Meet your Thoracic surgery surgical staff at VA Boston health care

Meet our surgeons

Dr. Daniel C. Wiener [he / him / his / himself], is board certified in Thoracic Surgery and General Surgery. He is the Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the VA Boston Healthcare System. He is a member of the National Surgery Advisory Board for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Wiener also serves as an Associate Residency Program Director at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.

Medical School: Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2001
Residency: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, General Surgery, 2009
Fellowship:  Brigham and Women's Hospital, 2011
Board Certification: Thoracic Surgery (ABTS), General Surgery (ABS)

Dr. Wiener's clinical interests include treating patients with mediastinal masses, pulmonary nodules, lung cancer, and esophageal cancer as well as those who suffer from GERD and/or hiatal hernias. In his spare time, Dr. Wiener enjoys spending time with his family and performing lead guitar in "Boston's favorite doc rock" band, Off Label!

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Fatima G. Wilder, MD, MSc [she / her / hers] is board certified in general surgery and an associate surgeon at Brigham and Women's hospital
 

Graduate School: MSc from Pace University 2004-2006
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine  2011
Residency University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 2011 – 2013
                       University of California - Fresno, 2015 – 2019
Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2013 – 2015
                         Johns Hopkins Hospital,  Cardiothoracic Surgery 2019 – 2022
Board Certification: N/A

Dr. Wilder's clinical interests include lung cancer, esophageal cancer, chest wall and mediastinal diseases and airway tumors. She prioritizes the use of the robot for her surgical procedures whenever appropriate. Dr. Wilder serves on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In her spare time Dr. Wilder loves to spend time with her family, cook, and travel.

 

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Dr. John S. Young [he / him / his / himself], is board certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, is the surgical director of the VA Boston Lung Transplant Program, and is an instructor at Harvard Medical School

Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, MD, 2010
Residency: Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, General Surgery, 2017
Fellowship:  Northwell Health, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 2019
Board Certification: General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery


Dr. John Young clinical interests include end stage lung disease, lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, esophageal and lung pathology, and the utilization of the robotic surgical platform. In his spare time, Dr. Young enjoys spending time with his family and cooking on his firepit.

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Meet our Advanced Practice Practitioners

Suzanne Armstrong [she / her / hers / herself], is a board-certified nurse practitioner in Adult/Family Primary Care for thoracic surgery

Undergraduate School:   Bowdoin College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Education 1999
Nursing or PA School:  MGH Institute of Health Professions 2006
Board Certification: FNP-BC Adult/Family Nurse Practitioner

Suzanne's clinical interests include health care access for vulnerable and underserved populations, especially individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness. Suzanne enjoys skiing, running and almost any water sport.

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Carolyn Abbanat Villafane is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner 

Undergraduate School:   Fairfield University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing,1999
Nursing or PA School:  University of Massachusetts, Worcester, Graduate School of Nursing, 2004
Board Certification: ANCC

Carolyn’s clinic interests include lung and esophageal cancers and intersection of surgery and medicine, social determinants of health and its impact on clinical decision making and health care access for underserved populations. When not at work, Carolyn is likely on a lacrosse field with her boys, hiking with her dog, or reading. 

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