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Luis F. Tapias Vargas, M.D.

  1. Thoracic Surgeon

Luis F. Tapias Vargas, M.D., is a thoracic surgeon dedicated to helping people navigate complex chest conditions with clarity, confidence, and compassion. His work centers on thoracic oncology, minimally invasive surgery, and advanced robotic approaches to lung, esophageal, and airway disease.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Tapias Vargas approaches each case with a focus on safety, minimally invasive options, and achieving excellent long-term outcomes. His clinical focus includes:

  • Lung and esophageal cancer: Expertise in management and robotic minimally invasive surgery for early and advanced lung and esophageal cancer.
  • Mediastinal tumors: Robotic-assisted surgery for benign and cancerous mediastinal tumors.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Robotic techniques to restore function and relieve symptoms.
  • Hiatal hernias: Minimally invasive surgical repair tailored to patient-specific anatomy and needs.
  • Airway diseases: Expertise in management and surgery of benign and malignant conditions of the trachea and bronchi.
  • Achalasia: Robotic approaches to improve esophageal function and swallowing.
  • Esophageal diverticula: Minimally invasive treatment to reduce symptoms and prevent complications.
  • Hyperhidrosis: Surgical options using minimally invasive techniques for symptom relief.

Research

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Tapias Vargas is actively engaged in research aimed at factors that influence the treatment, outcomes and survivorship of people with thoracic malignancies, such as lung and esophageal cancers. His work explores factors that influence treatment responses, survivorship, and recovery. He has a particular interest in the application and results of minimally invasive and robotic techniques in complex thoracic procedures such as esophagectomies.

  1. Achalasia
  2. Adenoid cystic carcinoma
  3. Bronchial stenosis
  4. Bronchogenic cyst
  5. Carcinoid tumor
  6. Chest wall tumor
  7. Chondrosarcoma
  8. Diaphragm paralysis
  9. Diaphragmatic eventration
  10. Diaphragmatic hernia
  11. Esophageal cancer
  12. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  13. Hiatal hernia
  14. Hyperhidrosis
  15. Indeterminate pleural effusion
  16. Indeterminate pulmonary nodule
  17. Large cell lung cancer
  18. Lung cancer
  19. Lung tumor
  20. Mediastinal lymph node enlargement
  21. Mediastinal tumor
  22. Mesothelioma
  23. Multifocal lung cancer
  24. Myasthenia gravis
  25. Non-small cell lung cancer
  26. Pancoast tumor
  27. Paraesophageal hernia
  28. Pleural effusion
  29. Pneumothorax
  30. Sarcomatoid lung cancer
  31. Sliding hiatal hernia
  32. Small cell lung cancer
  33. Solitary fibrous tumor
  34. Thymic tumor
  35. Tracheal stenosis
  36. Tracheobronchomalacia
  37. Tracheomalacia
  38. Young-onset esophageal cancer
  1. Bleb resection
  2. Bronchoscopy
  3. Carinal resection
  4. Chest reconstruction
  5. Chest surgery
  6. Chest wall biopsy
  7. Chest wall reconstruction
  8. Chest wall resection
  9. Decortication
  10. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy
  11. Esophageal reconstruction
  12. Esophagectomy
  13. Extrapleural pneumonectomy
  14. Heller myotomy
  15. Hiatal hernia repair
  16. Hyperhidrosis surgery
  17. Lobectomy
  18. Lung biopsy
  19. Lung resection
  20. Lung surgery
  21. Lung volume reduction surgery
  22. Median sternotomy
  23. Mediastinoscopy
  24. Mediastinotomy
  25. Minimally invasive anti-reflux surgery
  26. Minimally invasive esophagectomy
  27. Minimally invasive lung resection
  28. Minimally invasive surgery
  29. Minimally invasive thymectomy
  30. Pleurectomy
  31. Pleurodesis
  32. Pneumonectomy
  33. Robotic diaphragm plication
  34. Robotic esophagectomy
  35. Robotic lobectomy
  36. Robotic segmentectomy
  37. Robotic surgery
  38. Robotic thymectomy
  39. Segmentectomy
  40. Thoracoscopy
  41. Thoracotomy
  42. Thymectomy
  43. VATS
  44. VATS lobectomy
  45. Video mediastinoscopy
  46. Wedge resection of lung
  • Lung cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Thymic tumors
  • Tracheal tumors
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
  • Robotic thoracic surgery
  1. 2020
    Fellow - Cardiothoracic SurgeryMassachusetts General Hospital
  2. 2019
    Visiting Fellow - Thoracic SurgeryMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  3. 2019
    Visiting Fellow - Thoracic SurgeryMayo Clinic Rochester
  4. 2018
    Resident - General SurgeryMassachusetts General Hospital
  5. 2015
    Research Fellowship - Cardiothoracic SurgeryMassachusetts General Hospital
  6. 2012
    Resident - General SurgerySaint Mary's Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine
  7. 2011
    Research Fellowship - Thoracic SurgeryMassachusetts General Hospital
  8. 2010
    MD - MedicineUniversidad Industrial de Santander

Certifications

  1. 2022
    Thoracic and Cardiac SurgeryAmerican Board of Thoracic Surgery
  2. 2019
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2025
    Poster of Distinction - 31st Annual Balfour Surgery Research Symposium Department of Surgery
  2. 2025
    Top Rated Abstract - 31st Annual Balfour Surgery Research Symposium Department of Surgery
  3. 2025
    2024 Top Performer Provider – Patient Experience AwardMayo Clinic Rochester
  4. 2024
    Top Rated Abstract - Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer 2024 – Bogota, ColombiaInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
  5. 2024
    Poster of Distinction - 30th Annual Balfour Surgery Research Symposium Department of Surgery
  6. 2024
    Top Rated Abstract - 30th Annual Balfour Surgery Research Symposium Department of Surgery
  7. 2024
    Subspecialty Teacher of the Year - General Surgery Residency ProgramDepartment of Surgery
  8. 2023
    2022 Top Performer Provider - Patient Experience Award Mayo Clinic Rochester
  9. 2019
    ESTS Greek Pioneers Prize, Best Poster PresentationEuropean Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  10. 2014
    Willard M. Daggett ScholarshipMassachusetts General Hospital
  11. 2011
    Second Place, Resident Paper CompetitionAmerican College of Surgeons – Connecticut Chapter
  12. 2010
    M.D., Cum LaudeUniversidad Industrial de Santander

Professional memberships

  1. 2025
    MemberMidwest Surgical Equipment & Supply Subcommittee, Department Committees, Department of Nursing
  2. 2025 - present
    MemberRochester Surgical Equipment and Supply Subcommittee
  3. 2025 - present
    MemberWorkforce on General Thoracic Surgery Database, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  4. 2025 - present
    Sit-withMidwest Surgical Quality Subcommittee
  5. 2025 - present
    Workforce on General Thoracic Surgery DatabaseSociety of Thoracic Surgeons
  6. 2024 - present
    MemberRobotics Subcommittee
  7. 2024 - present
    MemberData Safety Monitoring Board
  8. 2023 - 2024
    MemberTaskforce on Consensus Statement on Resectable Lung Cancer Management, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  9. 2023 - 2024
    Taskforce on Consensus Statement on Resectable Lung Cancer ManagementSociety of Thoracic Surgeons
  10. 2023 - present
    MemberDouglas Mathisen Traveling Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery Review Committee, Thoracic Surgery Foundation / Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  11. 2023 - 2025
    MemberWorkforce on General Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  12. 2023 - 2025
    MemberWorkforce on Evidence Based Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  13. 2023 - 2025
    Workforce on Evidence Based SurgerySociety of Thoracic Surgeons
  14. 2023 - 2025
    Workforce on General Thoracic SurgerySociety of Thoracic Surgeons
  15. 2023 - present
    Active MemberSociety of Thoracic Surgeons
  16. 2023 - present
    MemberAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology
  17. 2022 - present
    MemberInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  18. 2022 - present
    MemberLatino Surgical Society
  19. 2021 - present
    Thoracic Surgery LiaisonDepartment of Surgery Quality Committee
  20. 2018 - present
    MemberMGH Alumni Surgical Society
  21. 2012 - 2021
    Resident MemberMassachusetts Medical Society
  22. 2011 - 2022
    Candidate MemberSociety of Thoracic Surgeons

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.