Seth D. Force, MD

Role

Thoracic Surgery
Specialty

Esophageal Cancer Lung Cancer Thymoma and Thymic Cancer Cardiac Tumors
Research Program

Cancer Prevention and Control
Practicing Since

2001

Call 404-778-7973

Background

Dr. Force has a national reputation as an outstanding thoracic surgeon whose research focuses on outcomes in and thoracic diseases with a particular interest in minimally invasive surgery for lung and esophageal cancer. Dr. Force's other interests include diseases of the mediastinum and hiatal hernia and reflux surgery. Dr. Force became the head of the section of General Thoracic Surgery in 2014 and was named the Kamal A. Masour Professor of Surgery in 2019.

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Titles & Roles

Kamal A. Mansour Professor in Thoracic Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery

Emory University School of Medicine
Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Chief, General Thoracic Surgery

Emory University Hospital
Surgical Director, Adult Lung Transplant Program

Emory University Hospital
Co-Director, Emory Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Center

Emory University Hospital
Director, Emory Thoracic Surgery Robotics Program

Emory University Hospital

Education & Training

Education

Fellowship, Thoracic Surgery, 2003
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), 2001
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Fellowship, 1999
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Internship, Surgery (General Surgery), 1995
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Medical Education, MD, 1994
Tulane University School of Medicine

Board Certifications

Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2004
Surgery (General Surgery)
American Board of Surgery, 2002

Professional Memberships

American College of Surgeons, Fellow
Association for Academic Surgery
American College of Chest Physicians, Fellow
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: Pulmonary Transplant Council
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American Society of Transplantation
International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
American Association of Thoracic Surgeons

Research

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Chest Wall Reconstruction Using Titanium Mesh With Fortiva Acellular Dermal Matrix Sandwich Technique. Annals of thoracic surgery short reports	B Peltier, B Williams, O Khullar, M Sancheti, F Fernandez, S Force, A Bonanno	09/01/2025
Decreasing Complications After Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy: Is a Totally Minimally Invasive Approach the Solution? Journal of surgical oncology	PT Mavani, C Sok, PS Ajay, Y Cao, AM Bonanno, K Cardona, FG Fernandez, SD Force, OV Khullar, MC Russell, CA Staley, MM Shah, DA Kooby, MS Sancheti	08/01/2025
Tracheal resection and primary reconstruction on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Perfusion	S Banskota, O Khullar, F Fernandez, M Sanchetti, SD Force, M Daneshmand, J Javidfar	10/01/2024
Recovery of Patient-reported Quality of Life After Esophagectomy. The Annals of thoracic surgery	A Bonanno, M Dixon, J Binongo, SD Force, MS Sancheti, A Pickens, DA Kooby, CA Staley, MC Russell, K Cardona, MM Shah, TW Gillespie, F Fernandez, O Khullar	04/01/2023
Routine Implementation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Assessment Into Thoracic Surgery Practice. The Annals of thoracic surgery	OV Khullar, A Perez, M Dixon, JN Binongo, MS Sancheti, A Pickens, T Gillespie, SD Force, FG Fernandez	02/01/2023
Epidemiology of early esophageal adenocarcinoma. Clinical endoscopy	TP Hang, Z Spiritos, AM Gamboa, Z Chen, S Force, V Patel, S Chawla, S Keilin, NF Saba, B El-Rayes, Q Cai, FF Willingham	05/01/2022
Durable complete response for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma with immune checkpoint inhibition and cytoreductive nephrectomy in a Jehovah's witness: A case report. Frontiers in oncology	TZ Zhuang, L Harik, S Force, A Hadadi, MA Bilen, JT Brown, BC Carthon, J Goldman, O Kucuk, VA Master, B Nazha	01/01/2022
Community Size and Lung Cancer Resection Outcomes: Studying The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database. The Annals of thoracic surgery	JN Melvan, O Khullar, S Vemulapalli, AS Kosinski, A Pickens, SD Force, S Zhang, MS Sancheti	10/01/2021
Preoperative Lung Function Is Associated With Patient-Reported Outcomes After Lung Cancer Surgery. The Annals of thoracic surgery	OV Khullar, JW Wei, K Wagh, JN Binongo, A Pickens, MS Sancheti, SD Force, TW Gillespie, FG Fernandez	08/01/2021
Association Between Patient Physical Function and Length of Stay After Thoracoscopic Lung Cancer Surgery. Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery	N Valsangkar, JW Wei, JN Binongo, A Pickens, MS Sancheti, SD Force, TW Gillespie, FG Fernandez, OV Khullar	06/01/2021
Safety and Feasibility of Thoracoscopic Lung Resection for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Octogenarians. Innovations (Philadelphia, Pa.)	X Lou, A Sanders, K Wagh, JN Binongo, M Sancheti, J Javidfar, A Pickens, F Fernandez, S Force, O Khullar	01/01/2021
Evaluation of a Powered Vascular Stapler in Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy. The Journal of surgical research	L Molins, M Lanuti, S Force, S Woolley, S Krantz, EE Creedon, ML Schwiers, DW Singleton, JR Waggoner, R Fryrear, P Licht	09/01/2020
Trimodality Therapy in the Treatment of Stage III N2-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A National Cancer Database Analysis. The oncologist	M Behera, CE Steuer, Y Liu, F Fernandez, C Fu, KA Higgins, TW Gillespie, S Pakkala, RN Pillai, S Force, CP Belani, FR Khuri, WJ Curran, SS Ramalingam	06/01/2020
Percutaneous Tracheostomy With Apnea During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era: A Protocol and Brief Report of Cases. Critical care explorations	A Niroula, KM Van Nostrand, OV Khullar, S Force, WS Jaber, AH Sardi, DM Berkowitz	05/01/2020
VATS Resection of Large Ectopic Posterior Mediastinal Cystic Parathyroid Adenoma. The Annals of thoracic surgery	RL Medbery, A Winters, AY Chen, TE Rogers, SD Force	11/01/2019
Phase IB Study of Induction Chemotherapy With XELOX, Followed by Radiation Therapy, Carboplatin, and Everolimus in Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer. American journal of clinical oncology	NF Saba, S Force, C Staley, F Fernandez, F Willingham, A Pickens, K Cardona, Z Chen, L Goff, D Cardin, E Lambright, J Nesbitt, A Krasinskas, K Higgins, RD Harvey, T Owonikoko, SS Ramalingam, DM Shin, JJ Beitler, BF El-Rayes, S Salaria, W El-Rifai, J Landry, AB Chakravarthy	04/01/2019
Preoperative Computed Tomography-Guided Pulmonary Lesion Marking in Preparation for Fluoroscopic Wedge Resection-Rates of Success, Complications, and Pathology Outcomes. Current problems in diagnostic radiology	B Olaiya, CA Gilliland, SD Force, FG Fernandez, MS Sancheti, WC Small	01/01/2019
Excess Cost and Predictive Factors of Esophagectomy Complications in the SEER-Medicare Database. The Annals of thoracic surgery	R Jiang, Y Liu, KC Ward, SD Force, A Pickens, MS Sancheti, J Javidfar, FG Fernandez, OV Khullar	11/01/2018
Health care disparities among octogenarians and nonagenarians with stage III lung cancer. Cancer	RJ Cassidy, X Zhang, JM Switchenko, PR Patel, JW Shelton, S Tian, RH Nanda, CE Steuer, RN Pillai, TK Owonikoko, SS Ramalingam, FG Fernandez, SD Force, TW Gillespie, WJ Curran, KA Higgins	02/15/2018
Preclinical quantification of air leaks in a physiologic lung model: effects of ventilation modality and staple design. Medical devices (Auckland, N.Z.)	CE Eckert, JL Harris, JB Wong, S Thompson, ES Kassis, M Tsuboi, HC Ott, S Force	01/01/2018
Hospitalization Costs After Surgery in High-Risk Patients With Early Stage Lung Cancer. The Annals of thoracic surgery	MS Sancheti, RK Chihara, SD Perez, OV Khullar, FG Fernandez, A Pickens, SD Force	01/01/2018
Concomitant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy with SBRT Boost for Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase I Study. Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer	KA Higgins, RN Pillai, Z Chen, S Tian, C Zhang, P Patel, S Pakkala, J Shelton, SD Force, FG Fernandez, CE Steuer, TK Owonikoko, SS Ramalingam, JD Bradley, WJ Curran	11/01/2017
Next-generation sequencing and clinical outcomes of patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy. Cancer	RJ Cassidy, X Zhang, PR Patel, JW Shelton, CE Escott, GL Sica, MR Rossi, CE Hill, CE Steuer, RN Pillai, SS Ramalingam, TK Owonikoko, M Behera, SD Force, FG Fernandez, WJ Curran, KA Higgins	10/01/2017
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery for patients with resectable esophageal cancer: An analysis of the National Cancer Data Base. Cancer	KB Naik, Y Liu, M Goodman, TW Gillespie, A Pickens, SD Force, CE Steuer, TK Owonikoko, SS Ramalingam, K Higgins, JJ Beitler, DM Shin, FF Willingham, B El-Rayes, JC Landry, FG Fernandez, NF Saba	09/15/2017
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-stage Non-small-cell Lung Cancer in Patients 80 Years and Older: A Multi-center Analysis. Clinical lung cancer	RJ Cassidy, PR Patel, X Zhang, RH Press, JM Switchenko, RN Pillai, TK Owonikoko, SS Ramalingam, FG Fernandez, SD Force, WJ Curran, KA Higgins	09/01/2017
Laparoscopic Approach for Treatment of Symptomatic Intra-Pericardial Cyst. The Annals of thoracic surgery	RK Chihara, SD Force	08/01/2017
Quality and Cost in Thoracic Surgery. Thoracic surgery clinics	RL Medbery, SD Force	08/01/2017
Pilot Study to Integrate Patient Reported Outcomes After Lung Cancer Operations Into The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database. The Annals of thoracic surgery	OV Khullar, MH Rajaei, SD Force, JN Binongo, Y Lasanajak, S Robertson, A Pickens, MS Sancheti, J Lipscomb, TW Gillespie, FG Fernandez	07/01/2017
Reply. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SD Force	06/01/2017
Successful Thoracic Duct Ligation for Plastic Bronchitis in an Adult. The Annals of thoracic surgery	NR Hess, C Piercecchi, N Desai, MR Fisher, EH Lee, SD Force	06/01/2017
Midesophageal Pulsion Diverticulum Resulting From Hypercontractile (Jackhammer) Esophagus. The Annals of thoracic surgery	OV Khullar, SR Shroff, SS Sakaria, SD Force	02/01/2017
Socioeconomic Factors Are Associated With Readmission After Lobectomy for Early Stage Lung Cancer. The Annals of thoracic surgery	RL Medbery, TW Gillespie, Y Liu, DC Nickleach, J Lipscomb, MS Sancheti, A Pickens, SD Force, FG Fernandez	11/01/2016
Invited Commentary. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SD Force	10/01/2016
Time is Money: Hospital Costs Associated With Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomies. The Annals of thoracic surgery	OV Khullar, FG Fernandez, S Perez, W Knechtle, A Pickens, MS Sancheti, SD Force	09/01/2016
Treatment allocation in patients with early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma: Prevalence and predictors of lymph node involvement. Cancer	AM Gamboa, S Kim, SD Force, CA Staley, KE Woods, DA Kooby, SK Maithel, JA Luke, KM Shaffer, S Dacha, NF Saba, SA Keilin, Q Cai, BF El-Rayes, Z Chen, FF Willingham	07/15/2016
Invited Commentary. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SD Force	12/01/2015
Endotracheal Tube Management and Obstructed Airway. Thoracic surgery clinics	M Sancheti, S Force	08/01/2015
Invited Commentary. The Annals of thoracic surgery	S Force	07/01/2015
Anatomic resection to manage donor partial anomalous pulmonary venous return during lung transplantation: a case report and review. Transplantation proceedings	JN Melvan, SD Force, MS Sancheti	04/01/2015
The role of donor chronic alcohol abuse in the development of primary graft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. The American journal of the medical sciences	A Pelaez, PO Mitchell, NS Shah, SD Force, L Elon, LA Brown, DM Guidot	02/01/2015
Invited commentary. The Annals of thoracic surgery	S Force	08/01/2014
Severe mitral regurgitation unmasked after bilateral lung transplantation. Pulmonary circulation	TN Udoji, SD Force, A Pelaez	09/01/2013
Invited commentary. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SD Force	08/01/2013
Clinical statement on the requirements for surgeon certification for implantation of durable Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs). The Annals of thoracic surgery	FD Pagani, MA Acker, MT Camacho, TM Dewey, SD Force, EC McGee, MF McGrath, BF Meyers, NA Mokadam, NG Smedira, Y Toyoda, AF Wallace, MJ Weyant	05/01/2013
A new method to predict postoperative lung function: quantitative breath sound measurements. The Annals of thoracic surgery	F Detterbeck, M Gat, D Miller, S Force, C Chin, H Fernando, J Sonett, R Morice	03/01/2013
Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with right pulmonary agenesis. The Annals of thoracic surgery	BJ Boulton, SD Force	08/01/2011
Thoracic endovascular repair as a safe management strategy for aortobronchial fistulas. Journal of vascular surgery	CJ Bailey, S Force, R Milner, K Kasirajan, RK Veeraswamy	05/01/2011
Cervical tracheal resection: new lessons learned. The Annals of thoracic surgery	CJ Mutrie, SM Eldaif, CW Rutledge, SD Force, WJ Grist, KA Mansour, DL Miller	04/01/2011
Low mortality after treatment for esophageal perforation: a single-center experience. The Annals of thoracic surgery	WB Keeling, DL Miller, GT Lam, P Kilgo, JI Miller, KA Mansour, SD Force	11/01/2010
Surgical correction of gastroesophageal reflux in lung transplant patients is associated with decreased effector CD8 cells in lung lavages: a case series. Chest	DC Neujahr, A Mohammed, O Ulukpo, SD Force, AM Ramirez, A Pelaez, EC Lawrence, CP Larsen, AD Kirk	10/01/2010
Surgery for recurrent pectus deformities. The Annals of thoracic surgery	TD Luu, BE Kogon, SD Force, KA Mansour, DL Miller	11/01/2009
Effect of sympathectomy level on the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery	DL Miller, AS Bryant, SD Force, JI Miller	09/01/2009
The risk of esophageal resection after esophagomyotomy for achalasia. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SM Eldaif, CJ Mutrie, WC Rutledge, E Lin, SD Force, JI Miller, KA Mansour, DL Miller	05/01/2009
Radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus: short-term results. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SM Eldaif, E Lin, KA Singh, SD Force, DL Miller	02/01/2009
Dapsone-induced hemolytic anemia in lung allograft recipients. The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation	PM Naik, GM Lyon, A Ramirez, EC Lawrence, DC Neujahr, S Force, A Pelaez	11/01/2008
Temporary thoracoscopic sympathetic block for hyperhidrosis. The Annals of thoracic surgery	DL Miller, SD Force	04/01/2008
Bilateral lung transplant with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for Eisenmenger's syndrome. The Annals of thoracic surgery	SD Force, B Kogon, A Pelaez, DC Neujahr, AM Ramirez, DL Miller, EC Lawrence	03/01/2008
Esophageal radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of intestinal metaplasia, low grade dysplasia, and high grade dysplasia. Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery	SD Force, DL Miller	01/01/2008

Awards

Emory Provider Excellence Award, 2017
Atlanta's Top Doctors, Atlanta Magazine, 2009, 2011-2019
America's Top Surgeons, Consumers' Research Council of America, 2010
Thoracic Surgery Teacher of the Year Award, Emory University School of Medicine, 2010
Woodruff Leadership Academy, 2008

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