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Alessio Pigazzi, M.D., PhD, FACS

Colon and Rectal Surgery

Locations and Appointments

Insurances Accepted

Please contact the doctor's office to verify that your insurance is accepted.

  • HMO
  • Medicare
  • PPO
  • EPO/POS
  • CHP
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  • Blue Connection
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Mediblue (Senior)
  • PPO
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  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
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  • Community Plan
  • Medicare
  • HMO
  • Medicare
Personal Statement

♦ Virtual Visit: Delivering the same level of world-class care, with exceptional convenience. 

Returning to NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine to lead the distinguished colorectal surgery program is extremely fulfilling. The outstanding team shares my commitment to excellence in clinical activities, research and education, and I look forward to building on this solid foundation to provide the best possible care to all patients.

Biographical Info

Dr. Alessio Pigazzi, was appointed chief of colorectal surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, effective September 2020. He also serves on Weill Cornell Medicine’s faculty. In this role, Dr. Pigazzi 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.

Dr. Pigazzi was previously chief of the Divisions of Colorectal Surgery and Surgical Oncology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he also served as professor in the Department of Surgery and vice chair for research. His new appointment marks a return to New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, where he completed his residency nearly 20 years ago.

Dr. Pigazzi’s clinical expertise focuses on the treatment of complex colon, rectal and anal conditions and cancers, including laparoscopic, robot-assisted and open surgical techniques. He performed the world’s firstrobot-assisted tumor removal for rectal cancer in 2004, a procedure that has revolutionized the treatment of this condition. He is also leading clinical research programs combining surgery with immediate postoperative chemotherapy to improve cancer survival. 

Dr. Pigazzi is among a small cadre of surgeons skilled in the use of an innovative procedure called cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which involves heated chemotherapy applied directly within the abdominal cavity following removal of cancerous tumors. He is also skilled in robot-assisted surgery for pelvic injuries caused by medical complications, specifically abnormal connections between body parts, or fistulas.

His research is focused on minimally invasive techniques to improve recovery after cancer surgery, postoperative chemotherapy, and the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer development.

Dr. Pigazzi is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons; a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology; and a founding member of the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association.

He earned his joint medical degree and doctorate at Boston University School of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in general surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Hackensack Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., and a fellowship in colorectal surgery at UCI Medical Center.

Board Certifications
American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery
American Board of Surgery
Clinical Expertise
Colon Cancer
Rectal Cancer
HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy)
Anal Cancer
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Robotic Surgery
Laparoscopic Colon and Rectal Surgery
Complex Pelvic Surgery
Intestinal Fistula Surgery
Recurrent Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Repair, Hernia
Colon/Rectal Cancer Surgery
Laparoscopic Colon Surgery
Rectal Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Complex Anal Fistula Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Bowel-Sparing Strictureplasty
Crohn's Disease
Endoscopic Surgery
Diverticular Disease
Rectal Prolapse
Laparoscopy
Anal Fistula
Fistula
Bowel Dysfunction
Diverticulitis
Ileostomy
Ulcerative Colitis
Fecal Incontinence
Surgery For Anal Incontinence
Hernia Surgery
Pelvic Surgery
Hemorrhoid Surgery
Hernia Repair
Hemorrhoids
Sphincter Sparing Surgery
Surgery For Ulcerative Colitis
Bowel Obstruction
Anal Fissure
Computer Assisted Surgery
Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery
Da Vinci Robotic Surgery
Hernia Repair Surgery
Languages
English
Spanish
Italian
French
Education 
  • M.D., Ph.D.
    Boston University School of Medicine
    1998
  • B.A.
    Boston University
    1991
Appointments 
  • Assistant Attending Surgeon
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Attending Surgeon
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Professor of Surgery
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Videos

Shanti's Patient Story

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Consultant: 
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
Medtronic, Inc.
Xodus Medical Inc.
Ownership: 
Medtronic, Inc.
ViOptix
Proprietary Interest: 
Xodus Medical Inc.