Joshua R. Sonett, MD
Overview
Joshua R. Sonett MD FACS is the Edward C. and Anne K. Weiskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology (in Surgery) at CUMC, Chief of General Thoracic Surgery and Director, The Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care, Lung and Esophageal Center. He is instrumental in making the Thoracic Surgery section at Columbia University Medical Center one of the best in the U.S. and he is one of the youngest professors of surgery at a major academic institution in the United States. Dr. Sonett is best known for his work on the multidisciplinary treatment of lung and esophageal malignancies. Leading work in minimally invasive treatment of lung and esophageal cancer, Dr. Sonett and his team at Columbia are innovators in the development and teaching techniques of Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and Minimally Invasive Esophageal (MIE) surgery, allowing surgeons to incorporate these techniques into their daily practices. Dr. Sonett and his team make up one of the few programs in the country to employ a combination of maximal chemo and radiation and surgical therapies in the treatment of locally advanced lung malignancies. He is also a leader in multi-modality therapies for lung and esophageal cancers, and a pioneer in endo-bronchial palliation of benign and malignant airway stenosis. In the clinical area of lung transplantation, Dr. Sonett is best known for developing an extended-donor lung transplant criteria protocol. Extended donor criteria (EDC) applies to the use of organs that don't meet the usual criteria for transplantation due to various health problems, but are still healthy enough for a successful transplant (Liver MD 2006). Dr. Sonett and his team have been aggressively trying to alleviate the donor shortage by evaluating lungs that may be rejected from other centers (CS News 2005). Between 2001 and 2003, 53 percent of the lungs transplanted at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia were extended donor criteria lungs, with no difference in survival between EDC lung recipients and regular lung recipients. The Columbia programs has a 95% survival rate after one year and 83% after three years, which far surpasses the national average of 79% and 62% respectively (CS Lung News 2006). Dr. Sonett has been an invited speaker and principal and co- investigator of numerous clinical trials, author of numerous publications in renown journals such as the Journal of The American College of Cardiology, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplant, among many others. Dr. Sonett received his MD from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Medical School, and completed his surgical residency at the University of Massachusetts, and Thoracic Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Professional Memberships include the New York Thoracic Society, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgeons Dr. Sonett has received numerous award and honors including annual awards to America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors for Cancer, New York Magazine's Best Doctors, the Barbara Neibauer Celebration of Life Award, Foundation for Thymic Cancer and the Humanitarian Award, Chesed of New Square.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Achalasia of Esophagus
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Emphysema
- Emphysema Surgery
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer Surgery
- Esophageal Disease
- Esophageal Surgery
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- GERD-Laparoscopic Technique
- Heartburn
- Laparoscopic Fundoplication
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Lung Surgery
- Lung Transplantation
- Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS)
- Mediastinal Tumor
- Mesothelioma
- Minimal Access Surgery-GERD
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Robotic Surgery
- Second Opinion
- Surgical Management of Lung Cancer
- Thoracic Lung Cases
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Thoracoscopic Surgical Procedure
- Thorascopic Lung Surgery
- Thymoma
Academic Appointments
- Edward C. and Anne K. Weiskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology (in Surgery) at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Chief, Thoracic Surgery Section
- Director, The Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care, Lung and Esophageal Center
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
For billing questions, please call (845) 362-9663.
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amerigroup of New Jersey
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
AmeriHealth of New Jersey
- EPO - New Jersey Services
- HMO - New Jersey Services
- POS - New Jersey Services
- PPO - New Jersey Services
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Connecticare
- HMO - Connecticut Services
- Medicare Managed Care - Connecticut Services
- Passage Exchange - Connecticut Services
- POS - Connecticut Services
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
- EPO - New Jersey Services
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
QualCare
- HMO - New Jersey Services
- POS - New Jersey Services
- PPO - New Jersey Services
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
WellCare
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
- New Jersey Services (Medicare Managed Care)
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine
- Internship: University of Massachusetts Medical Center
- Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY
- Fellowship: 1991 University Of Massachusetts Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
- American College of Chest Physicians
- American College of Surgeons
- Editorial Board, Journal of Transplantation
- General Thoracic Surgical Club Member
- Medical Society of the State of New York Organ Donation
- Advisory Panel
- New York Society for Thoracic Surgery
- OPTN/UNOS Organ Availability Committee
- Quality Improvement Sub-Committee of the NYODN Medical Board
- Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Member
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Board Certifications
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Honors & Awards
- America's Top Doctors, 2015
- Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors for Cancer, 2014
- New York Magazine's Best Doctors 2001-2016
- Barbara Neibauer Celebration of Life Award, Foundation for Thymic Cancer, 2014
- Humanitarian Award, Chesed of New Square
- Honoree, First Annual Emerald Ball
- National Cancer Prevention Fund, AMC Chesapeake Chapter, 1999
- Research Grant, International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, 1990
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, 1988
- Alternate Brody Fellow, 1984-1988
- Phi Lambda Upsilon National Chemistry Honor Society, 1984
Research
Research Interests
- Endobronchial palliation of benign and malignant airway stenosis
- Lung Transplantation
- Minimal access and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)
- Multi-modality therapy for lung and esophageal cancer
Selected Publications
Journals - Peer Reviewed
- Shah L., Walter KL, Borczuk AC, Kawut SM, Sonett JR, et al. Expression of syndecan-1 and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor are associated with survival in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Cancer, August 23. 2004
- Merlo, C.A., Studer, S.M., Conte, J.V., Yang, S.C., Sonett, J.R., Orens, J.B. The course of neurofibromatiosis Type 1 on immunosuppression after lung transplantation: Report of 2 cases. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2004;23:774-6
- III Jaretzki, A., Steinglass, K.M., Sonett, J.R., Thymectomy in the Management of Myasthenia Gravis. Seminars in Neurology, March 24(1): 49-62. 2004
- III Jaretzki, A., Steinglass, K.M., Sonett, J.R., Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: a review of the controversies, Osp ital chir, Febbraio 10: 38-44. 2004
- Morgan, J.A., Ginsburg, M.E., Sonett, J.R., Argenziano M. Thoracoscopic Lobectomy using Robotic Technology. Heart Surgical Form; 6(6): 167-9.2003
- Sonett, J.R., Suntharalingam, M., Edelman, M.J., Patel, A.B., et al. Induction curative intent radiotherapy (>59Gy) and concurrent chemotherapy with surgical resection in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Operative feasibility and mid-term survival. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, October 2004.
- Mercer, B.A., Kolesnikova N, Sonett, J.R., D'Armiento J. Extracellular regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase is up-regulated in pulmonary emphysema and mediates matrix metalloproteinase-1 induction by cigarette smoke. Journal of Biological Chemistry, April 23; 279(19): 17690-6. 2004
- Morgan, J.A., Ginsburg, M.E., Sonett J.R., Morales D.L.S., Kohmoto T, Gorenstein, L.A., Smith C.R., Argenziano M. Advanced Thoracoscopic Procedures are Facilitated by Computer-Aided Robotic Technology. European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, June 23 (6): 883-887.2003
- Jiao X, Sonett J.R., Gamliel Z, Doyle A, Schuetz, Greenwald B, Suntharalingam M, Krasna M.J. Trimodality treatment verus surgery alone for esophageal cancer. A Stratified analysis with minimally invasive pretreatment staging. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, Aug 43 (4): 531-537.2002
- Krasna, M.J., Jiao X, Mao YS, Sonett, J.R., Gamliel Z, Kwong K, Burrows W, Flowers J.L., Greenwald B, White C. Thorascoscopy/ Laproscopy in the staging of Esophageal cancer: Maryland experience. Surgical Laparoscopy Endoscopy Percutaneous Technology, Aug.12 (4): 213-218.2002
- Krasna, M.J., Jiao, Xiaolong, Sonett J.R., Gamliel, Z, Eslami, A, Raefaly Y, Mao, Y. Thoracoscopic and Laparoscopic Lymph Node Staging in Esophageal Cancer: Do Clinicopathaological factors affect the outcome?. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, June 73: (6) 1710-1713.2002
- Suntharalingam, M., Haas, M.L., Sonett J.R., Doyle, L.A., Hausner P.F., Schuetz, J., Greenwald B., Krasna M.J. Accurate Lymph Node Assessment Prior to Trimodality therapy for esophageal carcinoma. The Cancer Journal, Nov-Dec.7 (6): 509-515.2001
- Sonett, J.R. Local complication of non-small-cell-lung cancer. The Cancer Journal, Nov-Dec. 7(6):509-515.2001
- Jiao X, Krasna MJ, Sonett J.R., Gamliel Z., Suntharallingam M., Doyle A., Greenwald B. Pretreatment surgical lymph node staging predicts results of trimodality therapy in esophageal cancer. European Journal Cardiothoracic Surgery, June19 (6): 880-886.2001
- Sonett,J.R. Esophagectomy: The role of the intrathoracic anastomosis. Chest Clinics of North America, 10(3):519-530. 2000.
- Kennedy,A.S., Sonett,J.R., Orens,J.B., & King,K. High dose rate brachytherapy to prevent recurrent benign hyperplasia in lung transplant bronchi: theorectical and clinical considerations. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 19(2):155-159. 2000.
- Krasna,M.J., Jiao,X., Sonett,J.R., Gamliel,Z., King,K. Thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Surgical Laparoscopy & Endoscopy, 10:314-318. 2000.
- Suntharalingam M., Sonett J.R., Haas M.L., Doyle L.A. Hausner P.F., Schuetz J., Krasna M.J. The use of concurrent chemotherapy with high-dose radiation before surgical resection in patients presenting with apical sulcus tumors. The Cancer Journal, Nov-Dec;6(6): 365-371.2000
- Sonett, J.R., Krasna,M.J., Suntharalingam,M., Schuetz,J., Gamliel,Z., & McLaughlin, J. Safe pulmonary resection after chemotherapy and high dose thoracic radiation. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 68: 368-420.1999.
- Sonett, J.R. VATS and thoracic oncology: Anathema or opportunity. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 68: 795-796. 1999.
Book Chapters
- Krasna M.J., Sonett J.R., Gamliel Z.: Video-assisted approaches to staging of esophageal carcinoma, In Pearson, G.F., Cooper J.D., Deslauriers, J., Ginsberg R.J., Heibert, C.A., Patterson, G.A. and Urschel, H.C. Jr. Esophageal Surgery. Churchill Livingston, 694-704. 2002
- Sonett, J.R. Esophagectomy: The role of the intrathoracic anastomosis. Chest Clinics of North America, 10(3):519-530. 2000
- Sonett, J.R., Krasna,M.J., Thoracoscopic staging for intrathoracic malignancy, In: Yim,A.P., Hazelrigg,S., Izzat,M.B., Landreneau,R., Mack,M., & Naunheim,K. (Eds.), Minimal Access Cardiothoracic Surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders,183-193. 1999.
- Sonett JR: Lung Volume Reduction Surgery: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Approaches, In Argenziano, M, Ginsburg ME (Eds), Lung Volume Reduction Surgery. Humana Press Inc., Towtowa, NJ.
- Sonett JR: Bronchoscopy: Diagnostic and endobronchial treatment of benign and malignant disease, Yang, S, Cameron, D (Eds), Current Therapy in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Harcourt, Philadelphia, PA.
- Sonett JR: Pulmonary Nodules and Masses. Demmy, TL (ed), Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS). Landes bioscience. Georgetown, TX.