October 30, 2025 - Dr. Shari Meyerson & Dr. Mansi Shah (Robotic Lung Cancer Screening & Treatment)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 30, 2025) – Kentucky continues to face one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the nation, but new advances at UK HealthCare are helping doctors shorten the time from diagnosis to life-saving treatment. Through the use of cutting-edge robotic systems, UK surgeons can now perform same-day biopsy and surgery for certain early-stage lung cancers — turning what was once weeks of waiting and anxiety into a single, coordinated procedure. Dr. Shari Meyerson, professor of surgery and division chief of thoracic surgery, and Dr. Mansi Shah, assistant professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, are leading this effort at the University of Kentucky. Their team is also the first in Kentucky — and among the first in the region — to perform thoracic procedures using the new single-port da Vinci robotic system, which allows complex operations through one small incision, helping patients recover faster and with less pain.  On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Drs. Meyerson and Shah explain how robotic technology is transforming lung-cancer care in Kentucky. They discuss the impact of same-day diagnosis and treatment, the benefits of single-port surgery for quicker recovery and reduced narcotic use, and the importance of encouraging more Kentuckians to take part in routine lung-cancer screening.  "Behind the Blue" is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of "Behind the Blue" each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  "Behind the Blue" is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.