Emily June Zolfaghari, MD, MS
Hospital ResidentCards
About
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Critical Care Outcomes; Healthcare Disparities; Natural Language Processing
Publications
2025
Recent Survival Gains in Stage IV NSCLC by Sociodemographic Strata
Ayoade O, Canavan M, Zolfaghari E, Caturegli G, Kim S, Boffa D. Recent Survival Gains in Stage IV NSCLC by Sociodemographic Strata. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2025, 6: 100798. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2025.100798.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-small cell lung cancerStage IV non-small cell lung cancerIV non-small cell lung cancerStage IV NSCLC patientsIV NSCLC patientsCell lung cancerMedian survivalNSCLC patientsLung cancerNon-small cell lung cancer patientsNational Cancer DatabaseKaplan Meier methodTwo-year survivalStratified Cox analysisAdjusted mortality riskMeier methodCancer DatabaseCox analysisEra 1NSCLC treatmentSurvival gainChemotherapy administrationNon-Hispanic blacksPatientsHispanic patientsGender Disparities in Cardiothoracic Surgical Conference Scholarly Interactions: A Prime Opportunity for Change in Culture
Ries S, Zolfaghari E, Higaki A, Olivera J, Cangut B, Ahmed A, Hsiung T, Carducci J, Chidi A, Elshiekh M, Degife E, Arrington R, Jindani R, Perkins A, Rodriguez E, Eisenberg M, Servais E, Woodard G, Antonoff M. Gender Disparities in Cardiothoracic Surgical Conference Scholarly Interactions: A Prime Opportunity for Change in Culture. JTCVS Open 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2025.02.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdult cardiac surgeryCardiac surgeryNo significant differenceGeneral thoracicWomen presentersSurgical meetingsSurgical residentsSignificant differenceObserved presentationWomenPresentationMenEvaluate presentationObservance of professional behaviorUnprofessional behaviorGender-related inequalitiesSurgeryCharacterization of trends in preoperative hemoglobin A1c testing prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery: a retrospective, observational study
Hamid S, Graetz E, Zolfaghari E, Schultz K, Schneider E, Gibbs K. Characterization of trends in preoperative hemoglobin A1c testing prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery: a retrospective, observational study. Perioperative Medicine 2025, 14: 3. PMID: 39789653, PMCID: PMC11720298, DOI: 10.1186/s13741-024-00483-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRobotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypassBariatric surgeryDiabetes statusSleeve gastrectomyA1c testingRoux-en-Y gastric bypassIncreased oddsPreoperative hemoglobin A1cDemographic characteristics of patientsCharacteristics of patientsNon-insulin-dependent diabetesInsulin-dependent patientsBaseline diabetes statusLogistic regression analysisSleep apneaCardiopulmonary comorbiditiesAmerican Society of MetabolicGastric bypassMBSAQIP databaseClinical factorsHemoglobin A1c testingMBS patientsSociety recommendationsHemoglobin A1cDependent patientsBridging the gap: expanding access to minimally invasive thoracic surgery to reduce health disparities
Zolfaghari E, Hamid S, Antonoff M. Bridging the gap: expanding access to minimally invasive thoracic surgery to reduce health disparities. Journal Of Thoracic Disease 2025, 17: 516-517. PMID: 39975720, PMCID: PMC11833594, DOI: 10.21037/jtd-2024-1986.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Silent Signals: Advancing Incidental Lung Nodule Screening Through Artificial Intelligence Innovation
Zolfaghari E, Kuehne A, Antonoff M. Silent Signals: Advancing Incidental Lung Nodule Screening Through Artificial Intelligence Innovation. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2024 PMID: 39708940, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.11.035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchObstacles for Family Planning Exist for Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Zolfaghari E, Hamid S, Antonoff M. Obstacles for Family Planning Exist for Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2024 PMID: 39706510, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.11.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBarriers to fitness: Disparities in preoperative exercise access for patients with lung cancer
Zolfaghari E, Ayoade O, Antonoff M. Barriers to fitness: Disparities in preoperative exercise access for patients with lung cancer. Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2024, 169: e39. PMID: 39674938, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.11.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnalysis of Online Crowdfunding Among Patients Pursuing Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in the United States
Hamid S, Graetz E, Bakkila B, Chao G, Zolfaghari E, Schultz K, Chetty A, Trabilsy M, Schneider E, Gibbs K. Analysis of Online Crowdfunding Among Patients Pursuing Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in the United States. Obesity Surgery 2024, 35: 170-180. PMID: 39633092, DOI: 10.1007/s11695-024-07605-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBariatric surgeryNon-medical expensesRoux-en-Y gastric bypassNon-surgical attemptsRoux-en-YObesity-associated diseasesSleeve gastrectomyGastric bypassBiliopancreatic diversionDuodenal switchAssessed associationsLogistic regressionSurgeryIQRPatientsMedianDiseaseLost wagesHealth-related diseasesUnmet financial needsThe evolving landscape of adjuvant therapy in T1-T2N0 resected non-small cell lung cancer: a narrative review
Zolfaghari E, Dhanasopon A, Woodard G. The evolving landscape of adjuvant therapy in T1-T2N0 resected non-small cell lung cancer: a narrative review. Journal Of Thoracic Disease 2024, 0: 0-0. PMID: 39831209, PMCID: PMC11740046, DOI: 10.21037/jtd-24-245.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-small cell lung cancerEpidermal growth factor receptorEarly-stage non-small cell lung cancerAnaplastic lymphoma kinaseAdjuvant therapyCell lung cancerEarly-stage patientsSurgical resectionOverall survivalAdjuvant chemotherapyLung cancerSurvival benefit of adjuvant therapyAdjuvant platinum-based chemotherapyBenefit of adjuvant therapyHigh-risk pathologic featuresStage IB tumorsNational Clinical Trials RegistryPlatinum-based chemotherapyHigh-risk featuresCirculating tumor DNALandscape of adjuvant therapyLung cancer recurrenceGrowth factor receptorClinical Trials RegistryAdjuvant osimertinibMassive thymic hyperplasia in a toddler masquerading as a loculated pleural effusion: A case report
Zolfaghari E, Shaughnessy M, Wu H, Caty M, Christison-Lagay E, Hornick M. Massive thymic hyperplasia in a toddler masquerading as a loculated pleural effusion: A case report. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports 2024, 110: 102885. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsc.2024.102885.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMassive thymic hyperplasiaChest X-rayThymic hyperplasiaCase reportComputed tomographyDifferential diagnosis of pediatric patientsSurveillance chest x-raysDiagnosis of pediatric patientsTrue thymic hyperplasiaRecurrent respiratory distressPost-operative coursePercutaneous core biopsyLoculated pleural effusionHistory of multiple admissionsPersistent respiratory symptomsSurgical resectionCore biopsyParapneumonic effusionPediatric patientsAbnormal findingsPleural effusionRight thoracotomyRare conditionRight hemithoraxSuspected pneumonia