Anthony W. Kim

Anthony W. Kim is a Clinical Professor of Surgery and serves as the Division Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He holds the Jeffrey P. Smith Chair in Surgery and leads the thoracic surgery division and program at Keck Medicine of USC, providing excellence in designing thoracic courses, case studies, and research projects.

Dr. Kim is an internationally recognized thoracic surgeon and surgical teacher whose area of expertise is thoracic oncology with a focus on minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including both thoracoscopic and robotic platforms. His research spans multiple areas including lung cancer treatment, esophageal surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and surgical outcomes research. He has served on committees in several international organizations, including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American College of Chest Physicians, Society of University Surgeons, and the Association for Academic Surgery.

Dr. Kim's recent research publications demonstrate a strong focus on surgical oncology, particularly in lung and esophageal cancers. His work examines treatment timing, minimally invasive techniques, patient outcomes, and guideline-concordant care. His research often utilizes large national databases to analyze surgical outcomes across diverse patient populations, with particular attention to disparities in care and the impact of comorbidities on surgical results.

Dr. Kim has received numerous honors and awards for his teaching and scholarship, including:

• Francis Gilman Blake Award for Outstanding Teaching of the Medical Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine

As a surgical educator and division chief, Dr. Kim is deeply involved in mentoring residents and fellows in thoracic surgery. He has developed innovative training programs for minimally invasive and robotic thoracic procedures. His leadership extends to developing hospital-based financial models for thoracic surgery practices and implementing quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care pathways.

Dr. Kim leads a comprehensive thoracic surgery program at Keck Medicine of USC that includes expertise in all aspects of thoracic oncology, foregut surgery, airway reconstruction, and lung transplantation. His program emphasizes multidisciplinary care approaches and has established itself as a regional leader in complex thoracic surgical procedures.