Dr. John R. Roberts is a thoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist treating disease of the lungs, esophagus, and chest. Trained at Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Brigham and Women's, with more than 3,000 minimally invasive procedures behind him.
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"We're going to take good care of you."
Trained at
Recognition
Featured in Palm Beach Illustrated's annual Physician Profiles recognition of leading physicians in Palm Beach County.
Selected for the 2026 Top Doctors list in Palm Beach Illustrated.
Surgical Services
Advanced, minimally invasive treatment for disease of the chest, lungs, and esophagus, planned around your anatomy rather than a standard template.
Surgical care for the lungs, esophagus, mediastinum, and chest wall using advanced techniques.
Elective and urgent operations inside the chest, including foregut surgery for hiatal hernia and gastric volvulus, planned alongside your pulmonologist, oncologist, and radiologist so every decision fits the whole picture.
Thoracoscopic (VATS) and robotic procedures that reduce pain, risk, and time in the hospital.
Small incisions, a high-definition camera, and robotic instruments give precise access with far less trauma to healthy tissue. Most patients are up and walking the same day.
Diagnosis, staging, and surgery for lung cancer with an emphasis on early detection and precision.
From the first suspicious scan through staging and resection, care runs on one continuous plan with one surgeon who knows your case start to finish.
Cancer surgery of the chest, including complex and high-risk cases other centers decline.
Fellowship training in surgical oncology at Johns Hopkins informs how tumors of the mediastinum, chest wall, and esophagus are approached and reconstructed.
Why it matters
Dr. Roberts was an early adopter of thoracoscopic and robotic thoracic surgery and has performed more than 3,000 minimally invasive operations.
Small incisions spare muscle and nerve, and nerve blocks are placed during surgery.
Robotic and thoracoscopic ports replace a full thoracotomy in most cases.
Hospital stays are typically two to four days, with light activity in one to two weeks.
Reduced tissue trauma lowers the risk of infection and pulmonary complications.
Core Expertise
Some of these operations are performed by very few surgeons. That volume is the reason patients travel for them.
Anatomic resection tailored to the tumor rather than the tradition: lobectomy, segmentectomy, and sleeve resection performed thoracoscopically or robotically whenever the anatomy allows.
Treatment of esophageal cancer and benign disorders, including robotic and minimally invasive esophagectomy, with attention to swallowing, nutrition, and quality of life after surgery.
Repair of hiatal and paraesophageal hernias, gastric volvulus, and reflux disease, including large and recurrent hernias that require reconstruction of the diaphragm and a durable anti-reflux repair.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) allows real-time sampling of lymph nodes and central lesions through the airway, so staging is accurate before a single decision about treatment is made.
Removal of thymomas, cysts, and other masses in the central chest through robotic access, which improves visibility around delicate vessels and nerves.
Pain, numbness, and swelling in the arm caused by compression at the first rib. Few surgeons perform first rib resection. Dr. Roberts has completed more than 250, including one of the first robotic rib resections in Florida.
Cryotherapy freezes the intercostal nerves during surgery to create a temporary block that lasts around three months, reducing opioid use and making it easier to breathe deeply and walk early. Dr. Roberts leads research in this technique.
A blood test that detects tumor DNA shed into the bloodstream, used after resection to look for residual or recurrent disease earlier than imaging alone can show it, so treatment can start sooner.
The Surgeon
"I trained at prestigious institutions with outstanding surgeons. After medical school at Yale, I matched at Johns Hopkins Hospital for general surgery and stayed for a fellowship in surgical oncology and trauma. I then pursued thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, one of the first programs to offer specialization in general thoracic surgery. Over 30 years, I've been fortunate to have excellent training and wonderful patients."
Medical School
Yale University School of Medicine
General Surgery
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Surgical Oncology & Trauma
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Thoracic Surgery
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Questions
If your question is not here, call the office. You will speak with someone who can answer it.
Thoracoscopic surgery, also called VATS, is a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions and a camera to reach the chest cavity. It avoids a large incision, reduces pain after surgery, and shortens recovery.
Insights
Plain explanations of the procedures, the pain control, and the follow-up you can expect.
Most patients are seen within a week. Bring your imaging and reports, and you will leave the first visit with a clear plan.
