Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute >
  • Patient Stories
UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Treatments and Procedures
Your Visit
Research and Clinical Trials
Patient Stories
Locations
Contact Us
UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Treatments and Procedures
Your Visit
Research and Clinical Trials
Patient Stories
Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Esophageal and Lung Surgery Patient Stories

At the UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute, our experts provide hope to patients in need. Our mission is to offer personalized care to all of our patients and their families. The below stories feature those who have received expert care and treatment from our team.

Note: These patients' treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.

Deborah Puskaric

For years, Deborah has been treated for acid reflux. During a regular endoscopy, doctors discovered a giant paraoesophageal hiatal hernia, leading her to undergo robotic-assisted thoracic surgery at UPMC. Now, Deborah is fully recovered and has returned to her favorite hobbies of spending time outdoors and camping with her husband.

Read Deborah Puskaric's story

Mary Zanotto: Lung Cancer Screening

Mary Zanotto

Despite receiving a lung cancer diagnosis, Mary was grateful that a low-dose CT scan revealed the cancer at an early stage. After undergoing a minimally invasive procedure, she’s feeling healthy and has improved quality of life.

Read Mary Zanotto's story

John Davis: Lung Resection Surgery

John Davis - Lung Resection Surgery Patient Story

John Davis participated in the Pittsburgh Lung Screening Study (PLuSS), which led experts at UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute to diagnose his lung cancer at an early stage and perform lung resection surgery to remove it.

Read John Davis's story

Jeff Lyle: Esophageal Cancer

Jeff Lyle: Esophageal Cancer Patient Story

After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, Jeff received a robotic-assisted esophagectomy. Read Jeff's story to learn more about his experience at UPMC.

Read Jeff Lyle's story

David Solovey: Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

David Solovey - Esophagectomy Patient Story

When David Solovey was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, he knew that surgery would be his only hope. With the support of his family, he began searching for the best treatment available. His search led him to the UPMC Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute.

Read David Solovey's story

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login