Victor van Berkel, M.D., Ph.D.

Education:

M.D., Washington University School of Medicine, 2003
Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine, 2003
Residency, General Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 2008
Fellowship, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 2010
Board Certified, ABTS, Thoracic Surgery, 2011

Curriculum Vitae

Current Positions:

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Surgical Director, Jewish Hospital/University of Louisville Lung Transplant Program

Clinical Focus and Research:

My clinical focus is on surgical treatment of thoracic malignancies (Lung, Esophageal, mediastinal, and chest wall tumors) via minimally invasive means, including the use of the da Vinci robot. I work closely with the medical and radiation oncologists to ensure that the optimal course of therapy is provided for each individual patient. I am also the director of the lung transplant program, and through this program work to provide treatment for chronic lung disease such as emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis.

My research interests include the utilization of breath analysis to both diagnose lung cancer, as well as identify recurrence in patients with resected lung cancer. I am also developing an ex vivo lung perfusion system both to expand the pool of available donors for lung transplant, as well as to provide a novel mechanism for investigating treatment protocols for lung cancer.

Literature Cited:

  1. “Quantitative analysis of exhaled carbonyl compounds distinguishes benign from malignant pulmonary disease.”  Michael Bousamra, Erin Schumer, Mingxiao Li, Ralph Knipp, Michael Nantz, Victor van Berkel, Xiao-An Fu. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surgery, 2014 Sept; 148(3):1074-80; PMID:25129599
  2. Double Lung Transplants have significantly improved survival compared to single lung transplants in high LAS patients” Matt Black, Jaimin Trivedi, Erin Schumer, Michael Bousamra, Victor van Berkel. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Aug 7. PMID: 25110334
  3. “MicroRNA as a new factor in lung and esophageal cancer” Billeter AT, Barnett RE, Druen D, Polk HC Jr., van Berkel, VH, Semin Thorac Cardiovas Surg, 2012 Autumn; 24(3):155-65 (PMID: 23200070)
  4. “Management of gastroesophageal junction tumors” Fox M., van Berkel V., Surgical Clinics North America 2012 Oct;92(5):1199-212 PMID: 23026278
  5. “Impact of Anastomotic Techniques on Airway Complications after Lung Transplant” van Berkel V.,Guthrie T., Puri V., Krupnick, A., Kreisel D., Patterson AG., Meyers B.  Ann Thorac Surg 92(1):316-320 (July 2011)

PubMed Information