Michael Zervos, MD

I’ve been at NYU Langone for a very long time—I did my residency here, as well as my training in general and cardiothoracic surgery. Now, as a thoracic surgeon, I treat people who have conditions that affect the lungs, esophagus, or mediastinum, which is the space in the center of the chest cavity.

I primarily see people with nodules or masses in the lung that may be cancerous. I also manage esophageal cancer and cancer affecting the mediastinum, performing surgery when necessary.

NYU Langone’s cardiothoracic surgeons were some of the first to advocate for the use of less invasive surgery when treating people who have these cardiothoracic conditions. When open surgeries were the only option for people with lung cancer, patients would have to remain in the hospital for a week during recovery. Now, we often use robotic thoracic surgery—the latest step in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery. This allows us to reduce a person’s hospital stay to two days, making recovery far easier and less painful.

I work with a team of physicians that includes not only surgeons and lung doctors, but also oncologists. Our team approach to treatment means that the care we provide is diverse and is not only focused on one physician’s expertise. We aim to address each person’s needs and goals.

When a person comes to see me for treatment, I want to ensure he or she feels confident in having come to the right place. Sometimes, a diagnosis is difficult to share with people and does not involve the best news. I shed light on what is happening to the person’s body and what he or she can expect from surgery. This can help to ease the fear of the unknown, and most people feel empowered by knowing they have a plan of action they can rely on.