MD
Director of Thoracic Oncology, City of Hope Atlanta
After the personal satisfaction of surgically removing a complex cancer, the follow-up with the patient is so gratifying – you get to see them thriving for years after their procedure.
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
General Surgery – Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Cardiothoracic Surgery – Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Advanced Robotic Thoracic Surgery – University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Surgery – American Board of Surgery
Thoracic Surgery -- American Board of Thoracic Surgery
As Director of Thoracic Oncology for City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, Shady Eldaif, MD, oversees a team of thoracic cancer specialists dedicated to treating patients with a wide range of conditions affecting the esophagus and chest, including esophageal and lung cancer. A highly experienced thoracic surgeon who has performed more than 1,600 complex robotic surgeries to date, Dr. Eldaif believes in combining compassion with expertise to improve patients’ lives and treatment outcomes.
Dr. Eldaif’s interest in cardiovascular medicine began during childhood, when a friend with a congenital heart issue received an operation that drastically improved his quality of life. This inspired Dr. Eldaif to pursue a career focusing on cardiothoracic surgery, and family experience with cancer led him to pursue and subspecialize in thoracic surgery.
“Cardiac surgeries are exciting and challenging from a technical perspective, but the interaction with the patient is shorter,” he says. “Thoracic surgery, however, felt like it was all of the excitement and challenge, plus the added benefit of working with patients both in the short- and the long-term.”
After growing up in the Atlanta area, Dr. Eldaif earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine, then completed residencies in general surgery and thoracic surgery at Emory and an advanced robotic fellowship at the University of Alabama. Before joining City of Hope, he was chief of thoracic surgery, director of robotic thoracic surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery at an Atlanta-area hospital.
Dr. Eldaif’s puts a priority on educating his patients about their treatment journeys, with a focus on how timing is crucial.
“Many patients ask, ‘How much time do I have?’ But they don’t have to ask this question,” he explains. “This is a treatable, even curable, disease, and I want to educate patients on what their path will be moving forward.”
A physician-scholar, Dr. Eldaif has published multiple articles in leading medical journals and has presented on topics such as cardiovascular health and innovative surgical techniques at conferences around the country.
Outside of City of Hope, he is a football and soccer fan who enjoys spending time with his family and learning new languages.