Dr. Benjamin Haithcock

I am a general thoracic surgeon specializing in the treatment of thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer, as well as lung transplantation for patients with end-stage lung diseases. For cancer surgery, I offer minimally invasive approaches—including robotic-assisted and thoracoscopic surgery—that promote faster recovery and reduce postoperative pain. In cases of advanced cancer, I take a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care. Lung transplantation has been the central focus of my career. I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable recovery of patients once debilitated by severe dyspnea. I am honored to be part of the Duke Lung Transplant Program, which has performed more than 2,600 lung transplants, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Before joining Duke, I practiced in Japan, where I personally performed more than 400 lung transplants, including 180 living-donor lung transplants—the largest such experience in the world. Dr. Date is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Lung Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Lung Nodules, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mediastinitis, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

Many years ago, I came across a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. Since that time, those words have guided my professional life from the field I chose to how I care for my patients who experience discomfort from acid reflux, hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia. With every individual and their families, I make sure that they appreciate my understanding of how their health issues provide them with new stresses that may leave them confused and scared. As a result, I pride myself on reassuring my patients and making sure that by the time they leave their clinic visit they know that I have their best interests at heart. Personally, my wife and I are the proud parents of three boys. Consequently, I like to spend my free time making use of their unlimited energy by running them around at all the great parks in the local area. Dr. Klapper is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Lung Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Fibrosing Mediastinitis, Esophageal Perforation, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lung Transplant, and Thymectomy.

I help patients with acquired heart diseases, such as coronary artery blockages and heart valve problems. I use surgical procedures when necessary. Each patient is special in his or her own way, and I will work with the cardiologists to provide the best care possible in each situation. In particular, I am happy to discuss the possibility of providing patients with less-invasive ways of undergoing heart bypass surgery (for example, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft) whenever appropriate. I have been in North Carolina for more than 25 years, and I received all of my medical and surgical training at Duke. Dr. Lin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Lung Transplant. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).