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Our Team

The Division of Thoracic Surgery at SUNY-Upstate Medical University has a longstanding history of excellence in the care of patient’s with chest diseases. The program gained regional and national prominence under the guidance of Leslie Kohman, MD. During her tenure, the division trained numerous thoracic surgeons in the thoracic surgery training program. Her vision for a comprehensive multidisciplinary clinic is continues to be realized today through our Thoracic Oncology Program.

The division is currently lead by Jason Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP who has grown the division exponentially since his arrival in 2016. The division provides comprehensive thoracic surgery services including the management of malignant and benign diseases of the chest and foregut. The recruitment of Michael Archer, DO, FACS  from Vanderbilt Unviersity Medical Center in Nashville and Yifan Zheng, MD from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston to the division has enhanced patient care by bringing fellowship-trained thoracic surgeons to the region to provide the latest in surgical approaches to our patients. Using the resources of a tertiary, academic medical center, the division leverages regional and national research protocols and clinical trials to advance the management of chest diseases and to provide patients with the most current treatments.


Jason Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP
Division Chief
Jason M Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP

315 464-1800


Michael A Archer, DO, FACS
Michael A Archer, DO, FACS
315 464-1800
Diseases/Specialties/Treatments: Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Achalasia; Barretts Esophagitis; Bronchiectasis; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD); more
Education: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Research Interests:

Quality metrics in lung cancer surgery. Molecular and genetic drivers of thoracic malignancies. Impact of social media on the dissmenation of scientific and surgical peer-reviewed publications

Education Interests:

Surgical education and simulation in surgical training.

Clinical Interests:

Lung cancer screening. Thoracic surgical oncology. Multimodality treatment of locally advanced lung and esophageal cancers. Robotic thoracic surgery. 

Associations/Memberships: Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), Member; General Thoracic Surgical Club, Member; Association for Academic Surgery, Member; Medical Society of The State of New York, Member; American College of Surgeons (ACS), Fellow

Kaylee C King, PA
Kaylee C King, PA
315 464-8668

Leah L Marinelli, NP
Leah L Marinelli, NP
315 464-1857
Diseases/Specialties/Treatments: Thoracic Surgery; Barretts Esophagitis; Bronchiectasis; Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) Caused by Injury; Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) not Related to Injury; Dysphagia; more

Margaret T Terzolo, PA

Jason M Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP
Jason M Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP
315 464-1800
Diseases/Specialties/Treatments: Thoracic Surgery; Achalasia; Barretts Esophagitis; Bronchiectasis; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD); Chest Pain (Lung Related); more
Research Interests:

Lung cancer, lung infections, surgery in patients with limited pulmonary capacity, minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic procedures.

Education Interests:

Surgical Education

Clinical Interests:

Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Thymus Cancer

GERD/Gastroesophageal Reflux, Hiatal Hernia, Achalasia, Esophageal Diverticula

Minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, endoscopic surgery


Yifan Zheng, MD
Yifan Zheng, MD
315 464-1800
Diseases/Specialties/Treatments: Achalasia; Barretts Esophagitis; Bronchiectasis; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD); Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) Caused by Injury; Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) not Related to Injury; more
Education: Boston University School of Medicine

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