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About Patricia Thistlethwaite, MD, PhD

Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, MD, PhD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in lung cancer, mediastinal and chest wall surgery, diseases of the thymus, minimally invasive thoracic surgery, and heart and lung transplantation. She focuses on providing patient-centered clinical care, using minimally invasive approaches to treat thoracic disease.

As a professor in the Department of Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Thistlethwaite conducts clinical research and has led major national trials to treat lung cancer. She runs an active NIH-funded molecular biology lab, which studies innovative approaches to pulmonary hypertension and coronary artery disease. She is also the director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program.

Dr. Thistlethwaite completed residencies in surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her medical degree and doctorate from Harvard Medical School, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Her national recognition has led to elected membership in the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, among others.

She is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, as well as an editor of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Circulation.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Heart Care and Cancer Care.

Medical DegreeHarvard Medical School, Boston, MAResidencyMassachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MAFellowshipUniversity of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
GenderFemale
Date Joined Staff1997-07-01
Board Certifications
Cardiothoracic SurgeryGeneral Surgery
Conditions and Treatments
  • Adult Cardiac Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
  • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
  • Pulmonary Surgery
  • Lung Cancer Surgery
  • Heart and Lung Transplantation
  • Mediastinal Tumors
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Heart Valve Program
PULMONOLOGY_(LUNG)
Cardiothoracic (Heart and Lung) Surgery
Cancer

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Reviews

Ratings and comments are gathered from NRC Health patient experience surveys. Ratings are an average of all responses to the question, “How likely would you be to recommend this provider to your family and friends?” with 5 stars being the highest.

  • Comments
    Your patient facility is very welcoming. I do like to thank the donors and UCSD donation campaign.
    Recognition
    Doctor Patricia Thistlethwaite and her nurse gave me concise and easy to understand information about my lung health status. I will see her again in one year.
    - Verified UCSD Patient
  • Comments
    Professional, helpful
    Recognition
    Dr. Thistlethwaite
    - Verified UCSD Patient
  • Recognition
    Claire Bensard and Dr Thistlethwaite were very empathetic and had a plan in place for my treatment.
    - Verified UCSD Patient
  • Recognition
    Dr. Patricia Thistlethwaite.
    - Verified UCSD Patient
  • Recognition
    I liked the doctor, she was very professional, polite and explained my test results in a way that was easy to understand.
    - Verified UCSD Patient