JAMA Surgery is pleased to announce the appointment of Leah Backhus, MD, MPH, as our inaugural deputy editor of diversity, equity, and inclusion, effective March 1, 2022.
Dr Backhus is a nationally known thoracic surgeon scientist who has committed her career to the clinical care of patients, furthering our knowledge about how and why lung cancer develops and educating the next generation.
Dr Backhus received her undergraduate degree in human biology from Stanford University and her medical degree from the University of Southern California. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Southern California and thoracic surgery fellowship at the University of California Los Angeles. She also obtained her master’s in public health degree in health services from the University of Washington School of Public Health. Dr Backhus is currently associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University and has grant funding through the Veterans Affairs Administration and the National Institutes of Health. Her research examines imaging surveillance after treatment for lung cancer. She holds several leadership roles within the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association of Thoracic Surgery, and Women in Thoracic Surgery. She also serves as chair of the Women and Lung Cancer Task Group of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable of the American Cancer Society and was chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Thoracic Residency Review Committee.