Christine Bestvina, MD

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Christine Bestvina, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

[MUSIC PLAYING] My name's Christine Bestvina, and I'm a medical thoracic oncologist. So the doctor-patient relationship I think is one that's extremely unique among all professions. You really are allowed to have insight into a person's life during a time that's often very difficult for them, and you're able to provide them with a lot of support. And having that type of relationship was really enticing to me.

The therapeutic options that are available to patients with lung cancer have absolutely blossomed over the past several years. We have additional therapies such as targeted oral therapies for patients, immunotherapy which is, essentially, using a patient's own immune system to try to boost up the anti-cancer effect. These are options we didn't have 10 to 15 years ago, so it's really exciting to be able to offer these to patients.

Part of what I try to do every time I meet a new patient is to get an idea of what's important to them. How do they like spending their time? Who's important to them? Who's their social support network? Because once I have a little bit of insight into what's important to that particular patient, it makes it a lot easier for me as a physician to give advice based for how that patient should pursue different treatment options that are in line with the patient's goals. So that's really my primary philosophy is figuring out what a patient's goals are and working from there.

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Board-certified thoracic oncologist, Christine Bestvina, MD, specializes in lung cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung. Dr. Bestvina also treats thymic malignancies, which occur when there are cancer cells present in the thymus gland, a small organ under the breastbone.

Along with her clinical work, Dr. Bestvina is an avid researcher. She is investigating treatment options to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients with lung cancer.  Dr. Bestvina has also published several papers in respected peer-viewed publications, including Journal of Oncology Practice, the Lancet and Future Oncology.

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology

Practicing Since

  • 2018

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish

Medical Education

  • University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Internship

  • Duke University Medical Center

Residency

  • Duke University Medical Center

Fellowship

  • University of Chicago Medicine

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

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Understanding Lung Cancer

Medical oncologist Christine Bestvina, MD, thoracic surgeon Jessica Donington, MD, and patient Kathy Tentinger joined us for a candid conversation on lung cancer screening, novel lung cancer treatment options and the latest clinical trials offered at UChicago Medicine.

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