Dr. Kenneth Patrick Seastedt is a thoracic surgeon and physician-scientist whose research bridges thoracic oncology, surgical innovation, and artificial intelligence. His scholarly work focuses on improving perioperative outcomes and long-term survival for patients with cancers of the chest, particularly lung and esophageal cancers. At Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University at Buffalo, he leads interdisciplinary efforts to advance minimally invasive surgical techniques, develop real-time predictive tools, and personalize care using data-driven methods.

A consistent theme across Dr. Seastedt’s research is the integration of emerging technologies into clinical practice. He has led or contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications and multiple national presentations on applications of artificial intelligence in thoracic surgery—including AI-driven prediction of post-operative complications, radiomics-based disease classification, and multimodal large language model (LLM) frameworks to support precision risk prediction. His work on fairness in medical imaging AI has been recognized for advancing equitable algorithms, and his contributions to robotic thoracic surgery—such as robotic tracheobronchoplasty and mediastinal surgery—have been presented at leading international forums.

In addition to his research in clinical AI and surgical outcomes, Dr. Seastedt has contributed to national efforts in surgical education, military medicine, and digital health implementation. He is a former U.S. Air Force general surgeon and co-inventor of a patented surgical retractor developed during his military service. He remains actively engaged in translational research, clinical trials, and technology development that aim to transform thoracic surgical care.

At Roswell Park, he serves as Chair of the Product Review Committee and is a member of editorial and advisory boards focused on AI and healthcare optimization. His work continues to be driven by a commitment to innovation, equity, and improving the lives of patients through science and surgery.