The Newton-Wellesley Hospital Division of Thoracic Surgery is staffed by Massachusetts General Hospital surgeons, and offers complete thoracic surgical care. The treatment of tumors in the chest is planned in a multidisciplinary approach and reviewed in the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Thoracic Oncology Conference.
Serving communities throughout Greater Boston, our thoracic surgeons provide the following services in an accessible community location, with the standards of a tertiary care center. We provide the following services in an accessible community location, with the standards of a tertiary care center.
Surgical therapy for lung cancer
Minimally invasive lung resection, including VATS lobectomy, VATS segmentectomy, extended resection and standard open lung resection.
Surgical therapy for esophageal cancer
Multimodality therapy including all standard open esophageal resections and minimally invasive esophagectomy
Surgery of the airway
Tracheal resection, bronchial sleeve resection
Surgery for complex benign esophageal disorders
Achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal diverticula
Surgery for myasthenia gravis and thymoma
Cervical thymectomy, transsternal thymectomy, and VATS thymectomy
Surgical care of advanced emphysema
Treatment of bullous emphysema, VATS bleb resection, lung volume reduction surgery (at MGH)
Surgical treatment of Hyperhidrosis
Surgical treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A consultation with a thoracic surgeon at Newton-Wellesley Hospital may be scheduled at 617-243-6447.
Our Team
Hugh G. Auchincloss, MD, Chief of Service
Shawn Lear, PA-C
Thoracic Procedures
- Bronchoscopy/Interventional bronchoscopy
- EBUS/mediastinoscopy
- Navigational bronchoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Biospy, dilation, stent placement
- Minimally invasive thoracic surgery/Robotic surgery
- Lobectomy/segmentectomy
- Paraesophageal hernia/Nissen/heller myotomy
- Thymectomy/mediastinal masses
- Thoracic outlet
- esophagectomy
Lung Nodule Clinic
The Newton-Wellesley Hospital Lung Nodule Clinic manages pulmonary nodules found incidentally or as a result of lung cancer screening. The clinic will provide dedicated evaluation and follow-up for any lung nodule diagnosed on radiographic examinations in the hospital or at an outside facility.
Our Goals and Commitment
- Achieve complete follow-up on any lung nodule that meets risk criteria for malignancy;
- Facilitate easy, single-contact scheduling;
- Improve the utilization of radiographic follow-up studies; and
- Appropriately utilize invasive diagnostic intervention.
The clinic is serves as a supplement to existing referral options and assume the follow-up from primary care physicians, emergency room physicians and specialist physicians ordering axial imaging.
Which Patients Should Be Referred to the Lung Nodule Clinic?
Any physician or advanced practice clinician may refer a patient with any of the following findings:
- Solitary solid or ground glass lung nodule at least 6 mm in diameter;
- Multiple solid or ground glass lung nodules; or
- Any suspicious lung lesion requiring follow-up, particularly in the setting of transitions in care.
- Lung RADS 4 and concerning Lung RADS 3 results identified on lung cancer screening exams
- Patients with lung nodules smaller than 6 mm may be referred—but long-term follow-up care will be provided only for select patients depending on whether patient or nodule meet risk criteria for malignancy.
How to Refer Patients to the Lung Nodule Clinic
Physicians or advanced practice clinicians – schedule a clinic appointment:
- Call 617-831-7242
- Email NWHlungnodule@partners.org
- Submit a referral in Epic (search “Amb Referral to NWH Lung Nodule Clinic”)
Non-physician providers unable to order a clinic referral – initiate an informal review:
An informal review allows non-physician clinicians who are unable to order a clinic referral (e.g., nurses) to draw attention to an incidental lung finding that requires follow-up.
Clinicians can initiate a formal review by sending an email to NWHlungnodule@partners.org. The email will initiate a review of the radiographs, which will be shared with the patient’s PCP and the caregiver who initiated the review.