Pictured: left, Dr. Alan Speir, chair, STS Council on Health Policy and Relationships; middle, Dr. Rob Headrick; right, Dr. Keith Naunheim, 2018-2019 president, STS
photo by Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Local thoracic surgeon Dr. Rob Headrick was recognized with the Key Contact of the Year award earlier this week at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons 55th annual meeting.
“It is a great honor to receive this award and recognition,” said Dr. Headrick. “I’m very passionate about advocating for funding and research to help people within our reach beat lung cancer.”
"The annual meeting, which took place Jan. 27-29 in San Diego, is the preeminent educational event in cardiothoracic surgery," officials said. "The meeting provides an excellent networking opportunity within the medical profession, but also includes hands-on sessions and venues to view the latest products and services promoting thoracic surgery.
"The STS Key Contact program engages physician champions with members of the congress and senate to find solutions to health care issues affecting the specialty and the patients it serves. Each year the STS recognizes one of its members who have made an impact not only in Washington, but at a state level."
“This year we were advocating for more research dollars to be spent on understanding the relationship between female gender and their increased risk for lung cancer. Through this process, Congressman Fleischmann became an important cosponsor of the bill,” said Dr. Headrick. “Meeting with members of Tennessee’s delegation gave me the opportunity to share the compelling stats about lung cancer across our state. Tennessee is literally ground zero for lung cancer among smokers and non-smokers alike. There are tremendous opportunities to promote lung cancer awareness. I’m committed to making a difference in the number survivors of this disease. Lung cancer can be cured if we can catch it in its’ earliest stages. My message to our delegation remains the same today as it was during my visit to DC: lung screening saves lives. Now let’s find a way to provide them throughout every region of our state and our nation.”
Dr. Headrick is a local thoracic surgeon who leads a team responsible for providing care throughout the region. He also serves as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga. In this capacity, Dr, Headrick is responsible for resident education in thoracic surgery; designs and implements clinical rotation for fourth year general surgery residents; supports didactic conferences and research projects; and mentors residents planning to pursue a thoracic surgery fellowship. He was awarded the Health Policy and Leadership Scholarship ACS/STS in 2017, the UTCOM Resident Teaching Award in 2014 and the STSA Physician Inspiration Award in 2013.
Dr. Headrick earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee; completed his thoracic surgery residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, completed his general surgery residency at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, earned his MD From the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and earned a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University.