Dr. Richard S. Lazzaro, MD, FACS, began working for the RWJBarnabas Health hospital network on February 15th, 2022, as Southern Region Chief of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Lazzarro provides strategic direction and clinical oversight for the thoracic surgery programs. 

His original appointment included Lakewood local- Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Toms River Community Medical Center, & Monmouth Medical Center.

Yesterday, Lazzaro’s job responsibilities were expanded. He will now also be available to treat patients at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), RWJUH Hamilton, and RWJUH Somerset. In addition, he sees patients at Toms River Community Medical Center, & Monmouth Medical Center. RWJ informed LNN that there are no plans for Dr. Lazzaro to see patients at Lakewood's local hospital Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus.

Dr. Lazzaro is a board-certified thoracic surgeon with 25 years of specialized experience in minimally invasive and robotic surgery that results in minimal scarring and faster patient recovery. He has pioneered many groundbreaking firsts in robotic thoracic surgery and has led one of the nation’s largest tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) programs. 

Dr. Lazzaro performs all types of adult thoracic surgery with a particular clinical interest in lung cancer surgery, robotic minimally invasive VATS surgery, esophageal surgery, tracheal surgery, tracheobronchomalacia, and tracheobronchoplasty.