Biography


Leah Backhus trained in general surgery at the University of Southern California and cardiothoracic surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. She practices at Stanford Hospital and is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the VA Palo Alto. Her surgical practice consists of general thoracic surgery with special emphasis on thoracic oncology and minimally invasive surgical techniques. She is also Co-Director of the Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program, and has grant funding through the Veterans Affairs Administration and NIH. Her current research interests are in imaging surveillance following treatment for lung cancer and cancer survivorship. She is a member of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable of the American Cancer Society serving as Chair of the Task Group on Lung Cancer in Women. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. As an educator, Dr. Backhus is the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic Track Residency and is the Chair of the ACGME Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery which is the accrediting body for all cardiothoracic surgery training programs in the US.

Professional Summary


Professional Education
  • Medical Education: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (2000) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (2010)
  • Residency: LACplusUSC Dept of Surgery (2007) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery (2008)
  • Residency: UCLA Thoracic Surgery Residency (2009) CA
  • MPH, University of Washington, Health Services (2014)
  • AB, Stanford University, Human Biology

Honors & Awards
  • Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Award, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2023)
  • Faculty Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (2018-present)
  • Levi Watkins Innovation and Leadership Scholarship, Thoracic Surgery Foundation (2019)
  • McGoon Award for Teaching in Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (2019)

Administrative Appointments
  • Associate Program Director, Thoracic Track, CT Surgery Residency Training Program (2015 - Present)
  • Co- Director, Thoracic Surgery Clinical Research Program (2015 - Present)

Publications

Practice Locations


Thoracic Surgery Clinic in Palo Alto Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

875 Blake Wilbur Drive

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 498-6000

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Thoracic Cancer Program in Palo Alto Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

875 Blake Wilbur Drive

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 498-6000

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Esophagus Center Redwood City, CA
Redwood City, CA

420 Broadway Street, Pavilion D, 2nd Floor

Redwood City , CA 94063

(650) 736-5555

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Chest Wall Surgery Program Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA

875 Blake Wilbur Drive

Palo Alto , CA 94304

(650) 498-6000

Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »

Patient Ratings

(33 Ratings)

Overall Rating
4.9/5

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4.9/5
Friendliness
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
4.9/5
Explanations
Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition
4.8/5
Listens
Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries
4.8/5
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your treatment
4.9/5
Recommended to others
Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others
0.0/5
Wait times
Wait time at clinic (from arriving to leaving)

How Our Ratings Work

The Patients Ratings and comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.

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Patient Reviews

(48 reviews)

I have complete confidence in guidance given by Leah Bacchus.
I am SO thankful To Dr Backhus. The care and information I received from her was excellent!
Really appreciate her looking at my medical exams and coming up with a plan
Professional, knowledgeable and patience.
I really like her and she seems a very wise doctor
She is an amazing surgeon.
Thank you for the thorough video visit.
She seems caring, and honest.
The visit with Dr Backhus is very informative. She never seem rushed and even asked me several times if I had any questions. She seems so interested in her patients, so fortunate that she is my doctor.
Very professional very attentive excellent doctor
Dr. Backhus and the team took a great deal of time with me and I gained a much better understanding of my health situation.
Dr Leah Backhus was a gifted surgeon in my situation where surgery was needed. As a continuance Doctor during our followup visits she is very informative of my test results.
Dr. Backhus communicated very well during the video visit and she was very attentive and responsive to my concerns.
Dr. Backhus was thorough and made it easy for me to understand with what is going on. She used visuals and was very detailed in her explanations. She gave us time to ask questions. I felt very relaxed during our visit.
EXCELLENT SERVICE
Could not be happier.
Very nice doctor, listened well, answerd questions adequately
Dr. Backhus is a wonderful, understanding Doctor, I connect with her.
Excellent Dr.
She was very nice and helpful and gave me confidence that my surgery would be straight forward. Her assistant was also very nice and helped answer any questions or concerns I had.
Dr Backhus was very friendly and informative. I am just overwhelmed right now with all I learned.
Thank you Dr Backhus and Angela. All questions were answered. Reassuring
She’s great ever since I met her I could tell she is an awesome Person and a great physician
Dr. Backhus was very friendly, personable. She made my needs and concerns feel important and valid and took time and care to answer all the questions I had, and reassured me that I could reach out if I had any other concerns.
Dr. Backus listens well to the concerned that I have.
Great appointment! She gave me plenty of time to ask questions. I understand very well her approach to my surgical case.
I’m very pleased with her knowledge/expertise, clarity, straightforward communication, collaborative orientation, warm and respectful reception, and her generosity in giving me so much unhurried time. Her P.A., Angela Lee was also both efficient and warm.
Dr Backhus and her team are always generous with their time.'
Dr. Backhus is wonderful â £ï¸
Excellent doctor.
Dr. Backhus is a caring Dr. that answered all my questions and gave me peace of mind regarding my surgery.
So personable I feel I can ask her any question and she takes the time to really listen to you
Dr Leah Backhus was very kind,professional and frendly.
Very professional
She and Angela are extremely supportive and competent. Thanks for being such great health care providers
We have been impressed with Dr. Backhus since we first discussed surgery with her in 2018. She's professional, warm, knowledgeable at what she does, and an expert in her field.
Dr Backhus provided an excellent service. She answered questions clearly and was easy to talk to.
Dr. Backhus was also outstanding, caring & professional. I am fortunate to have had her perform my surgery & the follow up care.
Dr. L. Backhus and her staff are excellent in all area's of the medical problem that I have.
Dr. Backhus' explanation is very clear and precise. Thank you!!
Everything was excellent...
Doctor was amazing too; as usual brilliant, compassionate & down to earth.
Awesome work! Did not feel rushed & felt listened to!
Dr. Backhus' brilliance was amazing as well as her compassionate nature. She was extremely informative isnd went in depth about the surgery. She wad concerned that I understood everything she explained and made me feel comfortable to ask any questions. She also made me feel confident about the success of the and alleviated my stress and worries.
Good!
I felt very comfortable Dr. Backhaus & Angela - NP.
The care provider was polite; however, I did not need a great amount of time with this appointment.
Dr. Leah Backhus was upset & aggravated that we refused surgery after we were told by 2 other doctors it was too risky for my husband to have it at this time - Seemed rude & tried to convince him to have it anyway - Not happy with her - Angela Lee was very helpful & pleasant.

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