Specialists Who Understand Your Diagnosis and How to Treat It
The best mesothelioma doctor for you depends on the type you have, your health and your goals. These specialists have spent their careers understanding and treating this rare cancer at top cancer centers. They conduct cutting-edge research and offer patients access to the latest treatment options.
Expert Take
Dr. Andrea Wolf: Why is getting a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist important
"Most helpful, steered us in the right direction for treatmen..." see more
Elaine C. - Mesothelioma Patient
"Because of their guidance, I was able to navigate getting my..." see more
Deanna B. - Daughter of a Mesothelioma Patient
"Hearing the news about my mother's diagnosis was heartbreaki..." see more
Danielle W. - Daughter of a Mesothelioma Patient
"My son Carlos was diagnosed with this terrible and unknown d..." see more
Martha M. - Mother of a Mesothelioma Patient
"Extremely communicative and helped my dad get an appointment..." see more
Sunni H. - Loved One of a Mesothelioma Patient
"Danielle DiPietro was an invaluable resource for me. Her sug..." see more
Deborah C. - Spouse of a Mesothelioma Patient
"I was very grateful and appreciative of Dr. Smart from The M..." see more
Kimberlin C. - Spouse of a Mesothelioma Patient
"In January of 2016, my husband was diagnosed with peritoneal..." see more
Gloria R. - Spouse of a Mesothelioma Patient
Expert Take
Dr. Andrea Wolf: Why is getting a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist important
We’ve carefully reviewed the top mesothelioma doctors across the country and incorporated feedback from real patients, third-party reviews, hospital affiliations, years of experience treating mesothelioma, leadership in the field, patient outcomes, board certifications, commitment to advancing treatment through research and other criteria. This information is not professional medical advice. It’s intended to provide clinical- and patient-based information to help you and your loved ones choose the best mesothelioma doctor for you.
At a Glance
Jacques Fontaine
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Jacques Fontaine is the Director of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery including robotic surgery. Fontaine became a pleural mesothelioma specialist while studying under Dr. Sugarbaker at the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
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Raja Michael Flores
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Raja Michael Flores is a professor and chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Flores is a widely respected expert in pleural mesothelioma and is a recognized leader in the field of thoracic surgery for pioneering video-assisted surgical techniques for lung cancer and mesothelioma.
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Jeffrey Velotta
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Jeffrey Velotta is a thoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, serving pleural mesothelioma patients on the West Coast. He is board certified in general, thoracic and cardiac surgery, and he trained under renowned mesothelioma specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker.
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Bryan Burt
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Bryan Burt is chief of the thoracic surgery division at UCLA Health. Burt trained under mesothelioma pioneer Dr. David Sugarbaker.
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Andrea Wolf
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Andrea Wolf is a thoracic surgeon and director of the Women’s Lung Cancer Program at Mount Sinai in New York. She received training under mesothelioma treatment pioneer Dr. David Sugarbaker and specializes in minimally invasive and multidisciplinary techniques.
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Hedy Lee Kindler
Peritoneal Specialist | Gastrointestinal Oncology
Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler is the director of the Mesothelioma Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She became a leading mesothelioma researcher and oncologist after losing her father to mesothelioma. Kindler is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, and she specializes in gastrointestinal oncology.
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Marcelo DaSilva
Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Marcelo DaSilva is medical director of thoracic surgery at the AdventHealth Cancer Institute, where he has built the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program.
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Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack
Pleural Specialist | Peritoneal Specialist | Surgical Oncology
Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack, MD, is a thoracic oncologist who treats peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma patients. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, she is an attending physician and an integral part of the Hematology Oncology team at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Mohamed Adam
Peritoneal Specialist | Surgical Oncology
Dr. Mohamed Adam is an assistant professor of surgical oncology who performs surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma and related asbestos cancers. He directs peritoneal surface malignancies at the University of California, San Francisco, focusing on cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC.
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Dr. Alex Kim
Peritoneal Specialist | Surgical Oncology
Dr. Alex Kim is a surgical oncologist and assistant professor of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He directs the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy and HIPEC Program at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, specializing in cancers like peritoneal mesothelioma.
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Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and requires specialists who understand both the complexity of thoracic surgery and systemic treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The doctors featured here have extensive experience treating pleural mesothelioma patients and lead programs at the nation’s top cancer centers.
List of Best Pleural Mesothelioma Doctors
We identified these pleural mesothelioma doctors based on their expertise, leadership in the field, patient outcomes and commitment to advancing treatment through research and clinical trials. They offer access to the latest surgical techniques, clinical trials and multidisciplinary care teams.
“When I was looking for a mesothelioma doctor, I realized how much it mattered to have someone who genuinely cared. My doctor didn’t just treat the cancer, they listened, explained every step, and made me feel seen,” pleural mesothelioma survivor Michael Cole said about his doctor. “In my experience, compassion and clear communication made all the difference when my life was on the line.”
These pleural mesothelioma specialists have extensive experience treating this cancer and hold leadership roles at major cancer centers where they advance treatment through research and clinical trials. Their specialized experience, institutional resources and dedication to innovation give pleural mesothelioma patients access to the best care available.
How These Doctors Help Pleural Patients
The National Cancer Database shows the greatest survival rates among pleural mesothelioma patients who received both surgery and chemotherapy. When combined strategically, these treatments attack cancer from multiple angles and give doctors flexibility to adjust plans as needs change throughout treatment.
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen and requires specialists with expertise in complex abdominal surgeries and heated chemotherapy techniques. The doctors featured here are leaders in cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC, the gold standard treatment approach for eligible peritoneal patients.
List of Best Peritoneal Mesothelioma Doctors
We identified these peritoneal mesothelioma doctors based on their surgical expertise with CRS and HIPEC, patient outcomes, leadership in the field and commitment to advancing care through research. They’ve achieved some of the longest survival times for this rare form of mesothelioma.
“There’s not a one-size-fits-all for this treatment…so if you actually go to a specialist who specializes in mesothelioma, they have all this knowledge,” Patient Advocate Missy Miller said. “They can help set up a treatment plan for you that will work best for your particular type of diagnosis.”
Peritoneal mesothelioma requires a different treatment approach than pleural mesothelioma, with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC serving as the cornerstone of care for eligible patients. These specialists have spent years mastering these complex procedures and achieve survival outcomes that far exceed what general surgeons offer.
How These Doctors Help Peritoneal Patients
Higher percentages of peritoneal patients qualify for surgery compared to pleural patients because the cancer is often more contained within the abdominal cavity. When patients can undergo cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, this approach has consistently produced the best long-term outcomes for peritoneal mesothelioma.
Bring these questions to your appointment to guide your decision about which specialist is right for you. The answers will help you understand the doctor’s approach and what treatment options make sense for your situation. Clear answers help you choose a specialist with the expertise and resources you need.
Consider bringing a family member or friend to appointments to help remember the information discussed and ask follow-up questions. Taking notes during your visit can also help you review the conversation later and make more informed decisions about your care.
Your doctor choice depends on your diagnosis and treatment goals. Finding a mesothelioma specialist rather than a general oncologist significantly impacts your treatment options and outcomes. A Patient Advocate connects you with mesothelioma experts matched to your diagnosis, navigates insurance coverage, secures financial resources to cover treatment costs and provides information about clinical trials. Your Patient Advocate guides you from diagnosis through treatment and gives you and your loved ones the support and information you need.
Connect with top-rated doctors specializing in mesothelioma treatment, who will personalize treatment options based on your diagnosis.
Find Your DoctorWe identified the best mesothelioma doctors, evaluating specialist credentials, institutional leadership, research contributions and patient experiences. Our evaluation considers both clinical excellence and commitment to advancing mesothelioma care. These criteria help us recommend doctors who have the most impact treating this rare cancer.
How We Evaluate Mesothelioma Specialists
This approach helps us recommend doctors with both clinical excellence and practical expertise in treating mesothelioma patients. We regularly update this page as new information becomes available.
Recommended ReadingStay up-to-date on treatment, research, clinical trials, doctors and survivors
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Selby, K. (2026, March 23). Mesothelioma Doctors. Asbestos.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/doctors/
Selby, Karen. "Mesothelioma Doctors." Asbestos.com, 23 Mar 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/doctors/.
Selby, Karen. "Mesothelioma Doctors." Asbestos.com. Last modified March 23, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/doctors/.
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.
Lashawn , Mesothelioma patient’s daughter
We Thoroughly vet individuals who are experts in their field to contribute to articles on Asbestos.com. We believe in the integrity and quality of our educational materials, and only publish information that is relevant, factual, and backed by experts.
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and Board Certified Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center with more than 30 years of experience in oncology and thoracic surgery. She worked as an operating room nurse in thoracic surgery at the University of Maryland for 6 years, assisting with surgeries such as lung transplants, pneumonectomies and pleurectomies. She later served as regional director of the tissue procurement program at the University of Florida. Karen joined The Mesothelioma Center in 2009, providing patients with personalized support and resources.
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