The Allegheny General, Jefferson, Forbes, and Wexford hospitals secured the highest possible designation in the STS Spring 2026 Harvest Composite Quality Ratings. This recognition evaluates performance over a three-year window, analyzing survival rates, operative deaths, and complication data from the General Thoracic Surgery Database. Esophagectomy, the removal of all or part of the esophagus, remains one of the most technically challenging thoracic procedures, often requiring the reconstruction of the pathway using stomach tissue.
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Allegheny Health Network Programs Earn Top National Surgical Rating
Only 17 out of more than 120 eligible hospitals in the United States have achieved a "better than expected" performance rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Among this elite group, four Allegheny Health Network facilities in Pittsburgh now rank at the top for their complex esophageal cancer surgery outcomes.
Dr. Benny Weksler, chief of AHN's Thoracic Surgery Department, attributes the success to a multidisciplinary model that bridges the network's Cancer and Cardiovascular Institutes. By integrating expertise from anesthesia, oncology, and critical care, the program maintains quality benchmarks that only a small percentage of national centers reach. With over 22,000 annual esophageal cancer diagnoses in the U.S., the network positions itself as a primary destination for patients navigating the high-stakes recovery associated with these complex interventions.
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