Benjamin D. Kozower, MD, MPH

Benjamin D. Kozower, MD, MPH

Expertise


Specialty Areas

  • Lung cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Mediastinal masses/myasthenia gravis
  • Benign esophageal disorders (such as hiatal hernia, diverticulum, achalasia)
  • Pectus excavatum

Common Procedures

  • Lung cancer resection
  • Robotic assisted esophagectomy
  • Robotic assisted thymectomy
  • Robotic assisted Heller myotomy
  • Modified Ravitch repair of pectus excavatum

Common Diagnoses Treated

  • Achalasia
  • Adult pectus excavatum
  • Airway obstruction
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Benign esophageal strictures
  • Chest wall tumors
  • Esophageal tumors
  • Esophageal diverticulum
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Hyperhydrosis
  • Lung nodules
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Mediastinal tumors
  • Tracheal disease
  • Tracheal tumors
Education

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Degrees

1989-1993, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Medical School: 1993-1997, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Master of Public Health: 2006-2009, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Quality Improvement Science Certificate: 2019-2020, James Anderson Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

Residency

1997-2000, General Surgery Residency, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

2002-2004, General Surgery Residency, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

2004-2006, Thoracic Surgery Residency, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Fellowship

2000-2002, Research Fellow, Thoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Professional Memberships

  • 2022, Chair, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on Research
  • 2021, Chair, Admissions Committee – Society of Clinical Surgery
  • 2021, Member – Southern Surgical Association
  • 2019, Member – Commission on Cancer, Lung Cancer Accreditation Committee
  • 2018, Member – American Surgical Association
  • 2017, Member – Society of Clinical Surgery
  • 2017, Member – General Thoracic Surgery Club
  • 2016, Advisory Council – Lung Cancer Alliance/COPD Foundation Patient Powered Research Network
  • 2015, Member – International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement
  • 2011, Member – American Association for Thoracic Surgery
  • 2010, Member – Surgical Outcomes Club
  • 2009, Fellow – American College of Chest Physicians
  • 2008, Member – Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • Chair, General Thoracic Surgery Database Taskforce (2014-2022)
  • Chair, Public Reporting Taskforce (2019-2022)
  • 2008, Member – Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
  • 2008, Fellow – American College of Surgeons

Awards and Honors

  • 2021 American Association for Thoracic Surgery 101st Annual Meeting Plenary Presentation: Long-Term Patient Reported Outcomes Following Lung Cancer Resection
  • 2015-21 Top Doctor – Castle Connolly, Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery
  • 2017-20 Best Doctors in America List
  • 2020 Barnes Jewish Hospital Team Award for Quality Improvement – History and Physical Template Improvement Effort.
  • 2019-20 Thoracic Program Co-Chair, American Association for Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting
  • 2015-21 Extraordinary Volunteer Leadership Award, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • 2019 Clifford Van Meter President’s Award for the Best Scientific Paper Delivered at the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Annual Meeting
  • 2016 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Technical Expert Panel – Developing Criteria for Assessing Feasibility of Implementing Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Findings.
  • 2016 Outstanding Performance – Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Editorial Board
  • 2015 American Association for Thoracic Surgery Leadership Academy, Seattle, WA
  • 2015 Richard E. Clark Award: Outstanding Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database Paper – Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
  • 2014 Chair, Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database Taskforce
  • 2014 International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, Surgical Representative for the Lung Cancer Standard Set
  • 2013 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Highlighted Research Activity, Complexities of the Volume-Outcome Relationship
  • 2010 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Innovations Exchange, Tobacco Cessation Project
  • 2010 J. Maxwell Chamberlain Memorial Award: Outstanding Paper in General Thoracic Surgery – Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 2010 Academic Excellence Award, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia
  • 2010 Leadership in Academic Matters, University of Virginia
  • 2009 School of Medicine Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Virginia
  • 2009 School of Medicine Academy of Distinguished Educators, University of Virginia
  • 2004 Chief Resident Teaching Award, University of Connecticut
  • 2004 Ludwig J. Pyrtek Award: Outstanding Academic Contribution to the University of Connecticut
  • 2000 Outstanding Pediatric Surgery Resident, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut
  • 1998 Surgical Resident Teaching Award, University of Connecticut
  • 1997 Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • 1994 Strong Children’s Research Fellowship, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York
  • 1993 Xerox Scholarship: Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Rochester
  • 1993 First Prize University of Rochester Public Speaking Contest
  • 1993 Phi Beta Kappa, University of Rochester
  • 1993 Magna Cum Laude, University of Rochester
Research

Areas of Research Interest

  • Management and predictive model development for lung cancer
  • Understanding patient reported outcomes before and after thoracic surgery

Clinical Trials

National Cancer Institute: R01 CA258681 Comparative Effectiveness of Surgery versus Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for Stage I lung Cancer Role: Principal Investigator 2/01/22-1/31/27

Innovations

Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery Developed Quality Composite Measures for Lung and Esophageal Cancer Resection using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database

Publications

Click here for list of publications
Locations

Hospital Affiliations

Siteman Cancer Center at 4500 Forest Park Avenue

Patients Seen At

Siteman Cancer Center at 4500 Forest Park Avenue
4500 Forest Park Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Floor: 5th

Siteman Cancer Center West County
#10 Barnes West Drive, (MOB 2), Suite 100
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Appointments: 314-362-7260

News and Stories
Contact


To request an appointment with Dr. Kozower, please call 314-362-7260.