Southern Region Chief of Thoracic Surgery Honored as Monmouth Medical Center’s December Physician of the Month

Richard S. Lazzaro, M.D., FACS, Chief of Thoracic Surgery for the RWJBarnbas Health Southern Region, been named MMC Physician of the Month for December. Presenting the award is MMC's Chief Medical Officer Kenneth Granet, M.D. They were joined for the presentation by team members from Perioperative Services and hospital leadership.

Long Branch, NJ, December 24, 2024 - Richard S. Lazzaro, M.D., FACS, Chief of Thoracic Surgery for the RWJBarnbas Health Southern Region, has been named Monmouth Medical Center's Physician of the Month for December. A board-certified thoracic surgeon with 25 years of specialized experience in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Dr. Lazzaro has been affectionately referred to as "an angel on earth" by numerous colleagues and patients.

Additional comments received in the nomination for Dr. Lazzaro include:

"From the very beginning, I knew he was joining our team to make incredible changes, and that he has. Dr. Lazzaro truly has a heart of gold. He makes everyone around him feel like family. He is a prime example of a great physician!"

"Dr. Lazzaro exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional surgeon and a true leader. He constantly demonstrates an innovative approach to medicine, and stays ahead of advancements and applies them to provide top-of-the-line patient-centered care. Nothing is more important than patient safety."

"Dr. Lazzaro embodies the very essence of what a doctor should be, setting meticulous standards and consistently achieving them. Yet he remains humble, down to earth, thorough, empathetic, loving and kind, recognizing the hard work and achievements of others. He delivers exceptional care to his patients while motivating each of us with meaningful and gratifying work."

An expert in minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery, Dr. Lazzaro joined RWJBH in 2022 as Southern Region Chief of Thoracic Surgery to provide strategic direction and clinical oversight for the thoracic surgery programs at Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. His role was later expanded to include oversight of the thoracic surgery programs at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospitals at New Brunswick, Somerset and Hamilton. A renowned national leader in the field, Dr. Lazzaro offers new minimally invasive thoracic surgery options that have resulted in improved health outcomes and faster recovery times for patients.

Contact: Kathy Horan
(732) 546-6317
[email protected]