Leah Monique (Fuller) Backhus MD
Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgical Oncology, Cardiovascular Surgery
Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University
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300 Pasteur DrPalo Alto, CA 94304
Phone+1 650-723-4000
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Summary
- Dr. Leah Backhus is a thoracic surgeon in Palo Alto, CA and is affiliated with Stanford Health Care. She received her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC and has been in practice 19 years. She specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, thoracic surgical oncology, and cardiovascular surgery and is experienced in mesothelioma, endometriosis, chest wall reconstruction, pectus excavatum repair, and chest wall tumors.
Education & Training
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical CenterFellowship, Thoracic Surgery - Independent, 2007 - 2009
University of Southern California/Los Angeles General Medical Center (USC/LA General)Residency, Surgery, 2000 - 2007
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaClass of 2000
University of WashingtonMPH, Health Services
Certifications & Licensure
CA State Medical License 2001 - 2027
WA State Medical License 2009 - 2020
American Board of Surgery Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 2023
- McGoon Award for Teaching in Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery Residents Association, 2019
- Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Scholarship Thoracic Surgery Foundation, 2019
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Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- 1 citationsThoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network (ThORN) Consensus Document on Defining a High-Quality Wedge Resection for Early-Stage Lung Cancer.Seth B Krantz, Brian Mitzman, Mara B Antonoff, Leah Backhus, Stephen R Broderick
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2025-05-01 - Frailty and Survival for Diagnoses Feasibly Managed Operatively or Nonoperatively.Emily Mosher, Hasan Nassereldine, Jeffrey C McKibben, Jason Johanning, Shipra Arya
Annals of Surgery. 2025-04-28 - Factors and outcomes associated with successful minimally invasive pneumonectomy.Winston L Trope, Ntemena Kapula, Irmina A Elliott, Brandon A Guenthart, Natalie S Lui
JTCVS Open. 2025-04-01
Journal Articles
- Esophageal Cancer SurgeryIoana Baiu, Leah Backhus, JAMA
Authored Content
- From Maximal to Minimal in Thoracic Surgery: Less is More…But Not AlwaysFebruary 2017
Press Mentions
Women in Thoracic Surgery: Asian PerspectiveAugust 4th, 2020
Women in Thoracic Surgery: Social Media and the Value of MentorshipApril 11th, 2020
From Female Surgical Resident to Academic Leaders: Challenges and Pathways ForwardMarch 13th, 2021
Grant Support
- Imaging Surveillance After Lung Cancer TreatmentVETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS2018–2025
- iSALT: Imaging Surveillance After Lung Cancer TreatmentDepartment of Veterans AffairsPresent
Professional Memberships
- Fellow
- Society of Thoracic SurgeonsDirector-At-Large
- American Association for Thoracic SurgeryMember
External Links
- Stanford Faculty Profilehttps://profiles.stanford.edu/leah-backhus
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