Kathleen S. Berfield

Kathleen S. Berfield, MD is a board-certified thoracic surgeon and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the VA Puget Sound HCS, with clinical roles at the UW Medical Center’s Thoracic Surgery Clinic and involvement in the UW Lung Transplant Program. She specializes in general thoracic oncology and end-stage lung disease management, including lung transplantation.

• Primary Affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
• Secondary Affiliation: University of Washington Medical Center
• Education: Residency at University of Washington Cardiothoracic Surgery (2016), Medical Degree from University of Washington School of Medicine (2010)

Her research focuses on thoracic surgical techniques, lung cancer treatment, and post-transplant vascular complications. Recent publications highlight cost analyses of diagnostic procedures, surgical education frameworks, and safety protocols in cardiothoracic surgery. She actively promotes robotic thoracic surgery adoption and gender inclusion in surgical environments.

Dr. Berfield serves as Program Director for the University of Washington Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programs, emphasizing surgical education. She has published studies on VATS lobectomy outcomes, aortic dissection repair post-transplant, and safety culture development in cardiothoracic surgery.

• Clinical Expertise: Robotic thoracic surgery, lung transplantation
• Research Themes: Surgical cost-effectiveness, educational methodologies, post-transplant complications