About Us | UC Davis Health

Patients with thoracic cancer might think they need to travel outside of the Sacramento area for their care at a medical center in a larger city. That’s not the case. The thoracic cancer physicians at UC Davis Health include nationally renowned medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and pulmonologists who conduct cutting-edge research as well as diagnose and treat patients. Our team members work together to attain the best possible outcomes for patients.

Thoracic cancer can involve any of the organs in the thoracic cavity — the chest. That can include cancer not only in the lungs but also in the esophagus (the tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach) as well as pleural tissues, the membrane that surrounds and cushions the lungs against injury.

The Thoracic Oncology Program at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, directed by oncologist Jonathan Riess, is a national and international center of excellence for lung cancer treatment. It is the largest and most comprehensive program in Northern California, providing a wide array of patient-centered clinical and research services, ranging from prevention strategies to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Our clinicians and researchers convene weekly Thoracic Oncology Tumor Board meetings to coordinate evaluation and treatment strategies for each new patient. The treatment team also includes nurses with advanced training in thoracic oncology, along with dietitians, social workers and clinical research associates for clinical trial entry. The goal of the team is to develop an individualized treatment plan tailored to you.