA Honor Society. I then completed my residency in general surgery at New York University, where I served as the administrative chief resident. I also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in tumor immunology and immunotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering. After completing my general surgery training, I returned to Memorial Sloan Kettering for my thoracic surgery residency, which included training in benign esophageal surgery and lung transplantation at New York Presbyterian Columbia and Cornell. My research has focused on immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapy and I have authored or co-authored papers in Nature, the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Clinical Cancer Research, and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 

Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing event. Moreover, the landscape of treatment strategies has broadened dramatically in the past decade. Now more than ever, a multidisciplinary approach is required to determine an individualized treatment strategy for each patient. To that end, I collaborate closely with medical and radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, and radiologists to determine the right treatment strategy for you. As the only NCI-designated cancer center in our state, I think Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is uniquely situated to provide the cancer care you deserve.