Daniel Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS
Professor of Surgery (Thoracic)Cards
About
Titles
Professor of Surgery (Thoracic)
Division Chief, Thoracic Surgery
Biography
Daniel J. Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS, is chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and a professor of thoracic surgery at Yale School of Medicine. He also serves as chair of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer. He earned his medical degree with honors from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago and his MBA from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He has received numerous awards and recognition for clinical skills, research and education, including the Charles H. Bryan Clinical Excellence Award from the Cleveland Clinic, the Yale School of Medicine's Edward H. Storer Award for Excellence in Training and the Hassan Naama, MB, BCh Memorial Resident Award from Weill Cornell Medicine, among many others. Dr. Boffa's work has been published in top journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, the JAMA Network and Nature, as well as mainstream media including the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. He has also appeared on numerous news outlets, including Bloomberg News and NBC.
Dr. Boffa specializes in esophageal and lung cancer, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, esophageal diverticulum, and hyperhidrosis. As a highly skilled surgeon, Dr. Boffa performs the majority of his surgeries with minimally invasive procedures. His research focuses on identifying the most effective ways to treat patients with advanced cancers, particularly those with stage IV cancer., and improving the quality of care across different hospital networks.
Appointments
Thoracic Surgery
Section ChiefDualThoracic Surgery
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Thoracic Cancers
- COPPER Center
- DNA Damage and Genome Integrity
- Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) Program
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) Program
- Oligometastatic Cancer Program
- Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale New Haven Health System
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- MBA
- Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis (2021)
- Fellow
- Cleveland Clinic (2007)
- Resident
- New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center (2004)
- MD
- University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (1997)
Research
Overview
Daniel J. Boffa, MD, is a Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Yale School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and is a Board Certified Thoracic Surgeon. He has written many papers and publications in his field and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Dr. Charles H. Bryan Clinical Excellence Award, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Research Award, and the American Association of Thoracic Surgery Resident Traveling Fellowship.
Medical Research Interests
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Daniel J. Boffa, MD, is a thoracic surgeon for Yale Medicine’s thoracic surgery program. As a thoracic surgeon, he primarily treats people for esophageal and lung cancers, but he also sees patients who may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), difficulty swallowing (achalasia) or stomach hernias.
Dr. Boffa places his patient’s needs first. When he discusses options with patients, he first listens carefully to understand their concerns—and makes treatment recommendations based on their quality-of-life preferences. “In an era of personalized medicine, the goals of your care are as important as your DNA,” Dr. Boffa says.
Then he talks to them very frankly about their prospects. “I tell every patient that I’m from the Midwest and we tell it like it is,” he says. “In my experience, when people hear the truth, it’s actually more comforting because they know what they are up against.”
Dr. Boffa says that the high rate of success in Yale Medicine’s thoracic surgery program can be attributed to team members’ deep expertise and desire to give patients the best coordinated care. Yale Medicine’s thoracic oncology program consistently ranks at the top of listings compiled by the Society for Thoracic Surgeons, Dr. Boffa says.
As an associate professor of surgery, Dr. Boffa conducts research into innovative approaches to care. “The more you understand about the patient and their disease,” he says, “the more likely you are to end up with the results the patient is happy with.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers
Learn More on Yale MedicineGastrointestinal Cancers
Learn More on Yale MedicineHyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)
Learn More on Yale MedicineLung Cancer
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Thoracic Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Thoracic Surgery
- Latest Certification Date
- 2016
- Original Certification Date
- 2008
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
Media
Gastroesophageal Cancer: Life Beyond Treatment - Healing, Hope & Health
April 30, 2026
Hosted by: Drs. Raghav Sundar and Pamela Kunz
Presentations by:
Kevin Du, MD, PhD, MSCI
Scott Capozza, PT, MS
Natalie Smith, RDN, CSO
Daniel Boffa, MD
Derek Yach, MD
Deepika Karki, MBBS
News
- September 25, 2026
Yale Department of Surgery Representation Strong at ACS Clinical Congress 2026, AASA Annual Conference
- July 23, 2026Source: NBC Connecticut
Increased push for women over the age of 50 to get screened for lung cancer (with Daniel Boffa, MD)
- June 17, 2026Source: Parade (with Daniel Boffa, MD)
Oncologists Are Begging Women Over 50 To Get This One Test-and Many Are Skipping It
- April 23, 2026Source: NBC Connecticut (with Dr. Daniel Boffa)
Study finds over 100% increase of tobacco use depictions in media geared towards teens
Get In Touch
Contacts
Thoracic Surgery
330 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208062
New Haven, CT 06520-8062
United States
Locations
Patient Care Locations
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Events
Everyone Daniel Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS