{"id":140,"date":"2017-05-08T22:15:34","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T02:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=140"},"modified":"2025-09-19T00:57:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T04:57:14","slug":"dr-david-sugarbaker","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-david-sugarbaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. David J. Sugarbaker"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Dr. David Sugarbaker: Remembering a Mesothelioma Treatment Pioneer<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. David Sugarbaker was one of the most influential mesothelioma doctors in the world. Many knew him as &#8220;Mr. Mesothelioma&#8221; for his in-depth knowledge of this rare and deadly cancer. He leaves an enduring legacy of medical innovations that are still used to treat mesothelioma and extend <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/prognosis\/life-expectancy\/\">life expectancies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAs I say to patients, \u2018When hope is part of the equation, anything is possible.\u2019 I remain optimistic that we can, in the next decade, put together the right combination of patients and treatments to effect a cure, which is our holy grail.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>\u2013 Dr. David Sugarbaker<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Although Dr. Sugarbaker is no longer with us, we can help you find other top mesothelioma specialists to treat your cancer, many of whom were trained by Dr. Sugarbaker. Try our <strong>Free Doctor Match<\/strong> today.<\/p>\n<div id=\"25223\" class=\"one-off-25223 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"25223\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-25223{margin:60px auto}.one-off-25223 a{box-shadow:0 4px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.25);display:block;background:#e4f4f6;padding:20px 25px 200px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;position:relative;overflow:hidden;max-width:360px;margin:0 auto}.one-off-25223 a::before{background:#0FAEBF;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0;content:'';position:absolute;bottom:0;height:19%;width:135%;left:-60px;z-index:0}.one-off-25223 .vque-content,.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{z-index:1;position:relative}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{width:100%;position:absolute;left:-10px;bottom:-15px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;max-width:unset;left:0}.one-off-25223 .heading{font-size:27px;line-height:33px;text-align:center;display:block;max-width:340px;margin:5px auto 25px}.one-off-25223 ul{list-style:none;margin:-10px auto 22px;text-align:left;font-size:16px;line-height:26px}.one-off-25223 ul li{margin:0 0 15px;position:relative;padding-left:35px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";background:#0FAEBF;width:21px;height:21px;display:block;position:absolute;left:0;top:4px;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;font-size:11px;text-align:center;line-height:21px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:center}.one-off-25223 .button{padding:12px 16px;display:block}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-25223 a{max-width:620px;padding:30px 30px 35px;border-radius:0 0 4px 4px}.one-off-25223 a::before{border-radius:50%;height:155%;width:150%;right:-550px;left:unset;bottom:-295px}.one-off-25223 .heading{text-align:left;margin:2px 0 25px;max-width:unset;font-size:24px}.one-off-25223 ul{margin:-7px 0 30px;max-width:365px;line-height:23px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{top:1px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{max-width:unset;position:absolute;right:-25px;bottom:-35px;margin:0 0 -2px;left:unset;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:relative;bottom:0;left:0;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .button{display:inline-block;padding:14px 25px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:left}}@media screen and (min-width:1150px){.one-off-25223 a{padding:30px}}<\/style><a href=\"\/get-matched\/\" title=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor Ad\"><div>\r\n    <div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n        <strong class=\"heading\">Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor<\/strong>\r\n        <ul>\r\n            <li>Find top specialists near you<\/li>\r\n            <li>Seek compensation for travel & care<\/li>\r\n            <li>Get medical guidance<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n        <p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Matched Now\">Get Matched Now<\/strong><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctors-ad.png\" alt=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"lazyload\" ><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"medical-background\">Dr. Sugarbaker&#8217;s Background<\/h2>\n<p>Along with his brother, <a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-paul-sugarbaker\/\">Dr. Paul Sugarbaker<\/a>, Dr. David Sugarbaker was one of five siblings to pursue a medical career. All were drawn to surgery at a young age, following in the footsteps of their surgeon father.<\/p>\n<p>Upon graduating from Cornell University Medical School, Dr. Sugarbaker completed his residency at Boston&#8217;s <a href=\"\/cancer-centers\/brigham-womens-hospital\/\">Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital<\/a>, where his 25 years of service immensely impacted the medical community. He also went on to complete a residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Toronto General Hospital and a pediatric cardiac surgery residency at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.<\/p>\n<p>During his time at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital, Dr. Sugarbaker was recruited as chief of thoracic surgery \u2014 a brand new division at the time \u2014 which he successfully developed into one of the top cancer programs in the world.<\/p>\n<p>In 1992, Dr. Sugarbaker established the country&#8217;s first general thoracic surgical residency track. He mentored close to 100 surgical residents who are now top doctors and have made their own notable contributions toward <a href=\"\/treatment\/cure\/\">mesothelioma treatment research<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. Sugarbaker helped train and mentor mesothelioma specialists such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-marcelo-dasilva\/\">Dr. Marcelo DaSilva<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-david-harpole-jr\/\">Dr. David Harpole Jr.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-david-jablons\/\">Dr. David Jablons<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-avi-lebenthal\/\">Dr. Abraham \u201cAvi\u201d Lebenthal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-taylor-ripley\/\">Dr. Taylor Ripley<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"simple-callout-shortcode\"><style type=\"text\/css\">.simple-callout-shortcode{border:1px solid #0FAEBF;border-radius:4px;padding:10px 20px;margin:25px 0}.simple-callout-shortcode .simple-callout-shortcode-heading{display:block}.simple-callout-shortcode:first-child{margin-top:0}.simple-callout-shortcode:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.simple-callout-shortcode ul{margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px}.simple-callout-shortcode ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.simple-callout-shortcode{max-width:75%}}<\/style><div class=\"content\"><p>We can put you in touch with the nation&#8217;s top mesothelioma doctors.<br \/>\n<strong>Call us right now at <a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a> to get started.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"professional-experience\">Dr. Sugarbaker&#8217;s Professional Experience<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Sugarbaker founded the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) in 2002, a world-class mesothelioma treatment and research program at Brigham and Women&#8217;s Hospital. The IMP was formed in response to increasing global rates of mesothelioma and is dedicated to developing new treatment options.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. David Sugarbaker eventually stepped down from his role at Brigham and Women&#8217;s in 2014. He then served as the head of thoracic surgery at the <a href=\"\/cancer-centers\/baylor-lung-institute\/\">Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute<\/a> in Houston, where he performed life-saving surgical procedures on mesothelioma patients and spearheaded the mesothelioma clinical research program.<\/p>\n<p>Over his more than 35 years of professional experience, Dr. Sugarbaker successfully treated thousands of patients with this rare form of cancer.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"18575\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque outline image-left has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"outline\">.widget_oscar-vque.outline{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{border:1px solid #E6E7EC;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 20px 20px rgba(34,34,34,0.03);border-radius:10px;color:#383441;display:block;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:180px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline .vque-content{color:#383441;font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{color:#100134;display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{color:#100134;font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 20px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;color:#fff;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:3px;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a{position:relative;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a:before{content:\" \";position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;width:4px;height:100%;left:0;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0FAEBF 0%, #fff 100%)}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.outline{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div{display:block;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:flex-end;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div>div{width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 13px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0;color:#383441}}<\/style><a href=\"\/doctor-questions\/\" title=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\"><div><div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"95\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor packet\" \/><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Preparing for treatment<\/li>\n<li>Finding clinical trials<\/li>\n<li>Getting a second opinion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button yellow arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Download\">Get Your Free Download<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"specialized-knowledge\">Dr. Sugarbaker&#8217;s Specialized Knowledge Treating Mesothelioma<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Sugarbaker dedicated his professional career to studying and <a href=\"\/treatment\/\">treating mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The specialized knowledge he gained helped him understand this complex disease better than anyone else in the field. With this expertise, Dr. Sugarbaker developed and provided the best treatment plans to his patients, particularly stage 1 and 2 <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/pleural\/\">pleural mesothelioma<\/a> patients.<\/p>\n<p>One of his major accomplishments was developing the <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/extrapleural-pneumonectomy\/\">extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)<\/a>, a life-saving surgical procedure for pleural mesothelioma patients. Dr. Sugarbaker developed this procedure to increase patient survival rates and extend individual life expectancies drastically.<\/p>\n<p>As a\u00a0staple treatment plan provided to pleural mesothelioma patients, <strong>EPP has proven to be especially successful when performed in conjunction with <a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/\">chemotherapy<\/a> and radiation therapy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Sugarbaker was also well known for developing a method to combine <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/cytoreduction-hipec\/\">cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy<\/a> administered directly into the chest cavity of pleural mesothelioma patients.<\/p>\n<p>As a professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and professor of surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Sugarbaker dedicated his life to sharing his years of expertise with the next generation of thoracic surgeons.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"1361\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque default image-right has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"default\">.widget_oscar-vque.default{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.default:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{background:#2F293D;display:block;padding:20px;border-radius:10px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:150px;width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default .vque-content{font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:100%}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.default{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div{display:block;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div>div{padding:0 25px 0 0;width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{max-width:90%;margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0}}<\/style><a href=\"\/mesothelioma-guide\/\" title=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\"><div><div><div class=\"image-fade\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"296\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mesothelioma Guide Images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png 296w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-55x55.png 55w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-102x100.png 102w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Symptoms &amp; staging<\/li>\n<li>Average prognosis<\/li>\n<li>Life-extending treatments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Guide\">Get Your Free Guide<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"dr-sugarbakers-legacy\">Dr. David Sugarbaker\u2019s Legacy<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. David Sugarbaker continually worked to develop better treatment procedures for future patients and spent his later years researching new drugs for malignant pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cNo one else in our lifetime had more impact on the field of thoracic surgery [than Dr. Sugarbaker].&#8221;<br \/>\n<strong>\u2013Joseph S. Coselli, M.D., FACS<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Through ongoing medical research, the team at the Mesothelioma Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas honors Dr. Sugarbaker&#8217;s legacy by working to improve curative surgical procedures and reduce mesothelioma recurrence.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/about\/contact\/\">Contact our Patient Advocates 24\/7<\/a> to get help connecting with the team at Baylor College of Medicine and other leading mesothelioma specialists nationwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. David Sugarbaker: Remembering a Mesothelioma Treatment Pioneer Dr. David Sugarbaker was one of the most influential mesothelioma doctors in the world. Many knew him as &#8220;Mr. Mesothelioma&#8221; for his in-depth knowledge of this rare and deadly cancer. He leaves an enduring legacy of medical innovations that are still used to treat mesothelioma and extend&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":1173,"parent":49,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-doctor.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-140","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/140\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}