Dr. R. Taylor Ripley

Get to Know Dr. R. Taylor Ripley

Dr. R. Taylor Ripley was the hand-picked successor of mesothelioma treatment pioneer Dr. David Sugarbaker, who recruited him for the role before he died in 2018.

Ripley performs the aggressive open-chest surgeries for mesothelioma — the pleurectomy and decortication and the extrapleural pneumonectomy — along with more minimally invasive procedures.

Ripley also treats patients with esophageal, thymic, lung and other thoracic malignancies. Although best known for his work involving pleural mesothelioma, he has a strong interest in advancing surgical treatment for several cancers.

Most of his surgeries are performed at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. He has expanded the reach of thoracic surgery capabilities at Baylor College of Medicine by growing the robotics program.

Ripley’s laboratory work focuses on cell biology and tumor metabolism, involving the reprogramming of cells to make them more vulnerable to therapy.

He moved to Baylor after four years at the National Cancer Institute, where he built a reputation for clinical, surgical and investigational research excellence.

“Dr. David Sugarbaker wanted someone to help grow his program here. He recruited me to do that,” Ripley said. “It is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had.”

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Personalization of Mesothelioma Care

Ripley is big believer in developing a doctor-patient relationship that goes well beyond the clinical and surgical platforms. He believes in the personalization of care and a lifelong commitment to each patient.

“I enjoy seeing patients,” he said. “I enjoy seeing how they do, seeing them do well, and seeing if I can help coach them to live the very best they can.”

That relationship starts before mesothelioma treatment even begins. Ripley and his patients typically exchange cellphone numbers on their first visit. And instead of one pre-surgery consultation, he encourages at least two, making sure all questions and concerns are answered.

“It takes a very patient-specific, family-centric approach to caring for a person with mesothelioma,” he said. “I was drawn to that. I enjoy dealing with mesothelioma patients because I get to know them well. The harder the management of a disease becomes, the more time it takes, and the better I get to know them and their families.”

Publications of Dr. R. Taylor Ripley