As a leading thoracic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery,and a much sought-after authority on all things lung cancer, Dr. Eric R. Presser has successfully maintained his affiliations with traditional allopathic medicine while associating with and learning from a wide range of complementary practitioners.
Since 1999, he has been an innovative doctor with a thriving career in both clinical and surgical settings. He is currently an attending thoracic surgeon at First Choice Physician’s Practice in Palm Springs, California, and an associate professor at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine. After earning an undergraduate degree in microbiology and double minors in chemistry and gerontology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, he received a medical degree with honors from Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Presser completed his surgical internship and residency at St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in New York City, where he was appointed to the position of chief resident. In 2006, after spending a year in cardiothoracic training at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Dr. Presser went on to complete his fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Texas Science Center in San Antonio. He also served an associate professor of surgery at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine on Long Island.
Dr. Presser’s contributions to the field of minimally invasive thoracic surgery are considerable. In particular, his approach to common medical scenarios involving lung masses, lung cancer, and pathology in the chest is widely viewed as “cutting edge,” and he has pioneered new minimally invasive approaches for complex surgical problems that, in the past, have mandated days to weeks of hospitalization. As an example, he performs all major lung resections using the smallest incisions possible, including a single incision VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) and even “awake” thoracoscopy for those patients too sick or afraid to undergo general
anesthesia when needed.
Without a doubt, Dr. Presser’s proudest accomplishments are those that eliminate the pain and discomfort associated with conventional surgery, allowing patients to return almost immediately to their normal routines, often feeling as though the surgery has not taken place. “My goal is to have my patients spend less time in the hospital and more time enjoying their lives,” he says. Dr. Presser has brought the same focus, determination, and insight to the treatment of lung cancer. He lectures widely, both on the benefits of screening for prevention and early detection of lung cancer and on mesothelioma, the rare but deadly asbestos-related cancer that frequently manifests on the thin protective tissues that cover the lungs.
Dr. Presser is also board certified in hyperbaric medicine and wound care, which extends the scope of his practice outside the operating room. As part of his continuing commitment to providing comprehensive lung cancer care, Dr. Presser works closely with hospice and home health agencies to make sure the emotional and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses are met and that they are comfortable and well cared for after leaving the
hospital.
As an innovator and inventor, Dr. Presser has consulted with leading medical equipment companies, including Covidien, Life Technologies, and Galen Technologies. Dr. Presser serves on the board of the Desert Cancer Foundation, an organization that provides funding for cancer patients who can’t afford medical care. He is a member of the medical advisory boards of Gilda’s Club, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Dr. Presser is the author of An Empowering Guide to Lung Cancer: Six Steps to Taking Charge of Your Care and Your Life, endorsed by Andrew Ordon, MD, National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench and Monster Beverage CEO and founder Rodney Sacks; he has been featured in top media outlets including the nationally syndicated TV program American Health Journal, Late Night Health Radio, and will soon be appearing on the popular daytime TV program The Doctors. He has been the subject of feature stories in Deseret News.
Dr. Presser maintains a demanding schedule, traveling frequently for work and speaking engagements and participating in a number of high-profile programs and seminars around the country. Brilliant and charismatic, yet incredibly down to earth and plainspoken, Dr. Presser is a tireless crusader for changing the dynamic of lung cancer treatment. Nothing will stop him. Dr. Presser knows he’s on the right course, particularly as the facts and proof continue to mount in favor of a prevention model for lung cancer. Equally telling is the growing number of more “experienced” surgeons who are adopting Dr. Presser’s techniques.
Originally from New York, Dr. Presser now resides in Rancho Mirage, California, with his wife and two young children.
