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Dr. Abraham Krikhely, an experienced minimally invasive surgeon specializing in robotic, laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to metabolic and weight loss surgery; procedures to treat conditions of the small intestine, stomach and esophagus (foregut surgery); and general surgery, has been appointed chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

"I am truly honored to take on the role of chief for the division. My goal is to build upon the already impressive legacy of our program and our history of outstanding outcomes," said Dr. Krikhely. He takes over the role from outgoing division chief Dr. Marc Bessler, who leaves after 35 years as a valued member of the Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian community.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Abraham Krikhely has agreed to succeed Dr. Marc Bessler as chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery,” said Dr. Craig Smith, chair of the Department of Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “Dr. Krikhely is an outstanding surgeon who, throughout his career, has demonstrated remarkable skill and vision. I am confident the division will continue to thrive under his direction. I am also very grateful for Dr. Bessler’s years of strong leadership and mentoring.”

Dr. Krikhely was an early proponent of robotic bariatric surgery and has also chaired the robotic surgery committee at Columbia since 2017, where he has contributed to building and growing the robotic surgery program at Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian. He is also the program director for the fellowship in minimally invasive surgery and bariatric surgery at Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian. Dr. Krikhely has authored multiple textbook chapters on bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, and foregut surgery, given numerous lectures and proctored many surgeons on the use of robotic surgery.

Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian’s Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery provides world-class surgical and nonsurgical treatment for clinically severe obesity and diseases of the upper GI tract, such as GERD and paraesophageal hernias, with an emphasis on complex cases and cutting-edge procedures.