- Specialty Pleural Mesothelioma
- Procedure Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
- VA Boston Healthcare System 1400 VFW Parkway West Roxbury, MA 02132

Dr. Avi Lebenthal
Thoracic Surgical Oncologist and Veteran
Dr. Lebenthal is one of the most talented and accomplished pleural mesothelioma surgeons in the country. With focuses on minimally-invasive thoracic surgery, Dr. Lebenthal believes in putting patient health and longevity first. His dedication to patient and veteran care has made him a highly respected mesothelioma specialist.
About Dr. Lebenthal
Dr. Abraham “Avi” Lebenthal is a thoracic surgical oncologist who specializes in pleural mesothelioma treatment and research for civilians and veterans.
Originally from Israel, Dr. Lebenthal is an Israeli Army veteran with a unique perspective on veterans’ health care that comes from his own experience serving in his country’s military.
Dr. Lebenthal received his medical degree from the Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem where he also completed his residency in General Surgery.
Dr. Lebenthal also spent one year in a clinical application at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York learning advanced laparoscopic techniques — a branch of minimally-invasive surgical procedures.
Finding a passion for minimally-invasive surgeries, Dr. Lebenthal then completed fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in minimally invasive thoracic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery.
While at BWH, Dr. Lebenthal trained under the late Dr. David Sugarbaker, the developer of the aggressive, curative surgery for pleural mesothelioma patients — the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).
In addition to learning the standard curative surgery for pleural mesothelioma, Dr. Lebenthal also learned to use the latest in technology advancements for surgery, including the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).
After his fellowships at BWH, Dr. Lebenthal became the attending thoracic surgeon for Fox Chase Medical Center.
Dr. Lebenthal then rejoined BWH in 2011 and is now part of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Thoracic Surgery and is the Director of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery for the VA Boston Healthcare System.
Background
Dr. Avi Lebenthal was born in Jerusalem, Israel and was raised in the United States. He holds dual Israeli and U.S. citizenship.
Having served in the Israeli Army as an infantry unit commander and physician, Dr. Lebenthal learned how to lead under pressure, a quality that has served him well as a surgeon. It’s clear that his frontline military experience has given Dr. Lebenthal great credibility among his veteran patients who have tremendous respect for him.
Dr. Lebenthal attended the top medical school in Israel — the Hebrew University Medical School.
After completing training and fellowships in the U.S., Dr. Lebenthal and a team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital traveled to the Hebrew University Medical School to perform and teach Israeli surgeons the minimally invasive surgical techniques the team had developed and perfected at BWH.
After serving as a leading Thoracic Surgeon at Fox Chase Medical Center in Philadelphia, Dr. Lebenthal returned to BWH. He continues to work at BWH and also splits his time between the Boston VA and Harvard Medical School, instructing thoracic surgery to the next generation of world-class surgeons.
Dr. Lebenthal is a highly respected mesothelioma doctor, known for his compassion. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Arabic.