Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas

About Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas

Abbas El-Sayed Abbas, MD, has spent more than 20 years treating mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other hard-to-treat diseases.

Early in his career, he became one of the first surgeons in the country to use robotic surgery tools, and now he brings that experience to patients across New York.

Outside the operating room, Dr. Abbas stays active in research and teaching. He’s written dozens of medical papers on cancer and robotic surgery, and he speaks regularly at conferences around the world.

His combination of surgical expertise, research experience, and patient-centered care is one reason many families seek his expertise after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Curious if Dr. Abbas is the right mesothelioma specialist for your treatment? Our Free Doctor Match can help you find out.

What Health Conditions Does Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas Treat?

Dr. Abbas treats a wide range of chest, lung, and esophageal conditions, including several linked to asbestos exposure.

His areas of medical specialty include:

• Pleural mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer of the lining around the lungs caused by asbestos exposure
• Lung cancer: A cancer that starts in the lungs and can spread to nearby structures or other organs
• Mediastinal tumors: Growths in the space in the middle of the chest that holds the heart, esophagus, and major blood vessels
• Thoracic outlet syndrome: A condition caused by pressure on nerves or blood vessels between the collarbone and the first rib
• Tracheal tumors: Growths in the windpipe that can affect breathing
• Esophageal cancer: A cancer that starts in the esophagus, which is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach

Because many of these conditions cause similar symptoms, Dr. Abbas works closely with other specialists to find the right diagnosis before starting treatment.

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas’s Approach to Mesothelioma Treatment

Dr. Abbas builds mesothelioma treatment around each patient instead of using one set method. He works with medical oncologists and other mesothelioma specialists and considers the cancer’s stage, the patient’s health, and personal goals before deciding on next steps.

He may recommend the following treatments:

• Chest wall reconstruction: Rebuilding the chest wall after removing a large tumor
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): A surgery that removes the affected lung and its lining, along with all or part of the diaphragm and the sac around the heart
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): A lung-sparing surgery that removes the lining around the lung and as much visible cancer as possible
• Clinical trials: Giving patients access to new treatments that are still being tested by doctors and researchers

Every patient is different, so Dr. Abbas treats this list as a starting point, not a fixed plan. He adjusts the treatment approach as new information comes in, whether from imaging, lab results, or the patient’s early response to treatment.

Download our Free Doctor Questions Checklist and learn what to ask about surgery and other treatments at your next mesothelioma appointment.

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas’s Medical Background

Dr. Abbas earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Ain-Shams University School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated with honors, then went back to Ain-Shams to earn a master’s degree in surgery while serving as a faculty member.

He later moved to the United States to continue his surgical training. He completed a general surgery residency at UPMC Medical Education in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, then a second general surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

During his training, Dr. Abbas also researched gene therapy for chest tumors and mechanical heart support. He finished his training with a thoracic surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota.

Work Experience

Dr. Abbas’s career has taken him through several of the country’s most recognized academic medical centers.

His experience includes:

• Assistant Professor of Surgery, Ohio State University
• Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation
• Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Brown Surgical Associates
• Chief of Thoracic Oncology, Lifespan Cancer Institute
• Lecturer of Surgery, Ain-Shams University School of Medicine
• Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
• Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
• System Chair of Thoracic Surgery and Associate Director of Surgical Oncology, Catholic Health
• Thoracic Surgeon-in-Chief, Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center

In each of these roles, he has combined direct patient care, including mesothelioma treatment, with teaching and leadership.

Highlights of Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas’s Medical Career

Many consider Dr. Abbas a pioneer of robotic thoracic surgery in the United States. Over his career, he’s trained hundreds of surgeons, residents, and fellows in thoracic surgery. He’s also led cancer surgery programs at several major hospitals.

Awards and Accolades

Dr. Abbas has earned recognition for his work in the classroom and around the world. He also stays active in several leading professional groups that help shape mesothelioma and thoracic cancer care today.

His awards and honors include:

• Best International Speaker Award, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
• Wallace P. Ritchie Chief Resident Teaching Award, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
• Emory Burnett Award for Excellence in Teaching, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

He’s also been named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and included among the Best Doctors in America on multiple occasions.

Professional Affiliations

Outside the operating room, Dr. Abbas serves in leadership roles across several national and international societies.

His affiliations include:

• American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), Board Member
• American College of Surgeons (ACS), Fellow
• American Lung Association, Board Member
• Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society (ECTSS), Past President
• International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS), Board Member
• Society for Robotic Surgery, Board Member

Through these roles, he helps set training standards and policy for mesothelioma and thoracic cancer care.

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas’s Work in Mesothelioma Treatment & Clinical Research

Most of Dr. Abbas’s research focuses on improving robotic and minimally invasive surgery for mesothelioma. He closely examines how these methods work for patients and shares that knowledge with new surgeons.

His cancer research and clinical work help expand knowledge about:

• Development of robotic thoracic surgery techniques
• Education and training of future thoracic surgeons
• Minimally invasive treatments for mesothelioma and lung cancer
• Studies evaluating surgical results and patient recovery

This work continues to inform how mesothelioma surgeons handle the most aggressive cases. It also feeds directly into how he trains the surgeons who will treat these patients in the future.

Connect with Dr. Abbas through our Free Doctor Match to discuss surgery, clinical trials, and other therapies tailored to your diagnosis.

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas’s Cancer Research & Published Works

Dr. Abbas has published research on mesothelioma treatment and large studies involving patients from multiple hospitals. His work examines how robotic and minimally invasive surgery compare with traditional open surgery.

Some of these publications include:

• Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Lung Cancer Clinical Trial Participation: Analysis of 253,845 Patients From 2002 to 2021. Published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, May 2025.
• Robotic-Assisted Versus Video-Assisted Lobectomy for Resectable Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The RVlob Randomized Controlled Trial. Published in EClinicalMedicine, August 2024.
• Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy (PORTaL) Study: Survival Analysis of 6646 Cases. Published in Annals of Surgery, June 2023.
• Commentary: When Cancer Is Oligometastatic, Even Mesothelioma Is Curable. Published in JTCVS Techniques, June 2020.

This research has helped surgeons compare robotic and minimally invasive surgery to traditional surgery for lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Get Connected With Abbas El-Sayed Abbas MD for Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can mean making treatment decisions quickly, with little time to spare.

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas brings more than two decades of experience to patients at Catholic Health. He leads the health system’s thoracic surgery program and can walk you through your surgery and clinical trial options.

Mesothelioma Hope connects patients and families with specialists like Dr. Abbas every day. Call (866) 608-8933 or start your Free Doctor Match whenever you’re ready to take the next step.