MemorialCare Expands Advanced Thoracic Surgery Program with Addition of Matthew D. Stanley, M.D.

Fellowship-trained surgeon expands robotic care for lung and esophageal cancer, airway disorders, severe reflux, hiatal hernias and other complex chest conditions

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare is significantly expanding its thoracic surgery program, bringing together advanced robotic technology, multidisciplinary expertise and a stronger pathway for evaluating lung nodules and treating complex diseases of the chest. The expansion is strengthened by the addition of Matthew D. Stanley, M.D., a board-certified, fellowship-trained thoracic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive and robotic procedures for both cancerous and noncancerous conditions.

"Dr. Stanley's arrival expands both the depth and breadth of thoracic care available to our community," says Liz Acord, vice president, MemorialCare Clinical Institutes. "By pairing specialized surgical expertise with advanced robotic platforms and a coordinated Lung Nodule Program, MemorialCare Cancer Institute is giving patients access to complex care that is often associated with an academic medical center—without requiring them to leave the region."

Dr. Stanley joins MemorialCare, with his primary location at the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center, where he will collaborate with pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, radiologists, otolaryngologists and other specialists. His practice broadens MemorialCare's thoracic expertise across two important areas: complex benign diseases that affect breathing and swallowing, and cancers of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, airway and chest. He will also see patients in Orange County. 

For patients with benign thoracic conditions, Dr. Stanley provides advanced surgical options for tracheal stenosis, benign airway tumors and other disorders requiring airway reconstruction. He also treats severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), paraesophageal and hiatal hernias, benign lung disease and diaphragm paralysis. For selected patients whose diaphragm weakness compromises breathing mechanics, diaphragm plication can help the lung expand more effectively.

Using da Vinci 5 and da Vinci Xi surgical systems, Dr. Stanley can perform complex procedures through small incisions, including robotic repair of paraesophageal and hiatal hernias. The technology provides a magnified, three-dimensional view and precise instrument control, which may reduce pain, shorten hospitalization and support faster recovery for appropriate patients.

"Thoracic surgery is not only cancer care," said Dr. Stanley. "Conditions such as severe reflux, complex hiatal hernias, airway narrowing and diaphragm paralysis can profoundly affect how a person eats, sleeps and breathes. Expanding this program gives patients access to specialized, less invasive treatment for problems that may have disrupted their lives for years."

In cancer care, Dr. Stanley expands access to robotic lobectomy and segmentectomy for lung cancer, robotic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and surgery for malignant airway and mediastinal tumors. These capabilities strengthen care from diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment planning through surgery, recovery and surveillance.

His arrival comes amid a persistent early-detection gap for lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association's 2025 "State of Lung Cancer" report, 16.8% of people at high risk in California were screened, compared with 18.2% nationally—ranking the state 32nd among 50 states and the District of Columbia. California also ranked 43rd among 50 states for early diagnosis, with just 25.9% of cases found at an early stage.

"We are still catching too many lung cancers after they have advanced, and California's screening rate remains below the national rate," said Dr. Stanley. "Early-stage lung cancer often causes no symptoms, so waiting for a cough, chest pain or shortness of breath can mean losing valuable time. For eligible patients, annual low-dose CT screening is the most effective way to diagnose lung cancer before symptoms begin and when treatment is more likely to lead to a cure."

Under current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, annual screening is advised for adults ages 50 to 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. Smoking remains the leading risk factor, but an estimated 10% to 20% of lung cancers in the United States occur in people who have never smoked. Incidental findings on CT scans performed for other medical concerns therefore provide another important opportunity to identify abnormalities in people who may not meet screening criteria.

With Dr. Stanley, MemorialCare plans to further develop its Lung Nodule Program through closer collaboration among radiology, pulmonology, thoracic surgery and nurse navigation. A nodule may be seen on a dedicated chest CT or incidentally at the edge of a scan performed for another concern. The Lung Nodule team will systematically identify these findings, compare prior imaging, assess a patient's history and risk factors, and determine whether the nodule is stable, changing in size or shape, or needs additional imaging, biopsy or surgical evaluation.

"Finding a lung nodule does not mean a patient has cancer, and it certainly does not mean the nodule should be removed immediately," said Dr. Stanley. "The right next step is a thoughtful assessment: review earlier scans, consider the patient's exposures and other risk factors, and watch for changes in size, shape or growth. A coordinated nodule program helps us intervene promptly when necessary while sparing low-risk patients from procedures they do not need."

The expanded care builds on MemorialCare Cancer Institute's existing Lung Program, including lung cancer screening, advanced imaging, robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, nurse navigation and multidisciplinary treatment planning. Together, these capabilities create a more connected continuum from an abnormal scan through diagnosis, surgery, recovery and surveillance.

Dr. Stanley earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed both his general surgery residency and thoracic surgery fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. His clinical expertise includes thoracic surgery, minimally invasive robotic surgery and thoracic surgical oncology, with a focus on benign and malignant diseases of the lung, esophagus and chest.

To learn more, visit memorialcare.org/lung or to make an appointment, call 562-933-1877.

About MemorialCare

MemorialCare is a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system with over 200 care locations, including leading hospitals: Saddleback Medical Center, Orange Coast Medical Center, Long Beach Medical Center, and a full-service children's & women's hospital—Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. MemorialCare's clinical networks include the MemorialCare Orthopedic & Spine Institute, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute, MemorialCare Cancer Institute, MemorialCare Neuroscience Institute and MemorialCare Research Program. MemorialCare operates Select Health Plan and provides primary, urgent, and outpatient care through MemorialCare Medical Group and MemorialCare Independent Physicians (IPA). It also offers the subscription-free "Get Care Now" virtual care suite. National accolades include Healthgrades America's Top 250 Hospital, regional recognition in U.S. News & World Report with "high performing" in 46 clinical categories and received a 4.5-star rating in the AMP Medicare Advantage program. Visit memorialcare.org.

SOURCE MemorialCare