Siva Raja, MD, PhD
Primary Location
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Appointment:
- 216.445.6860
- Desk:
- 216.444.4063
- Fax:
- 216.636.6996
Treatment & Services
- Abdominal Surgery
- Achalasia Diagnosis and Treatment
- Bronchial Biopsy
- Bronchoscopy
- Bronchus Surgery
- Cancer Center
- Cardiovascular Surgery Section
- Chest Surgery
- Claggetts Window
- Complex Abdominal Hernia Repair
- Decortication
- Diaphragm Surgery
- Diverticulectomy
- Epigastric Hernia Repair
- Esophageal Dilation
- Esophageal Surgery
- Esophagectomy
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
- Esophagus Endoscopy
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- GERD Surgery
- Heller Myotomy
- Laparoscopic Anti-Reflux Surgery
- Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery
- Lobectomy, VATS Lobectomy
- Lung Biopsy
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Lung Lesion Surgery
- Lung Removal Surgery
- Lung Surgery
- Mediastinal Biopsy Surgery
- Mediastinal Masses Surgery
- Mediastinal Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgeries
- Nodulectomy
- Pericardial Window
- Pericardium Surgery
- Pleurectomy
- Pneumonectomy
- Removal of Part of Lung
- Reoperation Surgery
- Robotic Esophagectomy
- Robotic Surgery
- Robotic Thoracic Surgery
- Robotically Assisted Thymectomy
- Sleeve Lobectomy
- Stomach Surgery
- Surgical Biopsy of Thoracic Lymph Nodes
- Surgical Treatment of Lung Nodules
- Thoracentesis
- Thoracic Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery Department
- Thoracic Surgery Section
- Thoracoscopic Surgery
- Thymectomy
- Thymus Gland Surgery
- Tracheostomy
- Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
- Wedge Resection
Specialty in Diseases & Conditions
- Abdominal Abscess
- Abdominal Hernia
- Angiosarcomas
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Cancer
- Collapsed Lung
- Collis Nissen/Nissen
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Epiphrenic Diverticulum
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Diseases
- Esophageal Perforation
- Esophageal Stricture
- Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Hiatal Hernia
- Hyperhidrosis
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
- Lung Abscess
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Nodules
- Lungs
- Mediastinal Tumor
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pleural Effusion
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary Nodules
- Rare Cancer and Blood Disease Program
- Stomach Cancer
- Swallowing Disorders
- Thoracic Cancer
- Thymic Tumors
- Thymoma
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula
- Windpipe Injury
- Zenker's Diverticulum
Insurance
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View All PlansAbout Siva Raja, MD, PhD
Siva Raja, MD, PhD, is Surgical Director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases and a staff thoracic surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He is board certified in surgery.
Specialty interests: Achalasia, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, Hiatal hernia, cancers and tumors of the chest and chest wall, minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery and procedures. POEM surgery, general thoracic surgery, robotic surgery, reflux, esophageal failure.
Number of Procedures Performed: Cleveland Clinic performs more than 1,700 thoracic procedures each year. All Cleveland Clinic thoracic surgeons complete between 350-450 thoracic cases per year. Dr. Raja specializes in esophageal surgeries including Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy, POEM which is an incision-less technique to treat achalasia.
Success rates: Cleveland Clinic thoracic surgeons perform a wide range of conditions, including lung, esophageal, chest wall, pleural, tracheal, mediastinal, foregut and diaphragm disease. Cleveland Clinic contributes to the Society of Thoracic Surgery Database in order to maintain the highest possible standards. Our outcomes include the lowest risk-adjusted mortality rate for lobectomy and esophagectomy in the nation. Success rates for specific procedures are available at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx
Education and Training: Dr. Raja earned his medical degree and a PhD in molecular and cellular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, Pa. During his medical school career, Dr. Raja completed one-year research fellowships in thoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and with the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Raja completed a general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, where he was named Chief Resident in his final year of training. He came to Cleveland Clinic in 2009 as a fellow in cardiothoracic surgery and was appointed to the medical staff in 2012.
Publications and Speaking: Since 2000, Dr. Raja has authored more than two dozen articles in leading surgery journals on esophageal cancer, lung cancer and other thoracic diseases, and he has contributed chapters to five medical textbooks. Dr. Raja has given presentations at meetings of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and other professional organizations.
About Dr. Raja: “Thoracic surgery has become an integral part of my life. It’s what I live and breathe on a daily basis and that’s what makes me a better doctor.”
Leisure activities: Golf, spending time with family
Education & Professional Highlights
Appointed
2012
Education & Fellowships
Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cleveland,
OH USA
2012
Residency - Brigham & Women's Hospital
General Surgery
Boston,
MA USA
2009
Graduate School - University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh,
PA USA
2004
Medical Education - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh,
PA USA
2000
Undergraduate - Muhlenberg College
Allentown,
PA USA
1996
Certifications
- Surgery - General Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery - Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Specialty Interests
Achalasia, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, Hiatal hernia, cancers and tumors of the chest and chest wall, minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery and procedures. POEM surgery, general thoracic surgery, robotic surgery, reflux, esophageal failure.
Awards & Honors
- Charles H Bryan Clinical Excellence in Residency Award.
- 2012Thoracic Surgery In-service achievement award. 2010.
- Allegheny Medical Society Student Award. 2004.
Research & Publications
See publications for Siva Raja, MD, PhD.
(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.
To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.
As of 9/26/2023, Dr. Raja has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.
Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.
* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.
281 Patient Satisfaction Reviews
The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.
| Overall | Star Ratings | |
|---|---|---|
| Explains | 4.8 | |
| Listens | 4.7 | |
| Courtesy, Respect & Concern | 4.9 | |
| Patient Rating of Doctor | 4.9 |
31 Patient Comments
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Reviewed on Nov 8, 2023
Dr Raja is amazing. I am so fortunate to have him as my Surgeon.
Reviewed on Nov 8, 2023
I tell everyone, when speaking about my surgery or aftercare that the Clevland Clinic is the most amazing hospital, and if you need surgery, especially complex surgery, The Clevland Clinic is where you need to be. I have had Surgeries at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, and Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville MD and they pale in comparison to The Clevland Clinic, Dr Raja all the nurse's heck everyone Involved are the best I have ever had the pleasure to care for me,
Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023
Dr. Raja displayed empathy, compassion and confidence before and after my procedure. I appreciated the time he spent with me after the procedure was complete when he discussed his findings and his recommendations for future treatments and care. His ability to educate and provide palliative care for his patients with achalasia is noteworthy.
Reviewed on Oct 18, 2023
Good, informative discussion with Dr. Raja to mark 5 years since the surgery.
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2023
Dr. Raja explains treatment plans well and thoroughly answers questions.
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2023
Dr. Was very thorough
Reviewed on Oct 9, 2023
Doctor Raja listened and was very sympathetic. Ready to get me taken care of.He was so awesome!!
Reviewed on Sep 18, 2023
Dr. Raja is terrific. I am very happy with the care I received and the ability to meet via videoconference.
Reviewed on Sep 11, 2023
Dr. Raja is intelligent, experienced and extremely empathetic. I was pleased that the appointment started on time and was conducted by Dr. Siva Raja as I specifically desired his expertise and insight.
Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023
My experience with Dr. Raja is always a satisfying and pleasant one.
Reviewed on Aug 26, 2023
*Dr. Raja is EXCELLENT!
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2023
Doctor was very informative and helpful. Took his time to explain everything and answered all our questions.
Reviewed on Jul 19, 2023
I originally called to schedule and no one called me back. I called dr Rajas office and they had someone call me right away
Reviewed on Jul 19, 2023
Dr Raja is the best!
Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023
Dr. Raja did an excellent, thorough, and professional job of explaining my medical condition and the necessary treatment options and procedures.
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2023
Dr.Raja is an elite specialist and I believe that he cares deeply for his patients with achalasia. He is an intuitive listener and continuously strives to provide supportive palliative care. This and past appointments have never been rushed. He is kind and humble. I am fortunate that he provides my care.
Reviewed on Jun 5, 2023
Great experience Dr.Raja probably saved my life I wish all doctors were as good as him thank God
Reviewed on Jun 4, 2023
*Dr. Raja & his entire team of practitioners were absolutely exceptional.
Reviewed on May 24, 2023
Dr Raja. Absolutely amazing , he shows concerns about my condition
Reviewed on May 22, 2023
My doctor was very nice to talk to he exspand what he was going he answered any question I had and it helped to get through my stay better I felt very comfortable here
Reviewed on Apr 24, 2023
Dr. Raja is professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate In his communication and in his care towards me as a patient.
Reviewed on Mar 15, 2023
Wonderful communication with the fellow doctor as well as staff. Concerned, kind and professional care!
Reviewed on Mar 15, 2023
Definitely impressed and would recommend Dr.Raja wholeheartedly.
Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023
I was so impressed with Dr. Rama's "bedside" manner (especially for being a surgeon). I was so grateful for his kindness, the time he took to explain things to me and willingness to listen and try to get to the point of what is wrong with me. I'm so glad for this survey because I planned on writing in anyways. You can tell he is a great human outside of his profession. I'm very grateful Dr. Lichtin referred me to Dr. Raja.
Reviewed on Mar 8, 2023
We like Dr Raja. He was friendly and knowledgeable but there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency. I understand that he is busy, but perhaps they need to get more places to do this procedure, or more Drs that do it.
Reviewed on Mar 6, 2023
Dr. Raja was not rushed during the appointment and put me at ease with his willingness to answer all my questions.
Reviewed on Feb 13, 2023
Dr.Raja spent a lot of time with me explaining everything, very much appreciated.
Reviewed on Feb 8, 2023
I drive 4 hours gladly to be a patient of Dr. Raja. He is outstanding and I am so thankful to have such an amazing surgeon
Reviewed on Dec 7, 2022
Contact with the doctor was very brief indeed.
Reviewed on Dec 5, 2022
Dr. Raja has a unique gift of being able to put you at ease, make you comfortable while also being an incredibly brilliant Doctor.
Reviewed on Nov 30, 2022
The whole care team is great, Dr. Raja Is the greatest ever.