Jessica L. Hudson, MD, MPHS

Jessica Hudson, MD, treats patients who have complex cancer or non-cancerous conditions of the chest. She has expertise in advanced minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery techniques.

Much of her practice includes using these skills to treat diseases such as lung, esophageal, or thymic cancer. She also cares for patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, achalasia, hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hernias.

Dr. Hudson feels that one of the best and most important aspects of her job is being able to establish a relationship with her patients and their families, working together to help them through their illness. She specializes in thoracic surgical oncology because she finds it rewarding to have long-term relationships with her patients and to educate and empower them. She values the connections made and believes that individualized treatment plans are first built on trust and empathy.

With every individual and their family, Dr. Hudson makes sure that they appreciate her understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. She prides herself on reassuring her patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit, they know that she has their best interests at heart.

She completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and thoracic surgical oncology at Duke University in Durham, NC. She did her residency at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Hudson earned her bachelor's and medical degrees from Duke. She is board certified in surgery.

Dr. Hudson's research focuses on cultivating innovation in cardiothoracic surgery education and assessments. Her academic goals are to forge science-guided improvements in cardiothoracic trainee education.

She is a member of Women in Thoracic Surgery as well as the Association for Surgical Education.

In her free time, Dr. Hudson likes to spend time with her husband and two daughters, making use of their unlimited energy on many outdoor adventures in the local area or creative play at home. Her daughters ensure that she has little time to read non-fiction or create elaborate home-cooked meals.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Thoracic Surgery and Esophageal Surgery.