Dr. Pickens is a thoracic surgeon at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where he received an undergraduate degree in microbiology. He completed general surgery residency at the University of Alabama and thoracic surgery residency at the University of Michigan. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive pulmonary resection at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. During his academic career, he has served as Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program Director at Emory University and Department Chairman at Vanderbilt University. He achieved the rank of Professor at both institutions. He has authored numerous peer reviewed publications. Dr. Pickens specializes in general thoracic surgery including: minimally invasive pulmonary resections, lung transplantation, esophageal surgery and other surgical diseases of the chest.

Dr. Pickens’ research interests include clinical outcome studies and translational research.