Chairman's Message - Weill Cornell Medical College - A New York ...

NEWS 

Vol. 1, No. 2, 2012 

Chairman’s Message 

The response to our inaugural issue of the quarterly 

NYP/WCMC Department of Surgery News has been 

overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to continuing 

to provide you with news and information about 

the Department and our faculty that may be of interest 

to you. 

We are pleased to welcome Laurie Glimcher, MD, a 

leading physician-scientist and researcher from Harvard 

University as the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss 

Dean at Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell’s Provost for Medical Affairs. Dr. 

Glimcher will provide strong leadership as the medical school expands its biomedical 

research enterprise in New York City through the construction of a new research building 

that will double its existing research space. 

In the past eight years, the Department of Surgery has undergone an unprecedented 

growth and transformation. With 15 new leaders appointed, and 9 new comprehensive 

programs developed since 2004, we have broadened and strengthened our clinical services, 

education and research programs. Our surgeons are recognized leaders in their 

respective fields. “ In 2011, 18 of our full time faculty were selected as “America’s Top 

Doctors” and 7 as “America’s Top Cancer Doctors” by Castle Connolly; 16 were named 

“America’s Top Doctors” by US News & World Report; 12 were recognized as New York 

SuperDoctors; and 7 were chosen by New York Magazine as “Best Doctors” To learn 

more about the Department’s recent growth, read our report, “ A Time of Transformation 

Department of Surgery 2004-2011” 

In keeping with the multitude of available new media communications vehicles, we 

recently launched the Department of Surgery’s You Tube channel, which provides an 

overview of all our programs and services and features our faculty discussing their surgical 

expertise. I invite you to take advantage of the Cornell Surgery You Tube channel 

by visiting it. 

Fabrizio Michelassi, MD 

Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor of Surgery 

Chairman, Department of Surgery 

Surgeon-in-Chief 

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center 

2011 Peter C. Canizaro, MD 

Visiting Professor Lectureship 

Mary E. Klingensmith, MD 

pg . 2 

Department of Surgery at the 

American College of Surgeons 

Clinical Congress - pg . 3 

2011 ACS Alumni Reception - pg . 4 

Division Profile: Oral & Maxillofacial 

Surgery and Dentistry - pg . 5-6 

New Advances in Bariatric and 

Laparoscopic Surgery - pg . 7 

Faculty Appointments 

and Promotions - pg. 8-12 

7th Annual Department of Surgery 

Dinner - pg . 13 

Publications, Honors & Awards - pg . 14-17 

Save the Dates - pg . 18 

Surgical Notes 

New Dean 

Dr. Laurie Glimcher 

pg . 19 

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY 

NEWS 

29th Annual 

Peter C. Canizaro, MD 

Visiting Professor Lectureship 

“General Surgery Training: 

Threats and Opportunities” 

The Department of Surgery’s 29th Annual Peter C. Canizaro, 

MD Visiting Professor Lectureship was held on Monday, November 

14, 2011. The lecture, “General Surgery Training: 

Threats and Opportunities,” was presented by the renowned 

surgeon and educator, Mary E. Klingensmith, MD, the Mary 

Culver Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Vice-Chair for 

Education in the Department of Surgery, Washington University 

School of Medicine and Program Director in Surgery at 

the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Klingensmith 

also serves as Director of the WUSM Simulation Center. 

Mary E. Klingensmith, MD 

Monday, November 14, 2011 

8:00 am, Uris Auditorium 

Weill Cornell Medical College 

After receiving her medical degree from Duke University School 

of Medicine in 1992, she completed her general surgery residency 

at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and her surgical 

teaching fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Brigham 

and Women’s Hospital. She joined the faculty at Washington 

University School of Medicine in 2000. A member of numerous 

national professional societies, Dr. Klingensmith is a Director 

of the American Board of Surgery and Chair of the SCORE 

Planning Committee. An active clinician, researcher and educator, 

Dr. Klingensmith has authored or co-authored over 60 

articles in peer-reviewed journals, participated as an investigator 

or co-investigator on 10 research grants, developed 10 multimedia 

modules and served as senior editor of the 4th, 5th and 6th 

editions of The Washington Manual of Surgery. 

The Peter C. Canizaro M.D. Visiting Professor Lectureship was established 

by the Department of Surgery in 1983 as a reminder of the 

importance of surgical education. 

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NEWS 

97th Annual 

American College of Surgeons 

Clinical Congress Meeting 

Many of the Department’s faculty and residents played an active 

leadership role at the American College of Surgeons meeting 

in San Francisco this past October, giving lectures and 

presentations, participating in panel discussions, moderating 

sessions, and teaching postgraduate courses. 

Dr. Philip Barie was a co-moderator at a session, “Acute Management 

of the Open Abdomen”, and presented “What to Do When you Can’t 

Close the Adbomen”. He was a discussant in “Forum for Fundamental 

Surgical Problems of the Paper”, discussing “Staphylococcus Aureus Identification 

& Antibiotic Resistance Determination using Raman Spectroscopy,” 

and was a speaker and panelist in the post graduate course “Trauma 

and Acute Care Surgery Update,” presenting “How to Choose an Antibotic.” 

Dr. Daniel Buitrago presented “Targeting BRAF using Nanoliposomal- 

Small Interfering RNA Restores the Expression of Iodine Metabolizing Proteins 

and Increases Uptake of Iodine in BRAF Mutant Thyroid Cancer Cells.” 

Dr. Daniel Cherqui presented “Laparoscopic Liver Resection as an 

Alternative to Open Surgery: When Does it Apply”, and participated in a 

panel discussion “Minimally Invasive Therapies for Hepatic Malignancies: 

Ready for Prime Time” 

Dr. Antonio Coppolino presented “Three and Six Month Mortality 

Best Represents Treatment Related Risk after Esophagectomy.” 

Dr. Filippo Filicori presented “The I-Domain, A Multifaceted 

Nanoplatform for Targeting of Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.” 

Dr. Douglas Jones presented “Regional Use of Combined Carotid 

Endarterectomy/Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: The Effect of Patient Risk.” 

Dr. Xavier Keutgen presented “A Panel of Four MicroRNAs Accurately 

Differentiates Benign from Malignant Indeterminate Thyroid Lesions 

on Fine Needle Aspiration.” 

Dr. Michael Kluger gave an invited lecture, “Life and a Surgical 

Career,” at the Medical Student Program. As a representative of the 

Medical Student Committee of the American College of Surgeons, he 

helped organize the 3-day program, and served as a judge for the 

scientific poster session. 

Dr. Sang Lee chaired a laparoscopic colectomy skills 

course in the SimSurg Center. 

Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi moderated a Surgical 

Oncology session in Surgical Papers. 

Dr. Alfons Pomp presented “Duodenal Switch - What 

Can Go Wrong” at a postgraduate course. 

Dr. Alyssa Reiffel presented “Pharmacologic 

Pre-conditioning with the Novel Cytoprotective Molecules 

Hydrogen Sulfide and SS31 Modulates Pro- and Anti-Apoptotic 

Pathways” and “Hydrogen Sulfide Protects Against 

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Decreasing Neutrophil- 

Mediated Tissue Damage.” 

Dr. Francesco Rubino co-moderated a session, 

“Metabolic Surgery: Indications, Mechanism of Action, 

and Future Directions”, and presented “What is 

Metabolic Surgery” 

Dr. Toyooki Sonoda presented “Combined Laparoendoscopic 

Polypectomy,” and co-chaired an advanced 

colonoscopy postgraduate skills course, “Polypectomy 

and Beyond.” 

Dr. Eric Sorenson presented “Hepatocellular 

Carcinoma Arises in an Immunosuppressive Tumor 

Microenvironment.” 

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NEWS 

2011 ACS 

Annual Alumni Reception 

Each October, surgical alumni, faculty and friends of 

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center 

and The Methodist Hospital attend our Annual 

Alumni Reception at the American College of Surgeons’ 

Annual Clinical Congress meeting. This year, 

over 125 alumni and friends gathered together for a 

cocktail reception held on October 25th, 2011 in the 

Hilton San Francisco Union Square. The reception 

is co-hosted by Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, Lewis Atterbury 

Stimson Professor and Chairman, Department 

of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork -Presbyterian/Weill 

Cornell Medical Center; Dr. O. Wayne 

Isom, Terry Allen Kramer Professor and Chairman, 

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic 

Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/ 

Weill Cornell Medical Center; Dr. Barbara Lee Bass, 

the John F. and Carolyn Bookout Distinguished Endowed 

Chair, Department of Surgery, The Methodist 

Hospital; and Dr. Alan B. Lumsden, Professor and 

Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The 

Methodist Hospital. 

(From Left) Thomas J. Fahey, III, MD, Chief, Endocrine Surgery, 

NYP/WCMC Department of Surgery, William Thompson III, MD, 

Martin McCarter, MD and Michael Conte MD 

(From Left) William T. Stubenbord, MD, former Acting Chairman, 

NYP/WCMC Department of Surgery, John M. Daly, MD, 

former Chairman, NYP/WCMC Department of Surgery, 

Patti Jakubauskas, Senior Administrative Assistant, 

Chairman’s Office, NYP/WCMC Department of Surgery, and 

Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Chairman, NYP/WCMC 

Department of Surgery 

Thomas J. Fahey, III, MD, Vivian Mack-Strong, MD 

and Barbara Bass, MD, Chair of Surgery, The Methodist 

Hospital 

Bakr Nour, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery, WCMC-Qatar and 

his wife Sohair Nour 

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NEWS 

Division of Oral & Maxillofacial 

Surgery and Dentistry 

The Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and 

Dentistry, under the leadership of David A. Behrman, DMD, 

provides a comprehensive program of oral, dental, and facial 

care for healthy and medically complex adults and children, 

that ranges from general dentistry to advanced reconstructive 

procedures. We treat over 10,000 patients a year in our three 

facilities - a 4,000+ sq. ft. Dental and Oral Surgery Center on 

the 21st floor of the Hospital, a 1,200+ sq. ft. Children’s Dental 

Center on the 1st floor of the Helmsley Medical Tower, and a 

200+ sq. ft. HIV Disease Dental Center on the 23rd floor of 

the Hospital. We have a total of 14 state-of-the-art exam and 

treatment rooms; spacious waiting areas; staff, resident, and 

attending offices; and technology that includes digital X-ray 

and imaging capabilities and electronic record documentation. 

On April 26, 2012, the first annual Stanley J. Behrman, DMD, 

Lectureship will be held in Weill Auditorium at 5pm, with guest 

lecturer Bonnie Padwa, MD, DMD, Associate Professor and 

Oral Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, 

MA. The Lectureship was established as a memorial to Dr. 

Stanley Behrman, Professor of Surgery, who provided leadership 

as Chief of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry at 

NYP/Weill Cornell for over 50 years. A nationally-renowned 

clinician and teacher, Dr. Behrman’s academic excellence 

and dedicated service helped innovate his field. 

We provide clinical expertise in all aspects of Dentistry, including 

restorative and special-needs dentistry, endodontics, 

periodontics, prosthodontics, management of oral lesions, 

and treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Drs. 

Marsha Rubin and Heidi Hansen have clinical dental practices 

within our Dental Center. The Division also offers two programs 

that are among only a few in the New York region: The 

Phyllis and David Komansky Children’s Dental Health Center, 

led by Dr. Abhinav Sinha, and a dental center led by Drs. Heidi 

Hansen and Erik Marzano specializing in the care of adults 

with HIV disease. We also offer unparalleled expertise in oral 

and maxillofacial medicine and pathology through Drs. Paul 

Freedman, Renee Reich, and Heidi Hansen. 

David A. Behrman, DMD 

Chief, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Dentistry 

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Drs. David Behrman, 

Joel Friedman, and Howard Israel, have extensive experience 

in a full range of surgical procedures, including extractions, 

placement of dental implants with and without grafting, 

management of facial skeletal trauma, management of 

benign cysts and tumors, reconstructive surgeries of the 

jaw joint, and reconstructive procedures for correcting deformities 

of the jaw and face caused by abnormal growth, 

disease, or trauma. Working closely with head and neck 

surgeons, otolaryngologists and plastic & reconstructive 

surgeons, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons offer patients 

a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach in the management 

of malignant disease of the oral and maxillofacial region. 

In addition, the Division offers special expertise in the 

dental management of the oncology patient, specifically patients 

with bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw 

and patients undergoing head and neck radiation therapy 

and/or chemotherapy. 

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NEWS 

General Dentistry and Oral & 

Maxillofacial Surgery Residents 

Paula Ancelson Stephanie Dadoun Joshua Davis 

(from left) 

Drs. David Behrman, Abhinav Sinha, Howard Israel, Heidi Hansen, Joel Friedman and Marsha Rubin 

Kelsey Karsten James Kim Jay Kim 

Nationally and internationally recognized as one of the leading orthognathic 

and maxillofacial skeletal reconstruction centers, over 100 patients a year from 

all over the United States and abroad undergo major maxillary and mandibular 

reconstructive surgeries by the Division’s faculty. The Division has a unique 

expertise in temporomandibular joint surgical care by Drs. Howard Israel and 

David Behrman, including advanced minimally-invasive arthroscopic techniques 

and major reconstructive and prosthetic total joint replacement. Clinical 

research has been focused on total prosthetic reconstruction of the temporomandibular 

joint (TMJ) and temporomandibular joint arthroscopy. The Division 

recently published a study in the Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery that 

showed the outcomes of arthroscopic surgery in patients with inflammatory/ 

degenerative TMJ disease who underwent early surgical intervention were better 

than those who had late surgical intervention, and that arthroscopic surgery 

should be considered early in the management of patients with TMJ disease. 

Another clinical investigation comparing arthroscopic TMJ surgery performed in 

the operating room under general anesthesia versus in the Division’s outpatient 

facility under intravenous sedation showed successful outcomes in both groups 

with no significant differences, demonstrating that successful TMJ arthroscopy 

can be performed in an outpatient office setting. 

Steve Chi-Young Kim Khrystyna Kostsyuh Andrew Lee 

Charley Levy Sabrina Mahil Nicole Messenger 

Jose Ortiz Hubert Park Liza Rogo 

The Division’s residency training programs are among the most sought after in the 

country. Each year we receive a selection of high-quality residency candidates 

interested in training with our broad-based programs. The General Dentistry 

residency program, led by Marsha Rubin, DDS, accepts seven PGY-1 residents 

who receive clinical and didactic training in a one-year program, and one PGY-2 

resident who receives advanced education and training in areas such as implant 

dentistry and pediatric dentistry. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency 

program, led by David Behrman, DMD, currently admits two residents per year to 

a six-year integrated MD program with Weill Cornell Medical College. Residents 

also gain experience providing coverage to New York Hospital-Queens. 

Richard Salas David Smith Samuel Tchon 

Marc Toso 

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NEWS 

New Advances in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery 

The Section of Laparoscopic and Bariatric 

Surgery, led by Dr. Alfons Pomp, 

the Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery, 

is internationally-recognized for 

pioneering advanced laparoscopic bariatric 

surgery. Our surgeons have developed 

innovative surgical procedures 

that are at the forefront of weight-loss 

techniques, as well as new laparoscopic 

procedures for a broad range of digestive 

disorders. 

Over 95 percent of all weight-loss surgeries 

are performed by the Section’s 

surgeons utilizing minimally-invasive 

techniques, resulting in more rapid recoveries, 

less scarring and an earlier return 

to the activities of daily living. These include laparoscopic 

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, and duodenal 

switch. In addition, Weill Cornell weight loss surgeons 

have pioneered the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a 

new procedure for weight loss for patients. The section performs 

over 200 of these procedures annually as well as more 

than 500 general surgery procedures with a minimally invasive 

approach, including esophageal, stomach, gallbladder, 

intestinal, and solid organ (pancreas and spleen) disorders 

as well as hiatal (GERD), paraesophageal, inguinal, and 

ventral/incisional hernias. 

In addition to providing state-of-the-art patient care, the Section 

has a vigorous clinical research program. The section 

receives support from the National Institute of Diabetes and 

Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and our surgeons participate 

in a Bariatric Surgery Clinical Research Consortium 

of only six centers nationwide, conducting the Longitudinal 

Study and Assessment of Bariatric surgery (LABS) trial. Dr. 

Gladys Strain is a senior member of the research team and 

has presented her work at several national meetings including 

The Obesity Society (TOS) in Orlando, Florida as well as 

in Doha, Qatar. Liz Goldenberg, MPH, RD, CDN, one of our 

section’s nutritionists, continues to be active as an editorial 

board member of The Bariatric Times and has authored two 

publications this year. 

The Section overall is extremely active in their academic 

pursuits with 6 peer- reviewed publications (Dr. Pomp 

is on the editorial board of Surgical Endoscopy, Obesity 

Surgery and SOARD) as well as three book chapters 

coming out this year. In addition, a joint study on body 

contouring after bariatric surgery with Drs. Jason Spector 

and Alyssa Reiffel from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive 

Surgery, will appear shortly in the Annals of 

Plastic Surgery. The section’s expertise is widely-recognized 

and our faculty were invited to present and lecture 

at 9 national meetings and 3 international meetings this 

year. Highlights include a significant presence at Society 

of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons 

(SAGES-the minimal invasive surgery) meeting in San 

Antonio, Texas, as well as the American Society of Metabolic 

and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) meeting in Orlando, 

Florida. Both Dr. Dakin and Dr. Pomp sit on several committees 

in both these societies. Both surgeons have also 

participated in or directed industry sponsored courses for 

practicing surgeons and residents in Washington, DC and 

in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Pomp showcased our techniques 

by performing live surgery at the International Federation 

of Surgery for Obesity (IFSO) meeting in Hamburg, Germany 

this past September. 

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NEWS 

Faculty Appointments and Promotions 

Michael Kluger, MD 

Assistant Professor of Surgery 

Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation 

Office Telephone: (212) 746-2127 

Email: mik9020@med.cornell.edu 

Website: http://www.weillcornell.org/physician/mkluger/index.html 

Michael Kluger, MD, has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell 

Medical College. Dr. Kluger graduated from the New York University School of Medicine 

and completed his surgical residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. He received advanced 

training in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery as a fellow at Hospital 

Henri Mondor in Creteil, France under the world-renowned surgeon, Daniel Cherqui, 

MD, Chief of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation at NYP/Weill Cornell. 

Prior to medical school, Dr. Kluger was a research associate at the New York Academy of 

Medicine, and received a Master of Public Health from Yale University. Board-certified in 

general surgery, his clinical expertise includes primary and metastatic liver cancer and liver 

transplantation, with a special expertise in minimally invasive procedures and multi-stage 

resection of complex liver lesions. Dr. Kluger has published in peer-reviewed professional 

journals, presented at many scientific conferences and is a member of several prestigious 

professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of 

Transplant Surgeons and the European Society of Organ Transplantation. 

Page 8 



NEWS 


Rache M. Simmons, MD 

Chief, Breast Surgery 

Professor of Surgery 

Section of Breast Surgery 


Email: rms2002@med.cornell.edu 

Website: http://www.weillcornell.org/rmsimmons/index.html 

Dr. Rache Simmons, Professor of Surgery and the Anne K. and Edwin C. Weiskopf Professor 

of Surgical Oncology and Director of Gender and Diversity, has been appointed to the position 

of Chief of the Section of Breast Surgery. Dr. Simmons, a graduate of Duke University 

and Duke Medical School, joined our Department in 1994 following surgical training at the 

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a breast oncology fellowship at NewYork- 

Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. A nationally-renowned board-certified surgeon, researcher and 

educator, Dr. Simmons is an authority in the diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment of 

breast diseases, having published over 100 articles and book chapters, and given over 100 lectures 

nationally and internationally. She is a recognized pioneer in the area of nipple-sparing 

mastectomy and in the use of radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation for benign breast 

tumors and small breast cancers. She is currently leading a national, multicenter NIH trial to 

evaluate cryoablation therapy for breast cancer. Dr. Simmons holds leadership positions in 

many prestigious medical societies, including past president of the American Society of Breast 

Surgeons, and she serves on the editorial board of six prestigious medical journals. 

Page 9 



NEWS 


Jason Spector, MD 

Associate Professor of Surgery 

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 


Email: jas2037@med.cornell.edu 

Website: http://www.weillcornell.org/jaspector/index.html 

Dr. Jason Spector has been promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell 

Medical College. He completed his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, and his 

medical degree and both his general surgery and plastic surgery residencies at New York 

University School of Medicine. He also completed a fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery 

and a postdoctoral research fellowship at NYU Medical Center. A board-certified surgeon, 

Dr. Spector’s clinical interests include reconstructive microsurgery as well as aesthetic 

plastic surgery. He plays a major role in physician training, and he is widely published, 

with more than 86 papers and three book chapters. Dr. Spector has received many research 

awards and honors, including being named Academic Scholar of the American Association 

of Plastic Surgeons, the most prestigious American award for a developing academic 

plastic surgeon. Dr. Spector is a member of many professional medical societies including 

the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Society of 

University Surgeons, and the American Association for Academic Surgery. He has presented 

at international meetings including the European Plastic Surgery Research and the European 

Conference of Scientists and Plastic Surgeons. 

Page 10 



NEWS 


Nitsana Spigland, MD 

Chief, Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Trauma 

Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery 

Division of Pediatric Surgery 


Email: naspigla@med.cornell.edu 

Website: http://www.weillcornell.org/physician/nspigland/index.html 

Dr. Nitsana Spigland has been appointed to the position of Chief of Pediatric Surgery and 

Pediatric Trauma at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She plays an 

active role in education as the associate director of medical student education for the Department 

of Surgery. Dr. Spigland is board certified in both general surgery and pediatric 

surgery. She specializes in complex neonatal congenital malformaties, pediatric thoracic 

surgery, pediatric surgical oncology and advanced minimal access surgery. A graduate of 

New York Medical College, Dr. Spigland completed her general surgery residency at Lenox 

Hill Hospital, NY, and her fellowship in pediatric surgery at St. Justine’s Children’s Hospital, 

in Montreal, Canada. She has authored or co-authored numerous publications in peerreviewed 

journals, and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for the American Journal of Perinatology, 

the Journal of Pediatric Surgery and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Spigland is a 

fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Pediatric Surgical 

Associations, the Canadian Pediatric Surgical Association, the New York Surgical Society 

and the Children’s Cancer Study Group. 

Page 11 

NewYork-Presbyterian /Weill Cornell Medical Center


NEWS 


Eleni Tousimis, MD 

Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery 

Section of Breast Surgery 


Email: eat2002@med.cornell.edu 

Website: http://www.weillcornell.org/eatousimis/index.html 

Dr. Eleni Tousimis has been promoted to Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Weill 

Cornell Medical College. Dr. Tousimis received her MD degree from Albany Medical College 

and completed her general surgery residency training at the Guthrie Clinic, Sayre, 

Pennsylvania. She completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan 

Kettering Cancer Center, and an international fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the 

European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy. A board-certified surgeon, she is an expert 

in minimally invasive surgical treatments for breast cancer. Dr. Tousimis plays a strong role 

in surgical education, as associate program director for surgical education and director of 

the mentorship program. She is a recipient of the Award for Teaching Excellence from the 

surgery residents. She is co-investigator of several multi-institutional projects, has published 

in many peer-reviewed journals and is a member of many professional societies, holding 

leadership positions in several. She has been a frequent invited guest speaker at regional 

conferences, serves on the Board of Directors for the American Medical Women’s Association, 

as treasurer of the NY Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group, and is on the Tumor Board 

at NYP/Weill Cornell. 

Page 12 



NEWS 

7th Annual 

Department of Surgery Dinner 

On November 17th, 2011, more than 70 people gathered for 

the 7th Annual Department of Surgery Dinner, held at the Columbus 

Citizens Foundation. This yearly event is an occasion 

for surgery faculty and Medical Center leadership to spend 

the evening with friends and supporters of the Department of 

Surgery. During the course of the program, guests learned 

about the past successes of the Department, and the exciting 

plans for the future which will strengthen our mission of 

clinical care, surgical education, and research. The program 

included NewYork-Presbyterian Chief Executive Officer Steven 

J. Corwin, M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College Overseer 

James Kilts, and Department Chairman and Surgeon-in- 

Chief, Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D. A very special part of the 

evening included remarks by Mr. Damon Mezzacappa, who 

spoke about his experiences being a patient, a family member 

of a patient, and as a major supporter of the Hospital and the 

Department of Surgery. 

Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D., Damon Mezzacappa 

and Katherine Bryant 

NewYork-Presbyterian Trustee Michael Tusiani, 

Lawrence Auriana, Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D. 

Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D., Sandra Kilts and James Kilts 

Damon Mezzacappa, Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D. 

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NEWS 

Publications H Awards H Honors 

Recent Publications 

• Cecal diverticulitis as a continuing diagnostic and management dilemma: a report of two cases in children, Cheng, E., 

Cohen, L, Gasinu S, Sy C, Beneck D, Spigland N. Pediatric Surgery International: Volume 28, Issue 1 (2012): 99-102. 

• Laparoendoscopic single site live donor nephrectomy: single institution report of initial 100 cases.Wang GJ, Afaneh C, 

Aull M, Charlton M, Ramasamy R, Leeser DB, Kapur S, Del Pizzo JJ. J Urol. 2011 Dec;186(6):2333-7. 

• Locally advanced mid/low rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases.Viganò L, Karoui M, Ferrero A, Tayar C, 

Cherqui D, Capussotti L. World J Surg. 2011 Dec;35(12):2788-95. 

• Elective global surgery rotations for residents: a call for cooperation and consortium. Mitchell KB, Tarpley MJ, 

Tarpley JL, Casey KM. World J Surg. 2011 Dec;35(12):2617-24. 

• Examining reduction mammaplasty in Hispanic and African American populations: A changing landscape in American 

plastic surgery. Doft MA, Chiang AL, Hardy KL, Schwarz GS, Ascherman JA, Wu JK, Rohde CH. J Plast Reconstr 

Aesthet Surg. 2011 Dec;64(12). 

• Indications and procedures for surgery of small bowel Crohn’s disease. Stein SL, Michelassi F. Advanced Therapy in 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Vol. II, 3rd Ed. 2011, Ch. 129, p 801-805. 

• The impact of incidental identification on the stage at presentation of lower gastrointestinal carcinoids. Buitrago D, 

Trencheva K, Zarnegar R, Finnerty B, Aldailami H, Lee SW, Sonoda T, Milsom JW, Fahey TJ 3rd. J Am Coll Surg. 

2011 Nov;213(5):652-6. 

• Cross-sectional review of effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at 1, 3, and 5 years. Strain GW, Saif T, Gagner M, 

Rossidis M, Dakin G, Pomp A. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2011 Nov;7(6):714-9. 

• Radiofrequency-assisted hepatic resection. Pai M, Kyriakides C, Mikhail S, Habib N, Spalding D, Jiao L, Cherqui D. 

Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Nov;18(12):3391. 

• Thirty-day Mortality After Bariatric Surgery: Independently Adjudicated Causes of Death in the Longitudinal Assessment 

of Bariatric Surgery.Smith MD, Patterson E, Wahed AS, Belle SH, Berk PD, Courcoulas AP, Dakin GF, Flum DR, 

Machado L, Mitchell JE, Pender J, Pomp A, Pories W, Ramanathan R, Schrope B, Staten M, Ude A, Wolfe BM. Obes 

Surg. 2011 Nov;21(11):1687-92. 

• Endoscopic fixation of the rectum for rectal prolapse: a feasibility and survival experimental study Milsom J, 

Trencheva K, Pavoor R, Dirocco J, Shukla PJ, Kawamura J, Sonoda T. Surg Endosc. 2011 Nov;25(11):3691-7. 

• Early severe hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for intestinal failure in gastroschisis. Snyder CW, Biggio JR, 

Bartle DT, Georgeson KE, Muensterer OJ. Pediatr Surg Int. 2011 Nov;27(11):1155-8. 

• Single-incision versus multiport laparoscopic right and hand-assisted left colectomy: a case-matched comparison. 

Lee SW, Milsom JW, Nash GM. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Nov;54(11):1355-61. 

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NEWS 


Recent Publications Cont... 

• Strangulated spigelian hernia. Ho VP, Barie PS. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2011 Oct;12(5):421-2. 

• Multimedia manuscript: inguinal hernia repair by single-incision pediatric endosurgery (SIPES) using the 

hydrodissection-lasso technique.Muensterer OJ, Georgeson KE. Surg Endosc. 2011 Oct;25(10):3438-9 

• Comparison of complications of laparoscopic versus laparoendoscopic single site donor nephrectomy using the 

modified Clavien grading system. Ramasamy R, Afaneh C, Katz M, Chen X, Aull MJ, Leeser DB, Kapur S, 

Del Pizzo JJ. J Urol. 2011 Oct;186(4):1386-90. 

• Survey of adult liver transplantation techniques (SALT): an international study of current practices in deceased donor l 

liver transplantation. Kluger MD, Memeo R, Laurent A, Tayar C, Cherqui D. HPB (Oxford). 2011 Oct;13(10):692-8. 

• Physiologic effects of simultaneous carbon dioxide insufflation by laparoscopy and colonoscopy: prospective evaluation. 

Trencheva K, Dhar P, Sonoda T, Lee S, Samuels J, Stein B, Milsom J. Surg Endosc. 2011 Oct;25(10):3279-85. 

• Cumulative radiation dose from medical imaging procedures in patients undergoing resection for lung cancer. 

Stiles BM, Mirza F, Towe CW, Ho VP, Port JL, Lee PC, Paul S, Yankelevitz DF, Altorki NK. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 

Oct;92(4):1170-8; discussion 1178-9. 

• The Cross-technique for single-incision pediatric endosurgical pyloromyotomy. Muensterer OJ, Chong AJ, Georgeson 

KE, Harmon CM. Surg Endosc. 2011 Oct;25(10):3414-8. 

• Predictive value of cytologic atypia in indeterminate thyroid fine-needle aspirate biopsies. Kato MA, Buitrago D, 

Moo TA, Keutgen XM, Hoda RS, Ricci JA, Christos PJ, Yang G, Fahey TJ 3rd, Zarnegar R. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011, 

Oct;18(10):2893. 

• (Another) nobel prize in physiology or medicine awarded for work in inflammation and immunity. Barie PS. Surg Infect 

(Larchmt). 2011 Oct;12(5):337-8. 

• Is the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on the waiting list necessary Majno P, Lencioni R, Mornex F, Girard N, 

Poon RT, Cherqui D. Liver Transpl. 2011 Oct;17 Suppl 2:S98-108. 

• Surgical infections receives its first impact factor. Barie PS. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2011 Oct;12(5):335. 

• Necrotizing soft tissue infection in two patients with multiple myeloma. Sultan S, Morawa E, Niesvizky R, Talmor M, 

Barie PS. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2011 Oct;12(5):391-5. 

• Endovascular management as first therapy for chronic total occlusion of the lower extremity arteries: comparison of 

balloon angioplasty, stenting, and directional atherectomy. Gallagher KA, Meltzer AJ, Ravin RA, Graham A, Shrikhande 

G, Connolly PH, Aiello F, Dayal R, McKinsey JF. J Endovasc Ther. 2011 Oct;18(5):624-37. 

• Comparison of Laparoendoscopic single-site donor nephrectomy and conventional laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: 

donor and recipient outcomes. Afaneh C, Aull MJ, Gimenez E, Wang G, Charlton M, Leeser DB, Kapur S, 

Del Pizzo JJ. Urology. 2011;78(6):1332-7. 

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Recent Publications Cont... 

• Sox2(+) adult stem and progenitor cells are important for tissue regeneration and survival of mice. Arnold K, Sarkar A, 

Yram MA, Polo JM, Bronson R, Sengupta S, Seandel M, Geijsen N, Hochedlinger K. Cell Stem Cell. 2011 Oct 

4;9(4):317-29. 

• American Board of Surgery Certificate in Complex General Surgical Oncology: A Reality. Michelassi F. 

Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Sep;18(9):2405-6. 

• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children: a multicenter experience.St Peter SD, Valusek PA, Hill S, Wulkan ML, Shah 

SS, Ferro MM, Laje P, Mattei PA, Graziano KD, Muensterer OJ, Pontarelli EM, Nguyen NX, Kane TD, Qureshi FG, 

Calkins CM, Leys CM, Baerg JE, Holcomb GW. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2011 Sep;21(7):647-9. 

• Small RNA sequencing and functional characterization reveals MicroRNA-143 tumor suppressor activity in 

liposarcoma. Ugras S, Brill E, Jacobsen A, Hafner M, Socci ND, Decarolis PL, Khanin R, O’Connor R, Mihailovic A, 

Taylor BS, Sheridan R, Gimble JM, Viale A, Crago A, Antonescu CR, Sander C, Tuschl T, Singer S. Cancer Research, 

2011 Sep 1;71(17):5659-69. 

• Pancreas transplantation considering the spectrum of body mass indices. Afaneh C, Rich B, Aull MJ, Hartono C, 

Kapur S, Leeser DB. Clin Transplant. 2011 Sep;25(5):E520-9. 

• Single-incision pediatric endosurgical Nissen fundoplication. Muensterer OJ, Perger L, Hansen EN, Lacher M, Harmon 

CM. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2011 Sep;21(7):641-5. 

• Laparoscopic single-stage Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy in a case of orchidogastric fusion. Muensterer OJ. Urology. 

2011 Sep;78(3):687-8. 

• Design and Synthesis of 3,5-Disubstituted -1,2,4-Oxadiazole Containing Retinoids from a Retinoic Acid Receptor 

Agonist. Das, B., Tang, X.-Y., Sanyal, S., Mohapatra, S., Rogler, P., Nayak, S., and Evans, T. Tetrahedron Lett. 2011; 

52: 2433-2435. 

• Smad1 signaling restricts hematopoietic potential after promoting hemangioblast expansion. Cook, B., Liu, S., and 

Evans, T. Blood 2011; 117: 6489-6497. 

• Management and outcomes of relapse after treatment for thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Bott MJ, Wang H, Travis W, 

Riely GJ, Bains M, Downey R, Rusch V, Huang J. Ann Thorac Surg 2011;92(6):1984-92. 

• Pancreas transplantation: does age increase morbidity Afaneh C, Rich BS, Aull MJ, Hartono C, Leeser DB, Kapur S. 

J Transplant. 2011;2011:596801. 

• The breast: a clean-contaminated surgical site. Bartsich S, Ascherman JA, Whittier S, Yao CA, Rohde C. Aesthet Surg 

J. 2011 Sep;31(7):802-6. 

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Awards and Honors 

• Elliott Silverman, PA-C, Keynote Speaker, 2011 WCMC Annual Pre-Medical Conference, December 3, 2011. 

• Daniel Cherqui, MD and Michael Kluger, MD awarded Presidential Poster of Distinction at 62nd annual meeting of the 

American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, November 2011. 

• Cameron Stock, MD: NY Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council Distinguished Housestaff Award, 

November 3, 2011. 

• Oliver Muensterer, MD, Best Scientific Paper in Pediatric Surgery Award, 20th Annual Society for Laparoscopic Surgery 

meeting, September, 2011. 

• The NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Kidney Transplant Program is one of just 8 national kidney transplant programs 

to receive a 2011 HealthGrades Kidney Transplant Excellence Award. This award is given to transplant programs with 

statistically significantly higher three-year survival rates as well as waitlist mortality that was either not significantly 

different than expected or was significantly lower than expected based on SRTR calculations. HealthGrades is the 

leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital, and their 

annual evaluation of the nation’s top-performing hospitals in organ transplantation includes clinical quality data, based 

on patient outcomes, for each of the 263 adult and pediatric acute care hospitals that perform transplants. 

• 18 of our Full Time Faculty were named “America’s Top Doctors, 2011” by Castle Connolly: Philip S. Barie, MD, MBA, 

Palmer Q. Bessey, MD, Daniel Cherqui, MD, Thomas J. Fahey III, MD, Robert Grant, MD, Sandip Kapur, MD, 

Michael D. Lieberman, MD, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Jeffrey Milsom, MD, Alfons Pomp, MD, Francesco Rubino, MD, 

Darren B. Schneider, MD, Rache M. Simmons, MD, Toyooki Sonoda, MD, Jason Spector, MD, Nitsana Spigland, MD, 

Alexander J. Swistel, MD, Roger W. Yurt, MD. 

• 16 of our Full Time Faculty were named “America’s Top Doctors, 2011” by US News & World Report: Philip S. Barie, 

MD, MBA, Palmer Q. Bessey, MD, Thomas J. Fahey III, MD, Robert Grant, MD, Sandip Kapur, MD, 

Michael D. Lieberman, MD, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Jeffrey Milsom, MD, Alfons Pomp, MD, Francesco Rubino, MD, 

Darren B. Schneider, MD, Rache M. Simmons, MD, Toyooki Sonoda, MD, Jason Spector, MD, Alexander J. Swistel, MD, 

Roger W. Yurt, MD. 

• 12 of our Full Time Faculty were named “New York Super Doctors” 2011: Philip Barie, MD, MBA, Thomas J. Fahey, 

MD, Robert Grant, MD, Sandip Kapur, MD, Sang Lee, MD, Michael Lieberman, MD, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Jeffrey 

Milsom, MD, Alfons Pomp, MD , Toyooki Sonoda, MD, Nitsana Spigland, MD, Roger Yurt, MD. 

• 7 of our Full Time Faculty were included in New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” issue, 2011: Thomas J Fahey, III, MD, 

Michael Lieberman, MD, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Jeffrey Milsom, MD, Darren Schneider, MD, Rache Simmons, MD, 

Alexander Swistel, MD. 

• 7 of our Full Time Faculty were named “America’s Top Doctors for Cancer” by Castle Connolly, 2011: 

Thomas J. Fahey, III, MD, Michael Lieberman, MD, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, Jeffrey Milsom, MD, 

Rache Simmons, MD, Nitsana Spigland, MD, Alexander J. Swistel, MD. 

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NEWS 

SAVE THE DATE 

March 19th, 2012 

6:30 pm 

April 26, 2012 

5:00 pm 

Benjamin S. Park, Jr., MD 

Memorial Alumni Black Tie Dinner 

Loews Regency Hotel, 

540 Park Avenue, 

New York, NY 10065 

Dinner honoring 

Dr. Leigh A. Neumayer 

Professor of Surgery 

University of Utah School of Medicine 

Salt Lake City Utah and 

Alumni of the Class of 1982 

and Class of 1992 

For More Information contact: 

Patti Jakubauskas 

Email: pas2013@med.cornell.edu 

The 1st Annual 

Stanley J. Behrman, DMD 

Lectureship 

Weill Auditorium 

1300 York Ave 

New York, NY, 10065 

Guest Lecturer 

Bonnie Padwa, MD, DMD 

Oral Surgeon-in-Chief 

Children’s Hospital Boston 

Boston, MA 

For More Information contact: 

Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 

& Dentistry, 212-746-5175 

Page 18 



NEWS 

Surgical Notes 

Weill Cornell Medical College 

Welcomes New Dean Dr. Laurie Glimcher 

Dr. Laurie Glimcher, a leading physician-scientist and researcher, 

became Cornell’s provost for medical affairs and the Stephen and 

Suzanne Weiss Dean at Weill Cornell Medical College effective 

Jan. 1, 2012. Pictured here at a welcoming reception: 

(left to right), Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., MD, Dean Emeritus and 

Co-Chairman of the Board of Overseers, Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, 

Chairman, Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief, and Dean Laurie Glimcher MD. 

Golf Benefit for Surgical Education and Research 

The Department of Surgery’s Tenth Annual Golf Tournament to raise 

funds for surgical education and research was held on October 6, 2011 

at Pelham Country Club. This year, with support from our many generous 

sponsors and patrons and more than 60 participants, we raised 

nearly $80,000 to help support our Skills Acquisition and Innovation 

Laboratory (SAIL), named lectures and resident presentations at 

medical conferences. 

Department of Surgery Visiting Lecturer 

Marco G. Patti, MD, Professor of Surgery and Director of the Center for Esophageal Disease 

at the University of Chicago and Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL gave Surgical Grand 

Rounds at Weill Cornell Medical Center, entitled “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: From 

Heartburn to Lung Fibrosis,” on Monday, November 7, 2011. 

American College of Surgeons International Guest Scholars 

Visit Department of Surgery 

Dr. Somprakas Basu, an attending surgeon from Banares Hindu University, Varanasi, India and 

Dr. Beata Hemmelova, a general surgeon from University Hospital, Masaryk University, in the 

Czeck Republic, were guest scholars and observers in the Department of Surgery, as part of 

the American College of Surgeons 2011 International Guest Scholarship program. Drs. Basu 

and Hemmelova spent time at NYP/Weill Cornell with surgery faculty observing surgical procedures 

and participating in educational lectures and research confrences. 

Department of Surgery 2011 Marathon Participants 

Dr. Ronald Brooks, Chief Resident, Department of Surgery ran in the NYC marathon. 

Dr. Robert Grant, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ran in the NYC marathon 

(his 25th Marathon and 14th New York City Marathon). 

Drs. Douglas Jones and Anthony Coppolino, research fellows ran the in Hamptons 

marathon to raise money for charity. 

Page 19 



NEWS 

Department of Surgery, 2011 

WAYS TO GIVE 

The Department of Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/ 

Weill Cornell is committed to our three-fold mission 

of education, research, and patient-centered care. Philanthropy 

plays a vital role in realizing our vision of 

excellence in these three areas. Whether it be for the 

ground-breaking research that will treat and cure the 

scourge of disease, teaching the next generation of top 

doctors, or providing the most advanced care in a truly 

compassionate, patient-centered way, philanthropy is 

critical to our success. 

Secure Ways to Give Form 

http://www.cornellsurgery.org/patients/give/index.html 

We ask that you partner with us in our mission, and consider a 

tax-deductible gift to the Department of Surgery. You may also 

make a check payable to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell 

Department of Surgery and mail to: 

Mr. Tom Maness 

Office of Development, Box 123 

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center 

525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065 

For more information about the Department of Surgery, please visit our website at 

www.cornellsurgery.org 

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Chairman's Message - Weill Cornell Medical College - A New York ...

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