Bio
Leah Backhus trained in general surgery at the University of Southern California and cardiothoracic surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. She practices at Stanford Hospital and is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the VA Palo Alto. Her surgical practice consists of general thoracic surgery with special emphasis on thoracic oncology and minimally invasive surgical techniques. She is also Co-Director of the Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program, and has grant funding through the Veterans Affairs Administration and NIH. Her current research interests are in imaging surveillance following treatment for lung cancer and cancer survivorship. She is a member of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable of the American Cancer Society serving as Chair of the Task Group on Lung Cancer in Women. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. As an educator, Dr. Backhus is the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic Track Residency and is the Chair of the ACGME Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery which is the accrediting body for all cardiothoracic surgery training programs in the US.
Clinical Focus
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pectus Excavatum
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Esophageal Cancer
- Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
- Mediastinal Masses
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Academic Appointments
-
Associate Professor - Med Center Line, Cardiothoracic Surgery
-
Member, Cardiovascular Institute
-
Member, Stanford Cancer Institute
Administrative Appointments
-
Co- Director, Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program (2015 - Present)
-
Associate Program Director, Thoracic Track, CT Surgery Residency Training Program (2015 - Present)
Honors & Awards
-
McGoon Award for Teaching in Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (2019)
-
Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Scholarship, Thoracic Surgery Foundation (2019)
-
Faculty Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (2018-present)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
-
Director-At-Large, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2019 - Present)
-
Member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2010 - Present)
-
Chair, ACGME Thoracic Surgery Resident Review Committee (2019 - Present)
-
Vice Chair, ACGME Thoracic Surgery Resident Review Committee (2016 - 2019)
-
Chair, Task Group, Lung Cancer in Women; National Lung Cancer Roundtable (American Cancer Society) (2017 - Present)
-
Member, American Association for Thoracic Surgery (2019 - Present)
-
Member, Women in Thoracic Surgery (2010 - Present)
-
Fellow, American College of Surgeons (2013 - Present)
-
Member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Membership Committee (2017 - Present)
-
Member, Western Thoracic Surgical Association (2011 - Present)
-
Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2016 - Present)
-
Member, American Medical Association (2016 - Present)
-
Member, Harkins Surgical Society (2010 - 2015)
Professional Education
-
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (2010)
-
Medical Education: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Registrar (2000) CA
-
Residency: LACplusUSC Dept of Surgery (2007) CA
-
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery (2008)
-
Residency: UCLA Thoracic Surgery Residency (2009) CA
-
MPH, University of Washington, Health Services (2014)
-
AB, Stanford University, Human Biology
Community and International Work
-
Artemis Medical Society
Populations Served
Diverse women physicians
Location
International
Ongoing Project
Yes
Opportunities for Student Involvement
Yes