HEALTHCARE

Lifespan appoints 'distinguished' thoracic surgeon Abbas, skilled in robot-assisted operations

G. Wayne Miller
The Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE — With the recent appointment of Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas, Lifespan is enhancing its minimally-invasive and robot-assisted surgical capabilities.

Abbas, who received his medical degree from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, comes to Lifespan from Temple University Hospital and the Fox Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

A Rhode Island robotic surgery leader

Dr. Abbas El-Sayed Abbas, courtesy of Lifespan

“Abbas is one of the earliest adopters of robotic surgical systems in the world," a Lifespan media release states, "and has performed thousands of robot-assisted minimally-invasive surgeries of the esophagus, lungs and airways — including those to treat a variety of thoracic cancers. ... Abbas will offer treatments for mediastinal, esophageal and lung diseases, using a robotic surgical system and minimally-invasive procedures that have the advantage of reduced pain and bleeding, minimal scarring and fewer complications.”

Dr. Timothy J. Babineau, Lifespan's president and CEO, welcomed the surgeon: “Dr. Abbas is a distinguished and highly skilled surgeon whose expertise and talents will further elevate Lifespan’s thoracic programs as a recognized center of excellence on par with the best in the world.”

Abbas, who lives now in Barrington, said: “I am beyond thrilled to join the team at Lifespan and Brown. The existing talent is incredible, and I plan to take advantage of the amazing resources we have in Rhode Island to build a unique and unrivaled thoracic medicine and surgery program.”

Abbas trained at the Mayo Clinic, Penn State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.