Who Is Dr. Lorraine Cornwell?
Dr. Lorraine D. Cornwell is one of the top mesothelioma doctors in the nation for veterans. She is the section head of general thoracic surgery at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, where she specializes in treating pleural mesothelioma.
She is also an assistant professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, also located in Houston.
“At the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Dr. Lorraine Cornwell and the Cardiothoracic Surgery team provide state-of-the-art thoracic oncologic and cardiac surgical services to U.S. military veterans.”
— Baylor College of Medicine
As part of her work, she collaborates closely with other mesothelioma specialists like Baylor’s Dr. Taylor Ripley and Dr. Eugene Choi to provide the best care to veterans and civilians alike.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you or a loved one get care from skilled mesothelioma doctors like Dr. Cornwell. Find the best specialist for your case by downloading our Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Doctor Checklist for free.
- Finding Top Treatments
- Affording Treatments
- Joining a Clinical Trial
Dr. Cornwell’s Mesothelioma Treatment Approach
Dr. Cornwell is a cardiothoracic surgeon, meaning she treats cases of pleural mesothelioma by performing surgical resection. This is the removal of tumors that have grown into the pleura (lung lining), lungs, and/or chest wall.
Veterans with early-stage pleural mesothelioma may be able to receive a pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) from Dr. Cornwell, in which the pleura and cancer tumors are removed from the body. This surgery can allow some patients to live for years or even decades.
In some cases, she can also use other techniques like video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to help patients.
Further, Dr. Cornwell works closely with other on-staff cancer specialists at the DeBakey VA to come up with the most effective treatments for patients. This is important as many veterans with mesothelioma will need to get treated with other methods besides surgery (such as chemotherapy or radiation).
“We do offer comprehensive care at the VA here in Houston, and we really enjoy taking care of these complicated medical issues.”
— Dr. Lorraine Cornwell
She and the other mesothelioma surgeons work in the same department as the cancer specialists at Baylor, allowing her to collaborate with Dr. Ripley and other doctors as needed.
Dr. Cornwell is also able to treat lung cancer and heart-related conditions.
Want to find the best doctors and treatments for you or a loved one with mesothelioma? We can help. Call (877) 450-8973 to speak with one of our caring Patient Advocates.
Dr. Cornwell’s Medical Background
Dr. Cornwell has over 20 years of experience helping patients. She obtained her medical certification from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill in 1996.
She completed her general surgery residency at the University of North Carolina in 2001 and a cardiothoracic surgery residency at three facilities — New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — in 2003. At the latter, she was trained by another mesothelioma specialist, Dr. Valerie Rusch.
Dr. Cornwell currently works at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center as the section head of thoracic surgery. She first joined the VA in 2009.
Dr. Cornwell is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery and in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Professional Experience and Awards
Over the years, Dr. Cornwell has won many awards for her work in treating patients with pleural mesothelioma and other illnesses.
These include:
- 2021 Women of Excellence — awarded by Baylor College of Medicine
- 2020 Top Doctor: Cardiothoracic Surgery — awarded by Houstonia Magazine
- STAR Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care — awarded by Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Cornwell is also a member of the following:
- American Association for Thoracic Surgery
- American College of Surgeons (Fellow)
- American Medical Association
- American Women’s Medical Association
- Association of Veterans Affairs Surgeons
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Women in Thoracic Surgery
Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma Patients
Besides standard treatments like surgery, some of Dr. Cornwell’s mesothelioma patients may be eligible to join clinical trials offered by Baylor and the DeBakey VA.
For example, a recent pleural mesothelioma clinical trial conducted at Baylor looked at how a weakened version of the adenovirus and immunotherapy could help pleural mesothelioma patients whose cancer had come back despite treatment.
Contact our team to get help finding top mesothelioma clinical trials that you may be able to join at no cost to you.
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell’s Patients
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell and her team have helped many veterans with pleural mesothelioma live longer and with a higher quality of life.
She has consistently received 5-star ratings from past patients, according to U.S. News & World Report, which shows that she provides excellent care.
Patients have rated Dr. Cornwell highly because she:
- Has experience helping the veteran population
- Is friendly, experienced, and compassionate
- Is a great communicator who helps patients understand their options
- Provides advice on joining clinical trials
In particular, Dr. Cornwell is very proud of the work she does to treat U.S. veterans with pleural mesothelioma and other cancers.
“I’m very familiar with how the VA works and what we’re able to offer for veterans, and how we can optimize their treatment plans, considering that they’re veterans first and foremost.”
— Dr. Lorraine Cornwell
Find the best specialists for your case by using our Free Checklist of Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Doctor.
- Finding Top Treatments
- Affording Treatments
- Joining a Clinical Trial
Connect With Top Mesothelioma Doctors
Dr. Lorraine Cornwell is one of the best health care providers within the VA’s network. She offers highly effective treatments to veterans with mesothelioma, giving them a better chance at living longer.
Dr. Cornwell and the entire team at the DeBakey VA are standing by to assist veterans. Further, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you connect with top mesothelioma doctors like Dr. Cornwell.
Work with our team to:
- Find the best doctors and cancer centers near you
- Get treatments faster
- Receive financial compensation for medical care
Call (877) 450-8973 now or download our Free Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Doctor Checklist to find the right specialist for you.
