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Dr. Alessandro Fichera, a prominent colorectal surgeon, has been named chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, effective Oct. 14.

In his new role, Dr. Fichera leads a world-class team of colorectal surgeons that uses state-of-the-art technologies and innovative surgical techniques to provide patients with the very best in comprehensive colorectal care, including colorectal and anal cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and other benign conditions affecting the colon, rectum and anus.

Recruited as a professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Fichera comes from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he served as chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery since 2019, president-elect of the center’s medical staff and the surgery safety and quality officer.

“Dr. Fichera is a skilled leader, surgeon and clinical researcher whose contributions to treating colorectal disease are driven by his dedication to providing exceptional, cutting-edge care for patients,” said Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and chair of the Department of Surgery and the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. “He is the ideal choice for this position, and we look forward to his leadership and impact on our institutions.”

“I am delighted to join the outstanding colorectal surgery team at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, which shares my commitment to clinical excellence and a personalized approach to medicine,” said Dr. Fichera. “I look forward to further strengthening the division’s collaborative environment to deliver the highest quality patient care, expand research and mentor the next generation of physicians and surgeons.”

Dr. Fichera’s clinical and research areas include inflammatory bowel disease, minimally invasive surgery, and the prevention, treatment and management for colorectal cancer. He has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health and industry-sponsored clinical trials. This work includes experience with a hand-sewn surgical technique called Kono-S anastomosis to treat Crohn’s disease that is designed to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Dr. Fichera is dedicated to creating a multi-disciplinary and collaborative teaching environment and has won several teaching awards throughout his career. He serves on the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons’ Executive Council and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation National Scientific Advisory Committee and is a member of many other colorectal and gastrointestinal organizations.

Dr. Fichera earned his medical degree from the Catholic University of Rome, Italy, in 1989, graduating magna cum laude. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Rome II and then at the University of Chicago, followed by fellowship training in colorectal surgery at Mount Sinai. He has held gastrointestinal surgery leadership roles at UW Medicine and the University of North Carolina.