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Title Western Regional Director, Thoracic Surgery
Department Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Primary Location West Valley Medical Building
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon Yes
Locations Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Bronchial Biopsy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Bronchus Surgery
  • Chest Surgery
  • Claggetts Window
  • Diaphragm Surgery
  • Diverticulectomy
  • Epigastric Hernia Repair
  • Esophageal Surgery
  • Esophagectomy
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
  • Esophagus Endoscopy
  • First Rib Resection
  • Heller Myotomy
  • Lobectomy, VATS Lobectomy
  • Lung Lesion Surgery
  • Lung Surgery
  • Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
  • Mediastinal Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgeries
  • Nodulectomy
  • Pectus Carinatum Repair / Reconstruction
  • Pericardial Window
  • Pericardiectomy
  • Pericardiocentesis
  • Pericardium Surgery
  • Pleurectomy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Reoperation Surgery
  • Thoracentesis
  • Thoracic Surgery Department
  • Thoracoscopic Surgery
  • Thymus Gland Surgery
  • Tracheal Resection
  • Tracheostomy
  • Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
  • Wedge Resection
View all 38 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Achalasia
  • Barrett's Esophagus
  • Collapsed Lung
  • Collis Nissen/Nissen
  • Diaphragmatic Hernia
  • Epiphrenic Diverticulum
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Esophageal Perforation
  • Hiatal Hernia
  • Lung Abscess
  • Lung Cancer
  • Mediastinal Tumor
  • Mesothelioma
  • Pectus Excavatum
  • Pericardial Effusion
  • Pleural Effusion
  • Pneumothorax
  • Thymoma
  • Tracheal Stenosis
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula
  • Tracheomalacia
  • Zenker's Diverticulum
View all 22 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Leonard Wudel, MD

Leonard Wudel, MD is the Western Regional Director for the Section of Thoracic Surgery. He is 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 sees patients at Fairview Hospital and MetroHealth Medical Center.

Specialty Interests: Robotic thoracic surgery, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal mass/tumor, diaphragm hernia, pleural effusions, pectus excavatum/carinatum, achalasia, paraesophageal hernia, chest wall tumors/trauma

Experience: Dr. Wudel has been in practice as a thoracic surgical oncologist for more than 15 years at some of the leading medical institutions in the United States. He is recognized as one of the one of the top five robotic surgeons in the nation, having performed more than 1,500 robotic-assisted operations since 2011. He specializes in minimally invasive thoracic oncology, primarily for patients with lung cancer. In total he has performed more than 7,000 surgeries, including minimally invasive robotic-assisted and video-assisted thoracoscopy and conventional open procedures.

Dr. Wudel is board certified in and thoracic surgery.
 
Success Rate: To learn about patient outcomes for specific conditions and procedures at Cleveland Clinic, go to: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx

Education: Dr. Wudel is a graduate of East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tenn. He served his internship and residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, followed by an internship and residency in surgery there with election as chief resident in his final year. His training at Vanderbilt included a two-year fellowship in hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgery. Following his experience at Vanderbilt, Dr. Wudel spent two years as a thoracic surgery resident at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic medical staff in 2021, Dr Wudel was director of thoracic surgical oncology and an associate professor of surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston Salem, N.C.

Research and Publications: Dr. Wudel has published scientific papers on basic and clinical research in a range of thoracic surgery topics, including new technologies, robotic-assisted surgery techniques and patient outcomes.

About Dr. Wudel: “I believe compassionate care, trust and surgical excellence are not mutually exclusive.  I am committed to the improvement of not only outcomes in thoracic surgical oncology but also the physician – patient relationship and the entire patient experience.”

Leisure Activities: Dr. Wudel’s hobbies include automobiles, computers, cooking and music.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2021

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - University of Michigan Medical Center
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Ann Arbor, MI USA
2006

Fellowship - Vanderbilt Univ Medical Ctr
General Surgery
Nashville, TN USA
2004

Residency - Vanderbilt Univ Medical Ctr
Internal Medicine
Nashville, TN USA
1997

Medical Education - East Tennessee State University-James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Johnson City, TN USA
1994

Undergraduate - The University of Tennessee Medical Center
Biology
Knoxville, TN USA
1990

Certifications

  • Thoracic Surgery - Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Specialty Interests

Robotic thoracic surgery, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal mass/tumor, diaphragm hernia, pleural effusions, pectus excavatum/carinatum, achalasia, paraesophageal hernia, chest wall tumors/trauma

Awards & Honors

  • 2015-present Top Doctor Award
  • 2015 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  • 2011, 2012 People’s Choice Award, Healthgrades
  • 2011 Compassionate Physician Award, Healthgrades
  • 2011 Star Award, St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Leonard Wudel, MD.

(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

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 7/3/2023, Dr. Wudel 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.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

100 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
4.9 out of 5
Explains 4.9
Listens 4.8
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

15 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2024

Dr Wudel is an asset to the hospital and the City. I can't say enough how wonderful he is!

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2023

Dr. Wudel was very personable and truly seemed to care about me and my issues. One of the nicest doctors I have ever dealt with.

Reviewed on Dec 15, 2023

Dr. Wudel was superior with his presentation. He gave us both medical terms and layman's terms.

Reviewed on Dec 15, 2023

Dr. Ali took charge and Dr. Wudel and Dr. Del Rio coordinated with each other with care and understanding of the patient needs. Excellent care was afforded of me due to their due diligence.

Reviewed on Nov 10, 2023

Dr. Wudel is a true perfectionist as well as his staff.

Reviewed on Sep 22, 2023

Dr. Widely explained everything carefully and made sure I understood. He was kind, competent and caring. He explained everything that was going to happen pre, during and post surgery.

Reviewed on Sep 22, 2023

I would definitely recommend Dr Wudel and his team. Each person was helpful, informative and kind.

Reviewed on Sep 8, 2023

Dr. Wudel explains everything in easy to understand words. He also shows pictures as needed. He makes you feelComfortable.

Reviewed on Aug 4, 2023

Dr Wudel and team are caring and efficient

Reviewed on Jul 28, 2023

Dr.Wudel is an exceptional person as well as Dr. He made both myself and my husband feel very confident in his care

Reviewed on Jul 19, 2023

Dr . Wudel is very polite, professional and well spoken.

Reviewed on Jun 21, 2023

I was very impressed with Dr. Wudel. He listened, explained in layman's terms, as was a "straight shooter" during the interview.

Reviewed on Jun 2, 2023

After seeing the Dr I felt 100 percent better. He was very compassionate and took time to explain everything. When you find out you have cancer it's not the best day but after seeing the Dr it's going to get better.

Reviewed on May 12, 2023

Dr Wudell and everyone that works with him are terrific- caring and concerned . And give 100% to everything I asked.

Reviewed on Apr 7, 2023

Dr. Widely explained everything regarding the surgery

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