Dr. Linda W. Martin

Doctor Overview

Dr. Linda W. Martin is a nationally recognized thoracic surgeon in Charlottesville, Virginia. She practices at the University of Virginia (UVA) Health — Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, where she serves as chief of thoracic surgery. She is also a tenured professor of surgery and associate program director of the Cardiothoracic and I-6 Residency Program. These are both offered at the UVA School of Medicine.

Dr. Martin specializes in treating complex conditions of the lungs and chest, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. At UVA Health, she leads the Thoracic Oncology Tumor Board, which brings specialists together to coordinate treatment. She also co-leads the Enhanced Recovery Program for Thoracic Surgery, which aims to support safer surgery and smoother recovery for patients.

Her work has earned recognition from both peers and national organizations. Dr. Martin has been nominated as a top doctor in multiple states, including Virginia, and received awards for improving patient access and satisfaction. At UVA Health, her surgical team has earned the highest rating possible (3-stars) from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for quality outcomes in lung and esophageal surgery.

Alongside clinical care, Dr. Martin’s research focuses on improving cancer care methods and delivery. She leads several clinical trials through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (ACTO) and serves as a global principal investigator for an advanced-stage III lung cancer trial. Her work appears in peer-reviewed medical journals, and she remains active in national and international thoracic surgery organizations.

Doctor Fast Facts

Main Specialty: Thoracic Surgery

Other Interests & Specialties: Malignant pleural mesothelioma, clinical trials in thoracic oncology, enhanced recovery pathways, esophageal cancer surgery and multimodality therapy, immunotherapy for thoracic malignancies, lung cancer surgery and multimodality therapy, mediastinal and chest wall tumors, robotic thoracic surgery, smoking cessation, surgical education and thoracic oncology.

Certifications, Awards & Accolades: Associate Editor of Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Editor of Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Committee Member, Lead of Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology’s Thoracic Surgery Group, Member and Committee Member of American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Member of International ERAS Society Thoracic Guidelines Team, Member of NCI Thoracic Malignancy Steering Committee, STS Representative to the Commission on Cancer, Vice-Chair and Future 2026 Chair of the General Thoracic Surgical Club

Education & Experience:

• Medical Degree from the University of California, San Diego
• Residency in General Surgery at the University of Minnesota
• Residency in General Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco
• Residency in Thoracic Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center/Texas Heart Institute
• Fellowship in Clinical Research for Thoracic Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Publications

Inspired oxygen concentration during the re-initiation of two-lung ventilation in thoracic surgery: a post hoc analysis of data from the multicenter perioperative outcomes group. Anesth Analg. 2025 Sept 1;141(3):667–70.

Operative challenges after induction immunotherapy for lung cancer. Thorac Surg Clin. 2025 Aug;35(3):285–98.

Drinking pudding through a straw: large-bore versus pigtail catheters for pleural drainage. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 June 5;S1043-0679(25)00084-X.

Association between inspired oxygen fraction and development of postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 2024 Nov;133(5):1073–84.