Dr. Prasad S. Adusumilli

Dr. Prasad S. Adusumilli, MD, FACS, is a thoracic surgeon with specialized expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the chest, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymoma, mediastinal and chest wall tumors, and cancers that have spread to the lung and pleura. He sees approximately 600 patients annually and has been caring for patients with thoracic cancers for over 15 years. His diagnostic approach draws on advanced endoscopic techniques, including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), robotic bronchoscopy, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), to achieve early diagnosis and accurate staging. He works closely with thoracic pathologists, interventional radiologists, and pulmonologists to build personalized treatment plans, supported by a dedicated clinical team including a thoracic nurse and nurse practitioner.

As a surgeon and scientist, Dr. Adusumilli brings a dual perspective to his work, treating patients in the clinic while actively investigating cancer in the laboratory. His research focuses on developing biological markers to detect high-risk cancers likely to recur, as well as gene-based therapies including immunotherapy through genetic and cell engineering and oncolytic viral therapy using genetically engineered viruses to kill cancer cells. His laboratory has contributed discoveries in early-stage lung cancer and mesothelioma that have translated directly into patient care. This research has led to clinical trials for people with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and esophageal cancer, supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense, the American Association for Cancer Research, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and other foundations.

Dr. Adusumilli places strong emphasis on patient-centered care, taking time with newly diagnosed patients and their families to explain the factors driving their disease, discuss treatment options with their associated risks and benefits, and set realistic expectations for short- and long-term outcomes. His goal is to treat each person as a whole individual, not defined by a cancer diagnosis, with attention to quality of life throughout the treatment process. He is also committed to education, mentoring surgical trainees and research fellows whose work is regularly presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.