June 3, 2026 NGHS’ lung cancer surgery program earns highest ratings from national society View »

A national group's latest report shows that people in northeast Georgia who need surgery for lung cancer can count on receiving some of the best care available in the United States from Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). The lung cancer resection surgery program at NGHS recently earned top ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it among the highest-performing 5% to 10% of thoracic surgery centers nationwide.

The report, drawn from STS' General Thoracic Surgery Database, includes data from 2023-2025. NGHS' program scored "Better Than Expected" in the "Overall" category as well as a separate category that tracks the absence of major surgical complications. The STS "Better Than Expected" designation is a rare achievement attained by only 32 hospitals in the United States.

"The accomplishment is a testament to NGHS' investment in pioneering robotic surgery so that our patients can have access to the highest-quality, most advanced care available," said Karen Gersch, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. "It also reflects the tremendous teamwork required to deliver exceptional thoracic oncology and robotic thoracic surgery care, including the contributions of nursing, anesthesia, operating room staff, pulmonology, interventional pulmonology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, administration and perioperative services."

The lung cancer resection surgery program at NGHS is led by Dr. Gersch. Since June 2023, Dr. Gersch and her team have performed 100% of lung resection surgeries using a robotic surgical system. Among centers nationwide, only about 68% of these surgeries are performed robotically.

"By combining advanced technology with a highly coordinated approach, we're able to precisely target and remove lung nodules or tumors through minimally invasive robotic surgery - resulting in less pain, smaller scars and faster recovery for our patients," said Dr. Gersch

For more information about robotic lung cancer surgery or to schedule an appointment, call 770-219-7099, or visit nghs.com/thoracic-robotic-surgery.

About NGHS

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team of more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties cares for more than 1 million people across the region through seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices. Our acute care hospitals, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), have a total of more than 1,000 beds across a Level I Trauma Center in Gainesville and other locations in Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. NGHS' specialty hospitals also provide individualized rehabilitation programs for medical conditions and injuries through The Rehabilitation Institute in Gainesville, as well as inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment at Laurelwood on the campus of NGMC Gainesville. Learn more at nghs.com.

About NGPG

Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) brings together over 700 talented physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives and other clinical staff at more than 50 locations across north Georgia. As the state's sixth-largest physician group, we always have a practice nearby to offer you expert care in more than 40 specialties. See the full list of specialties and locations - and meet our providers - at ngpg.org.

NGPG is affiliated with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people in 19 counties. As part of NGHS, patients of NGPG have a direct connection to Northeast Georgia Medical Center's seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.