University of Chicago Medicine

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at University of Chicago Medicine

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that forms in the lining of specific cavities and can spread to organs. Due to the rarity, people with mesothelioma should prioritize receiving care and treatment from an established cancer center with a team of specialists.

University of Chicago Medicine, which includes the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, has two doctors for peritoneal mesothelioma (forms in the lining of the abdominal cavity) on staff: Dr. Mecker Möller and Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler. Dr. Kindler is also the head of the cancer center’s Mesothelioma Program.

The hospital’s Mesothelioma Program also includes two thoracic surgeons capable of treating pleural mesothelioma (forms in the lining of the lungs): Dr. Jessica Donington and Dr. Mark Ferguson. Dr. Kiran Turaga previously worked here as a mesothelioma specialist but moved to Yale School of Medicine.

University of Chicago Medicine has more medical professionals offering mesothelioma treatment and care, including:

• Three radiologists
• An oncologist
• A pulmonologist (specialist of respiratory system functioning)
• Two pathologists
• Two palliative medicine specialists

A staff with this many mesothelioma doctors – plus a developed program – puts University of Chicago Medicine near the top of the list for mesothelioma care. There are a handful of cancer centers in the U.S. with mesothelioma specialists and programs.

Chicago Medicine recently added a new state-of-the-art facility. The new hospital will be at the campus in Hyde Park, a subdivision in the south side of Chicago. This facility will focus on cancer treatment. Construction is estimated to begin in 2023 – if the cancer center addition is approved – and open to patients in 2026.

The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated center.

Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists

• Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler, Director of Mesothelioma Program
• Dr. Mecker Möller, Director of the HIPEC Program
• Dr. Jessica Donington, Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery
• Dr. Mark Ferguson, thoracic surgeon
• Dr. Darren Bryan, thoracic surgeon

Affiliations

• University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
• University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center

Treatment Specialties

• Cytoreductive/HIPEC surgery
• Pleurectomy/decortication
• Immunotherapy
• Systemic chemotherapy
• Radiation

Get Connected to University of Chicago Medicine

University of Chicago Medicine has a leading Mesothelioma Program, which is run by Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler. There is a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist and two pleural mesothelioma surgeons.

Why Choose University of Chicago Medicine?

• Sees cases of pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma
• Highly rated mesothelioma program with full team of professionals
• Surgery options and clinical trials for advanced cases

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Surgery for Both Types of Mesothelioma

University of Chicago Medicine for mesothelioma has specialists capable of performing surgery for mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma surgery options are pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. The former is preferred since it leaves both lungs intact.

Peritoneal mesothelioma surgery is cytoreduction. The other part is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The medical team infuses chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity to treat tumors in the area. The cancer center is most known for their HIPEC surgery program, which is now led by an experienced HIPEC surgeon and peritoneal mesothelioma specialist in Dr. Möller.

“We all know prevention is better than cure,” Dr. Turaga said. “If we can predict this disease early or find it very early, there’s no question these patients will do better.”

Hospital Ranking

• Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025 Hospitals Honor Roll
• Ranked 3rd in Illinois
• Ranked 12th for cancer treatment
• Ranked 25th gastrointestinal surgery (peritoneal mesothelioma)
• Ranked 35th in lung cancer surgery (pleural mesothelioma)

Consideration to Rising Treatments

University of Chicago Medicine is hosting a study for two immune checkpoint inhibitors for mesothelioma. The therapies, Opdivo and Yervoy, are approved by the FDA for unresectable pleural mesothelioma. This study is one of the first incorporating immunotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Patients receive Opdivo and Yervoy (brand names for nivolumab and ipilimumab, respectively), followed by HIPEC/cytoreductive surgery. The objective is to assess how peritoneal mesothelioma tumors respond to immunotherapy treatment – and if the drugs shrink tumors and make surgery easier.

How to Get Treatment at University of Chicago Medicine for Mesothelioma

Chicago is an easily accessible cancer center with regular incoming flights from throughout the country. This means going to University of Chicago Medicine’s cancer center is a top option for patients.

The HIPEC program is highly regarded and now is led by Dr. Möller, who was the first HIPEC surgeon for peritoneal mesothelioma in south Florida when she worked at the University of Miami. Thoracic oncology and surgery is also rated well.

If you wish to learn more about mesothelioma care from this cancer center, contact our team. Our registered nurse, Karen Ritter (karen@mesotheliomaguide.com), can help you contact the Mesothelioma Program at the hospital. Reach out to her for cancer recommendations via email or with a cancer center contact form.

Sources & Author

1. Our Mesothelioma Physician Team. UChicago Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/mesothelioma/physicians. Accessed: 01/01/2021.
2. University of Chicago Medical Center. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/il/university-of-chicago-medical-center-6431210. Accessed: 07/21/2024.
3. Mecker G. Möller, MD. UChicago Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/mecker-moller. Accessed: 11/21/2023.
4. Hedy Lee Kindler, MD. UChicago Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/hedy-lee-kindler. Accessed: 01/01/2021.
5. Jessica Donington, MD, MSCR, UChicago Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/jessica-donington. Accessed: 01/05/2021.
6. Mark K. Ferguson, MD. UChicago Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/find-a-physician/physician/mark-k-ferguson. Accessed: 01/05/2021.
7. UChicago Medicine wants to build $633 million hospital to treat cancer. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved from: https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/2/3/22915102/uchicago-medicine-wants-build-633-million-hospital-treat-cancer. Accessed: 02/10/2022.

About the Writer, Devin Golden

Devin Golden is the senior content writer for Mesothelioma Guide. He produces mesothelioma-related content on various mediums, including the Mesothelioma Guide website and social media channels. Devin's objective is to translate complex information regarding mesothelioma into informative, easily absorbable content to help patients and their loved ones.