SUMMARY
Shanda Blackmon, M.D., M.P.H., trained at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to perform complex resections of thoracic tumors such as esophageal cancer, lung cancer, thymic tumors and chest wall tumors. Her research focuses primarily on esophageal reconstruction and patient-reported outcomes after surgery.
As a minimally invasive surgeon, Dr. Blackmon performs minimally invasive esophagectomy, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and segmentectomy, minimally invasive thymectomy, and minimally invasive localized metastasectomy. She has developed an esophageal anastomotic device that connects two lumens for minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Blackmon also created a smartphone application that is currently used to drive better patient outcomes after esophagectomy and has patented a device to facilitate a minimally invasive anastomosis.
Focus areas
- Minimally invasive esophagectomy
- Minimally invasive thymectomy
- Robotic lobectomy using VATS
- Robotic segmentectomy using VATS
- Lung cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Mesothelioma surgery
- Thymic tumor surgery
- Mediastinal tumor surgery
- Complex esophageal reconstruction
- Long-segment supercharged pedicled jejunal interposition
- Long-segment supercharged pedicled colonic interposition
- Achalasia surgery
- Foregut surgery
Significance to patient care
Dr. Blackmon's training has enabled her to be the world expert on reconstruction of the esophagus. She guides regenerative research to test innovative techniques, devices and biologic scaffolds to reconstruct the esophagus. She also performs parenchymal-sparing lung resections for patients with multifocal lung cancer.
Her practice focuses on building complex multidisciplinary teams of surgeons to perform hybrid procedures, often with the assistance of the 3D Anatomic Modeling Lab. The smartphone application created by Dr. Blackmon guides patients through recovery, measuring how they are doing to provide triage, coaching and intervention to maximize their recovery.
Professional highlights
- Council chair and former board of directors member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 2020-present
- Secretary, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, 2019-present
- Deputy editor, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2018-present
- Secretary, Thoracic Surgery Foundation, 2018-present
- Past president, Women in Thoracic Surgery, 2018-2020