Dr. Brian Pettiford

About Dr. Brian Pettiford

Dr. Brian Pettiford has over 20 years of experience performing tumor-removing surgery for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma.

He’s worked in both private practice and as part of a multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other mesothelioma doctors.

“I have the good fortune of being well versed in traditional open surgical techniques, but I’ve also been able to witness and participate in the evolution of minimally invasive thoracic surgery.”
– Dr. Brian Pettiford, pleural mesothelioma surgeon

Dr. Pettiford has also served as an associate professor of surgery and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy Medical Reserve Corps, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Find top mesothelioma specialists like Dr. Pettiford near you with our Free Doctor Match.

Dr. Brian Pettiford’s Mesothelioma Treatment Approach

Dr. Pettiford encourages a multimodal approach to mesothelioma treatment, using a combination of surgery and noninvasive therapies to fight this cancer from several angles.

An example of multimodal mesothelioma treatment is performing surgery to remove visible tumors before administering chemotherapy and immunotherapy to destroy remaining cancer cells.

Dr. Pettiford prefers to use robotic-assisted surgery since it’s less aggressive, more precise, and has a much shorter recovery period than traditional surgery.

“Our average postoperative (post-surgery) length of stay is around 2.3 days. The national average for those who do report is 5.4 days.”
– Dr. Brian Pettiford, pleural mesothelioma surgeon

During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon sits at a console that provides a magnified, high-resolution 3D view of the chest cavity. They are able to control the robotic arms using hand controls and foot pedals.

Because the robotic controls are highly sensitive, the surgeon is able to translate their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements.

Dr. Brian Pettiford’s Medical Specialties

Dr. Pettiford focuses on conditions affecting the chest, including pleural mesothelioma, which is cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos exposure.

His medical specialties include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Esophageal cancer

He specializes in the following procedures:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery
• Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery
• Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS)
• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Get answers about your diagnosis and treatment plan during your next appointment by downloading our Free Questions to Ask Your Doctor Checklist.

Dr. Brian Pettiford’s Medical Background

Dr. Pettiford earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1996.

He completed a residency in surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2001 followed by a thoracic surgery fellowship at the same hospital.

In 2003, Dr. Pettiford moved to Massachusetts to start a private practice in cardiothoracic surgery. From 2005 to 2009, he served as a clinical assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Pettiford went on to work as a cardiothoracic surgeon at WellSpan Health System in Pennsylvania from 2009 until he joined Ochsner Health in 2014.

He’s continued to advance his medical education since then, most recently earning a Master of Medical Management degree from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2023.

Highlights of Dr. Brian Pettiford’s Medical Career

Dr. Pettiford is well respected and appreciated by patients and his peers in the mesothelioma community.

His professional affiliations and medical certifications include:

• Board certification in thoracic surgery
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
• Member of the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society
• Member of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Society
• State of Alabama Medical License
• State of Florida Medical License
• State of Louisiana Medical License

He also has a consistent 5-star rating from patients, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Brian Pettiford’s Published Works

Dr. Pettiford has authored or co-authored over 40 articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Some of these include:

• “Definition and assessment of high risk in patients considered for lobectomy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer: The American Association for Thoracic Surgery expert panel consensus document.” Published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, December 2021.
• “Understanding the patient journey to diagnosis of lung cancer.” Published in BMC Cancer, April 2021.
• “Novel chest wall reconstruction following excision of an xiphisternal chondrosarcoma.” Published in Ochsner Journal, Summer 2018.
• “Anatomic segmentectomy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: comparison of video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open approach.” Published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, December 2009.

Use our Free Doctor Match now to get put in touch with top mesothelioma experts like Dr. Pettiford in your area.

Get Connected With Dr. Brian Pettiford and Other Specialists

If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed, it’s critical to see someone who’s treated multiple cases of mesothelioma, not just a handful.

Dr. Pettiford and his team at the Ochsner Medical Center provide comprehensive care for mesothelioma patients living in Louisiana and nearby states — and they may be able to help you too.

“I’ve been fortunate here at Ochsner to have been surrounded by a very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and committed group.”
– Dr. Brian Pettiford, pleural mesothelioma surgeon

He can recommend the best treatments for your mesothelioma — or provide an accurate diagnosis or second opinion if you still need one.

Contact us now so we can help you schedule an appointment with specialists like Dr. Pettiford.