Mark Onaitis

Mark Onaitis is a Professor of Surgery at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, specializing in thoracic surgery with expertise in lung cancer, minimally invasive techniques, and robotic surgery. His research focuses on improving surgical outcomes for thoracic malignancies and advancing the understanding of lung cancer biology.

Dr. Onaitis has made significant contributions to the field through numerous publications and participation in major clinical guidelines. His work spans from basic science investigations into lung cancer biology to large-scale clinical database analyses examining surgical outcomes and disparities in care. He has been actively involved with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database, contributing to multiple updates and analyses that inform surgical practice.

His research demonstrates a strong focus on optimizing surgical approaches for lung cancer, with particular attention to patient selection, surgical techniques, and outcomes analysis. Dr. Onaitis has examined lobectomy versus sublobar resection, lymph node evaluation, and factors affecting surgical outcomes in diverse patient populations.

Dr. Onaitis's publication record shows consistent productivity, with recent work (through 2025) addressing contemporary issues in thoracic surgery including molecular aspects of lung cancer, robotic surgical techniques, and healthcare disparities. His collaborative work across the University of California system and national organizations highlights his leadership role in the field.

His contributions to clinical guidelines, particularly for lung cancer screening (NCCN Guidelines), reflect his influence on standardizing care practices. Dr. Onaitis has also published extensively on esophageal surgery, including minimally invasive approaches and technical innovations in esophagectomy procedures.