UPMC Expands Thoracic Surgery Expertise at UPMC Presbyterian
August 12, 2026
The UPMC Department of Thoracic Surgery is enhancing access to expert thoracic surgery care at UPMC Presbyterian. Omar Awais, DO, is now available to see patients at UPMC Presby for thoracic surgery along with pre- and post-follow-up care.
“Bringing Dr. Awais to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital is an important step in bringing high level, complex esophageal surgery back to a flagship institution,” explains Ryan Levy, MD, FACS, co-director of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and chief of the Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery.
Dr. Omar Awais is an associate professor of surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and has served as the chief of thoracic surgery at UPMC Mercy. He is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery, and in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Awais specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery with a focus on hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia, complex reoperative esophageal surgery, and airway/tracheal surgery.
About the UPMC Department of Thoracic Surgery
UPMC provides comprehensive, high-volume, and highly specialized care for benign and malignant conditions of the chest and upper gastrointestinal tract. With an advanced team of surgical experts, we continue to expand minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques, multidisciplinary patient care programs, and our commitment to improving long-term thoracic outcomes.
Our program recently received top ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for both resection for primary lung cancer and esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.
According to STS public reporting, the UPMC Department of Thoracic Surgery received an “as expected” rating during the reporting period from July 2022 to June 2025. This rating reflects performance consistent with excellent outcomes for those procedures.
Patient Referrals and Consultation
To refer a patient for consultation, please email HVIReferral@upmc.edu.
