Department Welcomes Dr. Lillian Tsai as Clinical Assistant Professor of Thoracic Surgery

The Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is pleased to announce that Lillian Tsai, MD, will join the department as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, effective October 1, 2025.

Dr. Tsai will provide expert thoracic surgery services for patients at Sequoia Hospital, Stanford Hospital, and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Her clinical practice is dedicated to all aspects of general thoracic surgery, with a special focus on applying robotics and minimally invasive techniques to treat complex thoracic diseases. She is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care that combines technical excellence with compassion.

Dr. Tsai earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine. She then completed her general surgery residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where she gained extensive surgical and leadership experience. During her training at Johns Hopkins, she also completed a two-year, funded thoracic surgery research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research spanned basic and translational science as well as clinical trials. Her ongoing research interests focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to improve diagnosis, surgical planning, and outcomes in thoracic surgery.

Dr. Tsai is already a familiar member of the department, having recently completed her cardiothoracic surgery fellowship in the general thoracic surgery track at Stanford in July 2025.

“I am honored to be staying at Stanford and joining a team that is world-renowned for its clinical excellence, innovative research, and patient-centered mission. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and contributing to the outstanding care provided at Stanford,” says Dr. Tsai.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Tsai back to Stanford.