Best Lung cancer doctors in Israel: TOP 14 doctors

Professor Ofer Merimsky specializes in lung cancer and has developed innovative treatment protocols for both early-stage and advanced disease.

• Heads the bone and soft tissue oncology department at Sourasky Medical Center
• Uses a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors
• Active member of European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) sarcoma group
• Provides video consultations for international patients

Dr. Yuri Goldes is a general surgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He specializes in upper gastrointestinal and oncologic surgery. He is Deputy Director of the Department of General Surgery and Transplantation at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv. He also leads the Upper GI Surgery Unit. He was named to Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors in 2025. He is ranked among Israel’s Best Gastrointestinal Surgeons by Forbes. In 2019, he received the Israeli Ministry of Health “Best Doctor of the Year” award.

He is an expert in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He treats diaphragmatic hernia, achalasia, GERD, and gallbladder disease. He also performs oncologic surgery for pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers. He uses laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

He pioneered some of Israel’s first robotic oncologic resections of the stomach and pancreas. He is among a small group worldwide who perform minimally invasive Whipple procedures (pancreaticoduodenectomy) using advanced laparoscopy. He applies methods that improve outcomes and speed recovery. He provides personalized care.

Dr. Ari Raphael leads groundbreaking clinical trials in lung cancer at Sourasky Medical Center, focusing on genomic profiling and immunotherapy.

• PI for innovative T-cell repertoire sequencing studies in NSCLC
• Molecular Tumor Board moderator for Israeli Lung Cancer Society
• Senior researcher in phase I-III trials including intratumoral therapies
• Director of Translational Oncology at leading Israeli hospital
• ESMO and IASLC member with specialty in thoracic malignancies

Dr. Yaacov Lawrence, MA, MBBS, MRCP, is Chair of Radiation Oncology at Sheba Medical Center. He has nearly 30 years of experience in precision radiation oncology and neuro-oncology.

He is an expert in advanced radiation therapy and radiosurgery. He performs stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors. He leads Sheba’s GI Cancer Program in gastrointestinal oncology. He also provides precision care for lung and prostate cancers. He pioneered celiac plexus radiosurgery for severe pain from pancreatic cancer.

Training and credentials: MA and MBBS (Cambridge and UCLH); MRCP (RCP); Radiation Oncology fellowship (Thomas Jefferson University). Honors include the ASCO Young Investigator Award and Fellow of ASTRO (FASTRO). He has authored over 280 publications. He is Director of the Center for Translational Radiation Oncology and an Associate Professor at Tel Aviv University.

Professor Jair Bar, MD, PhD, is a thoracic oncologist and Deputy Director of the Cancer Center at Sheba Medical Center. He leads the Thoracic Oncology Unit. He treats lung cancer, including advanced non-small cell cases. His care includes medical oncology, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

He runs a translational research lab focused on resistance to immunotherapy. He has published on exhaled-breath cancer metabolism and on angiogenesis inhibition in lung cancer.

He has chaired the Israel Lung Cancer Group since 2003. He is a member of the Israel Society of Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Association for Cancer Research. He is board-certified in Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy Oncology. He is a Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University.

Professor Raanan Berger, MD PhD, is a medical oncologist and radiotherapist. He is Director of the Cancer Center at Sheba Medical Center and heads its clinical research unit. He was listed in Forbes Israel’s “Best Doctors” (2025). He leads the genitourinary oncology program with a focus on prostate cancer. His care includes systemic therapy and radiotherapy in a multidisciplinary, patient-centered model.

He is board-certified in oncology. He earned his MD and PhD at Tel Aviv University and completed his clinical training at Sheba. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber/Harvard, focusing on prostate cancer with Dr. Philip Kantoff and molecular oncology in Dr. William C. Hahn’s lab. He is a member of ESMO and ASCO. He has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, including studies on outcomes in high- versus very high-risk prostate cancer and on BRCA1/2 in large cohorts.

Dr. Zalmanova specializes in radiotherapy for lung cancer at Assuta Medical Center.

• Radiotherapist with a focus on lung cancer treatments
• Works at Assuta Medical Center, a leading healthcare facility
• Dedicated to providing personalized treatment plans

Prof. Nir Peled leads the Thoracic Cancer Unit at Sheba Medical Center and is Israel's leading specialist in lung cancer immunotherapy.

• Expert in Pulmonology, Internal Medicine, and Medical Oncology
• Focuses on personalized medicine and new diagnostic technologies
• Holder of the prestigious ASCO MERIT Award for clinical research
• Chair of the IASLC Early Detection & Prevention Committee
• Fellowship-trained at the University of Colorado Denver

As Deputy Head of the Department of Oncology at Rambam Medical Center, Prof. Bar-Sela brings senior-level leadership to complex lung cancer cases.

• Extensive experience treating lung cancer at a major Israeli medical center
• Specializes in oncology, focusing on developing personalized treatment plans
• Holds a leadership role responsible for advancing cancer care protocols

Dr. Raphael Pfeffer is a dual-specialist in oncology and radiology, an ideal combination for creating and overseeing integrated lung cancer treatment plans.

• Provides a holistic, two-in-one perspective on patient care
• Specializes in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy
• Works at Israel's well-known Assuta Medical Center

Head of Breast Cancer Treatment Center with a prestigious Sloan-Kettering fellowship. Tamar Jablonski-Perec brings specialized expertise to lung cancer at Hadassah Medical Center.

• Over of oncology leadership experience
• Professor at Hebrew University's Department of Oncology
• International recognition through cancer community memberships
• Scholarship recipient from Hadassah Medical School

Dr. Meirovitz brings over of medical experience, specializing in lung cancer care at Hadassah Medical Center.

• Graduated from Technion University's Faculty of Medicine
• Practices at Hadassah – a leading medical center in Israel
• Focused on comprehensive lung cancer management

Lael Anson Best is a dedicated Thoracic Surgeon based at the prominent Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

• Specializes in surgical procedures for lung cancer
• Operates within a major Israeli hospital
• Focuses his practice on thoracic oncology

Specialist in medical oncology and radiotherapy – Dr. Semenisity focuses on lung cancer treatment at Rambam Medical Center.

• Expertise in both medical oncology and radiotherapy
• Works at Rambam Medical Center – a leading healthcare institution
• Dedicated to personalized treatment plans for lung cancer patients