- Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Director of Thoracic Robotic Surgery
- Co-Director of the Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute
Inderpal S. Sarkaria, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a thoracic surgeon who specializes in malignant and benign diseases of the chest including the lungs, pleura, esophagus and mediastinum. His expertise includes the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical management of both simple and complex lung and airway cancers, pulmonary metastases, pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (carcinoids), thymoma, thymic carcinoma, thoracic germ cell tumors, malignant mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, and paraesophageal hernias.
Dr. Sarkaria has extensive expertise and experience in minimally invasive and Video Assisted Thoracic Surgical (VATS) approaches including esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, VATS lobectomy for lung cancer, VATS thymectomy, laparoscopic anti-refux surgery for GERD, laparoscopic surgery for achalasia, laparoscopic repair of giant paraesophageal hernias (GPEH), and robotic-assisted approaches to these conditions.
Dr. Sarkaria earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed his surgical residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center. He has completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery at the New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center, thoracic surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and advanced minimally invasive esophageal and thoracic surgery at UPMC.
Dr. Sarkaria is a member of the major national and international thoracic surgical societies where he has lectured extensively, and has been involved with committees for resident and fellow education, health care policy, and neuroendocrine lung tumors. His administrative responsibilities in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UPMC include Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs, Director of Thoracic Robotic Surgery, and Co-Director of the Esophageal Surgery Institute.