
Overview
Joel Sternbach, MD, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon specializes in the minimally invasive treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, pleura and chest wall. He offers surgical solutions for esophageal motility disorders and reflux disease (GERD), and performs robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
Dr. Sternbach is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Achalasia, Lung Nodules, Hiatal Hernia, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 22 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- PPO
- EPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- HMO
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- PPO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Locations
1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Misho Hubka, MD, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon. His special medical interests include Robotic and Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), lung cancer surgery, esophageal cancer surgery, and complex surgery for benign and malignant disease of the lung, chest wall, esophagus and mediastinum.Dr. Hubka is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, STS Patient Safety Workforce and Western Thoracic Surgical Association. He was named a Top Doctor by Seattle Met Magazine in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dr. Hubka is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hiatal Hernia, Hernia, Neuroendocrine Tumor, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Donald Low is a Thoracic Surgeon in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Low is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hiatal Hernia, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Esophageal Cancer, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy.
Swedish Thoracic Surgery - First Hill
Dr. Louie most recently received the 2024 Thoracic Surgery Top Doc designation and has received the Seattle Top Doc award for multiple consecutive years. Philosophy of care: Dr. Louie’s practice involves all aspects of general thoracic surgery including the lung, esophagus, stomach and mediastinum. He has particular interests in minimally invasive surgery that involves the use of laparoscopy, robotics and endoscopy for both cancer and non-cancerous diseases. He believes that care is about helping patients and their families understand their illness and guiding them in selecting treatment that is appropriate and individualized for the patient at his or her stage of life. Dr. Louie is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hiatal Hernia, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Achalasia, Hernia Surgery, and Endoscopy.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Distinguished
- AchalasiaDr. Sternbach isDistinguished. Learn about Achalasia.
- Advanced
- Congenital Diaphragmatic HerniaDr. Sternbach isAdvanced. Learn about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
- HerniaDr. Sternbach isAdvanced. Learn about Hernia.
- Hiatal HerniaDr. Sternbach isAdvanced. Learn about Hiatal Hernia.
- Lung NodulesDr. Sternbach isAdvanced. Learn about Lung Nodules.
- Experienced
- Collapsed LungDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Collapsed Lung.
- Diaphragmatic HerniaDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Diaphragmatic Hernia.
- Donnai-Barrow SyndromeDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Donnai-Barrow Syndrome.
- EndoscopyDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Endoscopy.
- Esophageal PerforationDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Esophageal Perforation.
- Fibrosing MediastinitisDr. Sternbach isExperienced. Learn about Fibrosing Mediastinitis.

