Harvey Pass, M.D.

Before coming to Perlmutter Cancer Center, Dr. Harvey Pass served as division chief of thoracic oncology at the National Cancer Institute, where he directed a laboratory that helped pioneer modern immunotherapy.

Now, Pass is part of a multidisciplinary team of specialists that includes pulmonary physicians, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and thoracic surgeons, all working together to provide personalized care to each patient.

He treats lung cancer, thymus cancer, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, mediastinal tumors and pericardial diseases.

Pass has become known as an advocate for those with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. He received the prestigious Wagner Medal from the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and the Pioneer Award from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

With funding from the National Cancer Institute, Pass is the leader of the Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Discovery Laboratory for Mesothelioma, which is based at NYU. He also oversees the Mesothelioma Pathogenesis Program Project.

He is a board member for the Lung Cancer Alliance and a member of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the General Thoracic Surgery Club.

During the decade he spent at the National Cancer Institute, he was one of the first to study the use of photodynamic therapy, which is used intraoperatively today with several thoracic malignancies.

Throughout a long career that also included time at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Pass has been recognized for his work in the operating room as well as the laboratory. He has contributed to advances in both diagnostics and treatment of mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Since his arrival at NYU, Pass has led the thoracic fellowship training program to new heights, using his hard-earned reputation to attract the best and brightest students.

He is passionate about conducting research that can lead to early detection of several thoracic malignancies and a better chance for a cure.

He is currently part of two clinical trials that involve non-small cell lung cancer. One of those is measuring the effectiveness of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) before and after surgery.

Pass received his medical degree from Duke University and did residencies at the University of Mississippi and the University of South Carolina. He completed his fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the National Cancer Institute, where he began his career.