The Wilder Lab
Email: thewilderlab@mgb.org
Overview
Advancing Equity in Thoracic Surgery
At the Wilder Lab, we are committed to transforming thoracic surgery by advancing equitable care across the entire continuum—from lung cancer screening to survivorship. Our work is driven by a simple but powerful belief: every patient deserves access to high-quality, compassionate care, regardless of their social circumstances.
Our Mission
We focus on improving outcomes for patients with lung cancer while examining the broader social and structural factors that shape access to care. From barriers in early detection to challenges in completing treatment, we study how real-world conditions influence patient journeys—and how those barriers can be removed.
What We Do
- Understanding Barriers to Care We investigate how social determinants—such as income, housing, transportation, and support systems—impact whether patients can access, navigate, and complete recommended treatments.
- Community-Engaged Research We believe the best solutions come from those closest to the problem. By partnering directly with patients, caregivers, and communities, we ensure our research reflects lived experiences and addresses real needs.
- Co-Designing Solutions Through collaborative design approaches, we develop interventions that are not only effective in theory but practical, meaningful, and sustainable in real-world clinical settings.
Our Approach
Cancer care does not begin or end in the hospital. It unfolds in homes, communities, and everyday life. That’s why we integrate social care into surgical care—bridging the gap between clinical excellence and the realities patients face outside the healthcare system.
Our work spans:
- Screening and early detection.
- Treatment access and completion.
- Post-operative recovery and survivorship.
- Long-term outcomes and quality of life.
Our Vision
We envision a future where:
- Social barriers no longer determine cancer outcomes.
- Patients feel supported at every stage of care.
- Healthcare systems actively address inequities.
By embedding equity into every layer of thoracic surgery, we aim to improve outcomes and reduce disparities across populations.
Research Projects
Co-Designing Social Needs Interventions in Lung Cancer Care
We lead a prospective co-design study engaging patients with lung cancer, caregivers, and clinical stakeholders to identify priority social needs and develop targeted interventions.
The impact of marijuana use on lung health
Using prospectively collected data, we are investigating any potential patterns that may be significant in determining what impact marijuana use may have on a patient’s lung health.
Lung Cancer Screening
We are working collaboratively with the lab of Dr. Rian Hasson to investigate the impact of mobile lung cancer screening (LCS) units on screening uptake in neighborhoods that historically have low rates of LCS.
Veteran Lung Health
Through a federally funded grant, we are exploring two aims:
- What social needs may serve as predictors of non-adherence to recommended care for lung cancer?
- Assessing the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a social worker paired intervention aimed at addressing the needs of our Veterans with Lung cancer.