Dr. Waël Hanna has been practicing surgery in Canada since 2001. He completed medical school at McGill University in 2005 and continued his General Surgery residency there until 2011. After his training, he received board certification from the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS). In 2013, Dr. Hanna completed a fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto and joined the Division of Thoracic Surgery at McMaster University. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Hanna is also a graduate of Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC-Montreal) where he earned his Masters of Business Administration in 2008.
In 2016, Dr. Hanna graduated from the Global Clinical Scholar Research Program at Harvard Medical School and subsequently became an associate member at McMaster University’s Department of Health Methodology, Evidence and Impact.
He also holds several hospital appointments within the Brant Community Health System, Niagara Health System, Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare.
Recently, Dr. Hanna has gained media attention for his work in the field of robotic thoracic surgery. These minimally invasive procedures are enabling his patients to recover more quickly and comfortably. On top of his roles as thoracic surgeon and medical researcher, Dr. Hanna is also a passionate advocate for each of his patients.
Academic Appointments
2022 – Present
Division Head, Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
2018 – Present
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
2016 – Present
Associate Member, Department of Health Methodology, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
2013 – Present
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Threoracic Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Hospital Appointments
2014 – Present
Scientist, Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
2013 – Present
Active Staff, Thoracic Surgery, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
2013 – Present
Active Staff, Thoracic Surgery, Hamilton Health Sciences
2013 – Present
Active Staff, Thoracic Surgery, Juravinski Cancer Centre
2013 – Present
Associate Staff, Niagara Health System
2013 – Present
Associate Staff, Brant Community Health System
Education and Training
Research
2015 – 2016
Global Clinical Scholar Research Program summa cum laude
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Fellowship
2011 – 2013
Thoracic Surgery
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Residency
2005 – 2011
General Surgery
McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Education
2007 – 2008
MBA – Masters of Business Administration summa cum laude
Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC-Montreal), Montreal, QC, Canada
2001 – 2005
MDCM – Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery cum laude
McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
1998 – 2001
BSc – Bachelors of Science magna cum laude
American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Certification and Licensure
Dr. Hanna is a Thoracic Surgeon with board certification from the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS). His clinical practice focuses on helping patients understand and undergo surgical treatment for lung cancer, esophageal cancer, tumors of the chest wall, and benign disorders of the chest, such as hyperhidrosis. The majority of his operations are performed using minimally invasive technology such as Robotic Surgery or Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS). He also performs multiple procedures endoscopically, without any incisions, using Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), and Electromagnetic Navigation.
2016 – Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Competency Certificate
2015 – SuperDimension Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy Certificate 2013 Intuitive Surgical Robotic Competency Certification
2011 – ABS- Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery
2011 – FRCSC- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
2010 – FLS- Fundamentals of Laparoscopy Skills
2006 – ATLS- Advanced Trauma Life Support
2005 – ACLS- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
2005 – Licensiate of the Medical Council of Canada
2002 – USMLE Step 1 and 2 and 3