Dr. Nasser K. Altorki

Dr. Nasser K. Altorki is David B. Skinner Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, and Director of the Neuberger Berman Lung Cancer Research Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. In these roles he aligns pulmonologists, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, and rehabilitation specialists in a single care pathway that begins before the first clinic appointment. Morning conferences review imaging, molecular data, and patient-reported symptoms so that a unified plan is ready when each person arrives. Same-day biopsy analysis shortens the interval from suspicion to diagnosis, while multilingual nurse navigators schedule scans, telehealth visits, and financial-counseling sessions during one call. A secure portal displays operative notes, recovery milestones, and direct-message links, allowing families to ask clarifying questions and receive prompt answers. By replacing fragmented referrals with coordinated teamwork and transparent communication, Dr. Altorki offers patients a roadmap that feels orderly, respectful, and grounded in collective expertise.

 

Dr. Altorki’s laboratory and clinical programs explore how immune modulation and limited-field radiation can eradicate early lung tumors while preserving healthy tissue. He co-leads a flagship trial that pairs durvalumab with stereotactic body radiation before surgery; the combination doubled major pathologic response compared with immunotherapy alone and reported no new safety concerns, suggesting that low-dose radiation primes immune recognition without adding morbidity. Parallel studies test nivolumab or pembrolizumab in the same window, collecting tumor, blood, and lymph-node specimens at multiple time points to build a living biobank that links genomic and spatial-proteomic signatures to clinical outcome. Information flows quickly from bench to bedside: early biomarker insights already guide on-treatment imaging frequency and postoperative surveillance intensity. By continuously updating therapy to match evolving tumor biology, Dr. Altorki gives each patient access to strategies that are both scientifically current and personally tailored.

 

Curiosity drives Dr. Altorki beyond operating rooms into education, mentorship, and community partnership. A National Cancer Institute Moonshot grant supports his team’s work on immune-preventive vaccines for high-risk smokers, and a recent Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award recognized his leadership of an international study that reshaped surgical standards for small peripheral lung cancers. Fellows rotate through a step-wise robotic-surgery curriculum that couples simulation with proctored cases, while livestream workshops allow community surgeons to observe complex resections and ask questions in real time. Collaboration with advocacy groups produces bilingual booklets on lung-cancer warning signs, smoking-cessation resources, and financial-assistance programs, empowering earlier diagnosis and informed decision-making. These initiatives create a cycle in which discovery, teaching, and public outreach reinforce one another, assuring patients that their care team not only operates skillfully but also shares knowledge widely and transparently.