Lana Schumacher
Massachusetts General Hospital, Tufts University, Tufts Medical Center, Harvard University
Papers
15
Total Citations
291
H-Index
8
About
Dr. Lana Schumacher is a pioneering thoracic surgeon whose research centers on advancing minimally invasive and robotic-assisted approaches for lung cancer treatment. Her landmark work, the multi-institutional PORTaL study, has fundamentally shaped the field by providing comprehensive, comparative outcomes data for open, video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS), and robotic lobectomy. With over 119 citations, the initial PORTaL publication established her as a leading voice in surgical oncology, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of robotic techniques while identifying critical risk factors for conversion during minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Schumacher’s impact extends beyond clinical outcomes; she has been instrumental in developing standardized national curricula for robotic thoracic surgery training, as evidenced by her 2024 expert consensus statement for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Her innovative research portfolio also includes groundbreaking work on force feedback technology to enhance surgical precision, novel intrathoracic microdevices for in situ chemotherapeutic sensitivity testing in NSCLC, and objective performance indicators for robotic skill assessment. Through these contributions—spanning over 270 total citations—Dr. Schumacher continues to define the future of thoracic surgery, bridging technological innovation with rigorous clinical evidence to improve patient outcomes.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy (PORTaL) Study119 citations · 2021
- 2Pulmonary Open, Robotic, and Thoracoscopic Lobectomy (PORTaL) Study30 citations · 2023
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- 8Outcomes and technique of robotic diaphragm plication11 citations · 2021
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- 10Starting and Developing a Robotic Thoracic Surgery Program4 citations · 2022