Dr. Daryl Pearlstein

Daryl Pearlstein, M.D., is Director of Thoracic Surgery & Lung Cancer at Hoag Memorial Hospital.  He is a board-certified thoracic surgeon specializing in surgery of the chest, including the lungs, mediastinum, diaphragm, chest wall, and esophagus.

He began performing robotic surgery in 2008 and has centered his career around improving the patient experience.  Utilizing minimally invasive techniques, including robotics, he provides thoracic surgical patients the fastest recovery possible and enables the most comfortable recuperation.

His areas of interest include all aspects of thoracic oncology (lung cancer, sarcomas, mediastinal malignancies, chest wall tumors, and esophageal cancer), as well as benign diseases, including achalasia, hiatal hernias, myasthenia gravis and hyperhidrosis.  He also specializes in complex airway pathology including tracheal stenosis and central airway obstruction and utilizes ION® robotic navigation bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound for diagnostic & therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Pearlstein works closely with Intuitive Surgical, Inc., the manufacturer of da Vinci® and has developed a website dedicated toward physician and patient education: www.roboticthoracic.surgery.  He has served as co-investigator on several peer-reviewed research projects, and given multiple professional lectures, workshops and presentations.  At Hoag Dr. Pearlstein hosts a mentorship site for robotic thoracic surgery, teaching surgeons from around the United States who wish to incorporate this technology into their practices.

Dr. Pearlstein completed his medical schooling at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and fellowships at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with Dr. Robert J. McKenna.

Dr. Pearlstein and his wife live with their three children in Irvine, California.

Education
  • Northwestern University (BA, English, 1992)

  • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (MD 1996)

  • Vanderbilt Univ Medical Center: Intern, General Surgery (1996-1997)

  • University of Illinois Metropolitan Group Hospitals, Chicago, IL: Resident, Gen Surgery (1997-2003)

  • University of Chicago: Research Fellow, Pulmonary Medicne & Critical Care (1999-2000)

  • Univ of Utah Hospitals, Salt Lake City, UT: Residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery (2003-2005)

  • Cedars-Sinai Med Ctr, Los Angeles, CA: Clinical Fellow, Min Invasive Thoracic Surgery (2005-2006)

Specialty interests
  • Lung Cancer (including robotic lobectomy and segmentectomy)
  • Da Vinci Robotic surgery for wide range of lung, esophageal and mediastinal pathology
  • Surgery for advanced and complex thoracic malignancies
  • Minimally invasive esophageal surgery for hiatal hernia, paraesophageal hernia, achalasia, & GERD; including Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)
  • Esophageal Cancer & Esophagectomy
  • Interventional bronchoscopy for central airway obstruction (including CoreCath ablation, cryotherapy, YAG laser, balloon dilation, and bronchial stents)
  • Mediastinal Masses including thymomas & my esthenia gravis
  • Diagnostic bronchoscopy & esophagoscopy (including EBUS & computerized navigation bronchoscopy)
  • Tracheal surgery
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome, Paget-Schroetter & first rib resection
  • Lung Cancer Screening
  • Cyberknife stereotactic body radiation therapy
BOARD CERTIFICATION
  • Diplomate, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Current Position

Director of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer

Honors
  • Keynote Speaker, Robotic Thoracic Surgery, Intuitive Surgical Worldwide Sales Meeting, Houston, Texas, January 2018
  • Invited Author 16th & 17th Editions of SESAP® (The American College of Surgeons Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program), 2013-Present

  • Invited Member of Hoag Physician Leadership Group, 2017 – Present

  • Hoag Physician of the Quarter (Jan-Mar 2017)

  • Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, Surgical Review Corporation

  • Special Recognition, American Board of Surgery, Top ABSITE Score, Nation, 2003