Yaron Gesthalter, MD

Assistant Professor

I am a Pulmonologist and Critical Care Medicine physician with sub-specialty training in Interventional Pulmonary Medicine. Using minimally invasive techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and navigational bronchoscopy I diagnose and stage patients with concerning lesions. For those with symptoms related to airway obstructions (from either malignant tumor invasion or non-malignant strictures) I use various ablative techniques to relieve airway obstruction. I also treat patients with pleural disease while emphasizing outpatient care. Additionally, I attend on the UCSF pulmonary consult service and in the intensive care units.

My research relates to the early detection and prevention of lung cancer through minimally invasive ways. My research spans translational and computational approaches as well as clinical trials.

In order to schedule an appointment with Dr Gesthalter at the UCSF Interventional Pulmonary clinic please call (415)885-3882. Please bring all available images (cat scans, PET scans) on CDs at the time of consultation to facilitate care.

Clinical Expertise
• Thoracic malignancies
• Lung nodules
• Symptom management
• Diagnostic and staging procedures
• Complex pleural effusions – ultrasound, thoracentesis, chest tubes, tunneled pleural catheters, medical thoracoscopy
• Ablative bronchoscopic techniques (cryo- surgery, electrosurgery, argon plasma coagulation (APC), cryospray, photodynamic therapy)
• Advanced bronchoscopy (electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (EMN), endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), rigid bronchoscopy)
• Fiducial placement for radiation therapy
• Sarcoidosis and other non-malignant lung pathologies
• Tracheal and bronchial obstructions
• Tracheal and bronchial stent placement

Research Interests
• Lung cancer diagnostics
• Bioinformatics
• Application of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques
• Lung cancer screening
• Smoking cessation
• Management of lung transplant related airway and pleural disease

Education
Fellowship in Interventional Pulmonary Medicine, 2017 - , BIDMC/MGH Harvard School of Medicine
Research Fellowship, 2016 - , Boston University School of Medicine - Division of Computational Biomedicine
Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care, 2015 - , Boston University School of Medicine - Dept of Pulmonary & Critical Care
Residency, 2011 - , Yale School of Medicine - Dept of Internal Medicine
MD, 2008 - , Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine
B.Sc, 2003 - , Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Honors and Awards
  • Michael Stulbarg Outstanding Teacher Award, University of California San Francisco, 2023
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, University of California San Francisco - Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, 2019
  • Thoracic Oncology Assembly Abstract Scholarship, American Thoracic Society, 2016
Websites
Publications

  1. Ilana Roberts Krumm, Scott Drapeau, Bryan Kim, Yaron B. Gesthalter, Lekshmi Santhosh. Explor-A-Thora: A Novel Three-Dimensionally Printed Pleural Simulator. ATS Scholar 2024. PMID:


  2. Gonzalez AV, Silvestri GA, Korevaar DA, Gesthalter Y, Almeida ND, Chen A, Gilbert CR, Illei PB, Navani N, Pasquinelli MM, Pastis NJ, Sears CR, Shojaee S, Solomon SB, Steinfort DP, Maldonado F, Rivera MP, Yarmus LB. Assessment of Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy Outcomes for Peripheral Lung Lesions: A Delphi Consensus Definition of Diagnostic Yield and Recommendations for Patient-centered Study Designs. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2024. PMID: 38394646


  3. Melzer AC, Reese ZA, Mascarhenas L, Clancy CB, Deepak J, Gogineni H, Gesthalter Y, Hart JL. Education for Tobacco Use Disorder Treatment: Current State, Evidence, and Unmet Needs. ATS Scholar 2023. PMID: 38196686


  4. Gesthalter YB, Channick CL. Interventional Pulmonology: Extending the Breadth of Thoracic Care. Annual review of medicine 2023. PMID: 37827195


  5. BRYAN KIM, ILANA R KRUMM, YARON GESTHALTER. COMPLEX PLEURAL SPACES: THE RISKS OF REPEATED THORACENTESIS. CHEST Journal 2023. PMID:


  6. Trindade AJ, Lentz RJ, Gannon WD, Rickman OB, Shojaee S, Vandervest K, Schwartz G, Li GW, Kumar A, Garcha PS, Seeley EJ, Gesthalter YB, Mueller S, Egan JP, DeMaio AJ, Yarmus LB, Josan ES, Pannu JK, Wayne MT, DeCardenas JL, Bacchetta MD, Maldonado F, Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group. Safety and utility of indwelling pleural catheters in lung transplant recipients. Clinical transplantation 2023. PMID: 37354125


  7. Lee AG, Maley J, Hibbert K, Akgün KM, Hauschildt KE, Law A, Kaminski N, Hayes M, Gesthalter Y, Bosslet GT, Santhosh L, Witkin A, Hills-Dunlap K, Çoruh B, Gershengorn HB, Hardin CC. Medical Societies Must Choose Professional Meeting Locations Responsibly in a Post-Roe World. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2023. PMID: 36812378


  8. Rugo HS, Crossno CL, Gesthalter YB, Kelley K, Moore HB, Rimawi MF, Westbrook KE, Buys SS. Real-World Perspectives and Practices for Pneumonitis/Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Use in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Expressing Metastatic Breast Cancer. JCO oncology practice 2023. PMID: 37207306


  9. Malcolm KB, Seeley EJ, Gesthalter YB. Impact of a Dedicated Pleural Clinic on Indwelling Pleural Catheter Related Outcomes: A Retrospective Single Center Experience. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2022. PMID: 36192832


  10. Krumm IR, Gesthalter YB. Use of tunneled pleural catheters in chronic empyema: Two case reports and brief review of the literature. Respiratory medicine case reports 2022. PMID: 36246015


  11. Ali B. Abbasi, Andre Alcon, Alap Patel, Yaron Gesthalter, William Hoffman, Johannes Kratz. Tracheal Reconstruction Using Endotracheal Stent and Pectoralis Major Muscle Flap. 2022. PMID:


  12. Bawaadam HS, Russell M, Gesthalter YB. Acquired Benign Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Novel Use of a Nasal Septal Occluder. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2022. PMID: 35730784


  13. Akulian J, Bedawi EO, Abbas H, Argento C, Arnold DT, Balwan A, Batra H, Uribe Becerra JP, Belanger A, Berger K, Burks AC, Chang J, Chrissian AA, DiBardino DM, Fuentes XF, Gesthalter YB, Gilbert CR, Glisinski K, Godfrey M, Gorden JA, Grosu H, Gupta M, Kheir F, Ma KC, Majid A, Maldonado F, Maskell NA, Mehta H, Mercer J, Mullon J, Nelson D, Nguyen E, Pickering EM, Puchalski J, Reddy C, Revelo AE, Roller L, Sachdeva A, Sanchez T, Sathyanarayan P, Semaan R, Senitko M, Shojaee S, Story R, Thiboutot J, Wahidi M, Wilshire CL, Yu D, Zouk A, Rahman NM, Yarmus L, Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group (IPOG). Bleeding risk with combination intrapleural fibrinolytic and enzyme therapy in pleural infection - an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Chest 2022. PMID: 35716828


  14. Bawaadam HS, Boberg M, Gesthalter YB. Ambulatory Management of a Recurrent Pneumothorax With an Indwelling Tunneled Pleural Catheter. 2022. PMID: 35318990


  15. Sharp A, Mudda G, Braehler MR, Gesthalter YB. Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Novel Anesthetic Approach for Pleuroscopy. 2022. PMID: 35318987


  16. J. Maheshwari, A. Perez, N. Kolaitis, D. Calabrese, A. Venado Estrada, J. Golden, R.J. Shah, L. Leard, M. Kleinhenz, K. Jones, A. Urisman, J. Kukreja, B. Trinh, Y. Gesthalter, J. Singer, S. Hays. Immunosuppression-Induced Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Following Bilateral Lung Transplantation. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2022. PMID:


  17. Thompson JA, Schneider BJ, Brahmer J, Achufusi A, Armand P, Berkenstock MK, Bhatia S, Budde LE, Chokshi S, Davies M, Elshoury A, Gesthalter Y, Hegde A, Jain M, Kaffenberger BH, Lechner MG, Li T, Marr A, McGettigan S, McPherson J, Medina T, Mohindra NA, Olszanski AJ, Oluwole O, Patel SP, Patil P, Reddy S, Ryder M, Santomasso B, Shofer S, Sosman JA, Wang Y, Zaha VG, Lyons M, Dwyer M, Hang L. Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities, Version 1.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. 2022. PMID: 35390769


  18. Gesthalter Y, Smyth R, Sullivan D. Treatment of Advanced-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. 2022. PMID: 35230219


  19. Gesthalter Y, Smyth R, Sullivan D. Treatment of Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. 2022. PMID: 35166649


  20. Gesthalter Y, Smyth R. Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer. 2022. PMID: 35029526


  21. Hamilton BCS, Gesthalter YB. Keep it Clean: Novel Use of Sterile Disposable Flexible Bronchoscopes for Pleuroscopy. 2022. PMID: 34935673


  22. Gesthalter YB, Seeley EJ. Lung Cancer Screening. 2021. PMID: 34851229


  23. Ivanick NM, Shrestha P, Podolsky MJ, Walavalkar V, Lucas CH, Gesthalter YB, Seeley EJ. A retrospective observational study of benign anthracotic lymphadenitis and its association with PET avid lymph nodes in patients undergoing cancer evaluation. Journal of thoracic disease 2021. PMID: 34422351


  24. Gesthalter Y, Kathuria H, Moazed F, Tobacco Action Committee of the American Thoracic Society. Smoking Cessation and Cancer. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2021. PMID: 34014803


  25. J.T. Teraoka, K.H. Nguyen, D. Hart, S. Peace, L. Leard, G. Iyer, D. Gordon, B. Zuckerman, J. Pascual, J. Ponzo, A. Perez, N. Budanova, Y. Gesthalter, B. Trinh, J. Kukreja, S. Hays, A. Venado. Decreasing 30-day Readmissions for Pleural Effusions after Lung Transplant. 2021. PMID:


  26. Miller CRJ, Chrissian AA, Lee YCG, Rahman NM, Wahidi MM, Tremblay A, Hsia DW, Almeida FA, Shojaee S, Mudambi L, Belanger AR, Bedi H, Gesthalter YB, Gaynor M, MacKenney KL, Lewis SZ, Casal RF. Key Highlights From the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology Evidence-Informed Guidelines and Expert Panel Report for the Management of Indwelling Pleural Catheters. 2020. PMID: 33152319


  27. Miller CRJ, Chrissian AA, Lee YCG, Rahman NM, Wahidi MM, Tremblay A, Hsia DW, Almeida FA, Shojaee S. AABIP Evidence-Informed Guidelines and Expert Panel Report for the Management of Indwelling Pleural Catheters. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2020. PMID: 32804745


  28. Maynard A, McCoach CE, Rotow JK, Harris L, Haderk F, Kerr DL, Yu EA, Schenk EL, Tan W, Zee A, Tan M, Gui P, Lea T, Wu W, Urisman A, Jones K, Sit R, Kolli PK, Seeley E, Gesthalter Y, Le DD, Yamauchi KA, Naeger DM, Bandyopadhyay S, Shah K, Cech L, Thomas NJ, Gupta A, Gonzalez M, Do H, Tan L, Bacaltos B, Gomez-Sjoberg R, Gubens M, Jahan T, Kratz JR, Jablons D, Neff N, Doebele RC, Weissman J, Blakely CM, Darmanis S, Bivona TG. Therapy-Induced Evolution of Human Lung Cancer Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Cell 2020. PMID: 32822576


  29. Xingyi Shi, Jiarui Zhang, Steven Callori, Joshua Campbell, Denise Fine, Yaron Gesthalter, Gang Liu, Xiaohui Xiao, Avrum Spira, Marc Lenburg, Jennifer Beane. Abstract 3377: NSCLC subtype-associated molecular and cellular alterations in the normal-appearing bronchial epithelium. Cancer research 2020. PMID:


  30. Gesthalter YB, Seeley EJ. Flexible Bronchoscopic Deployment of a Silicone Bronchial Stent. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2020. PMID: 31856015


  31. Duclos GE, Teixeira VH, Autissier P, Gesthalter YB, Reinders-Luinge MA, Terrano R, Dumas YM, Liu G, Mazzilli SA, Brandsma CA, van den Berge M, Janes SM, Timens W, Lenburg ME, Spira A, Campbell JD, Beane J. Characterizing smoking-induced transcriptional heterogeneity in the human bronchial epithelium at single-cell resolution. Science advances 2019. PMID: 31844660


  32. Kheir F, Akulian J, Gesthalter YB. Indwelling Tunneled Pleural Catheters. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2019. PMID: 31774312


  33. David AP, Xu MJ, Rosbe KW, Meyer AK, Gesthalter YB, Chan DK. Cryoprobe retrieval of an airway foreign body: A case report and literature review. International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 2019. PMID: 31271971


  34. Rivera E, Gesthalter Y, VanderLaan P, Parikh MS. Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2018. PMID: 30247298


  35. de Lima A, Holden V, Gesthalter Y, Kent MS, Parikh M, Majid A, Chee A. Treatment of persistent bronchopleural fistula with a manually modified endobronchial stent: a case-report and brief literature review. Journal of thoracic disease 2018. PMID: 30505507


  36. Perez C, Kheir F, Barry M, Gesthalther Y, Majid A. Bronchoscopic Management of Endobronchial Tumor in Patient With Hemoptysis and Acute Myocardial Infarction. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2018. PMID: 29944595


  37. Billatos E, Faiz A, Gesthalter Y, LeClerc A, Alekseyev YO, Xiao X, Liu G, Ten Hacken NHT, Heijink IH, Timens W, Brandsma CA, Postma DS, van den Berge M, Spira A, Lenburg ME. Impact of acute exposure to cigarette smoke on airway gene expression. Physiological genomics 2018. PMID: 29932825


  38. Rivera E, Gesthalter Y, Vardelaan P, Chee A, Majid A. Sarcoidosis With Pleural Effusion as the Presenting Symptom. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2018. PMID: 29346252


  39. Gesthalter YB, Koppelman E, Bolton R, Slatore CG, Yoon SH, Cain HC, Tanner NT, Au DH, Clark JA, Wiener RS. Evaluations of Implementation at Early-Adopting Lung Cancer Screening Programs: Lessons Learned. Chest 2017. PMID: 28223153


  40. Lam S, Mandrekar SJ, Gesthalter Y, Allen Ziegler KL, Seisler DK, Midthun DE, Mao JT, Aubry MC, McWilliams A, Sin DD, Shaipanich T, Liu G, Johnson E, Bild A, Lenburg ME, Ionescu DN, Mayo J, Yi JE, Tazelaar H, Harmsen WS, Smith J, Spira AE, Beane J, Limburg PJ, Szabo E. A Randomized Phase IIb Trial of myo-Inositol in Smokers with Bronchial Dysplasia. Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.) 2016. PMID: 27658890


  41. Gesthalter YB, Wiener RS, Kathuria H. A Call to Formalize Training in Tobacco Dependence Treatment for Pulmonologists. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2016. PMID: 27058182


  42. Gesthalter YB, Vick J, Steiling K, Spira A. Translating the transcriptome into tools for the early detection and prevention of lung cancer. Thorax 2015. PMID: 25628310


  43. Kathuria H, Gesthalter Y, Spira A, Brody JS, Steiling K. Updates and controversies in the rapidly evolving field of lung cancer screening, early detection, and chemoprevention. Cancers 2014. PMID: 24840047