GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

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Comprehensive and Personalized Surgical Support for Your Health and Well-Being

The Weill Cornell Medicine Gastrointestinal (GI) Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program provides the most advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques. We are a highly skilled, compassionate team of surgeons dedicated to helping you enjoy the best possible health.

GI metabolic and bariatric surgery is a field of surgery for treating gastrointestinal conditions (conditions that affect any organ in the digestive system) and type 2 diabetes, as well as promoting weight loss.

Leading Surgeons, Expert Care

All surgeons at Weill Cornell Medicine — including our GI metabolic and bariatric surgeons — use the most advanced techniques and technology to provide comprehensive care for our patients. We work with specialized nutritionists and a medical weight loss specialist.

Each of our doctors is a highly accomplished surgeon who prioritizes patient care and well-being. Many are leaders in their fields or are the nation’s top experts in their subspecialty. Our team is invested in ensuring your optimal health and are involved from initial diagnosis to follow-up and recovery.

Personalized Surgical Treatment

We understand that the decision of whether to undergo surgery is highly personal. Our team is dedicated to helping our patients understand their health and options, so that you feel confident in making decisions about your care and health.

All treatment is personalized to help you achieve your unique health goals. In addition, Weill Cornell Medicine is dedicated to helping you thrive after surgery with support groups and integrative health services.

Most Advanced Surgical Options 

If surgical treatment is the best option for you, our team provides the most advanced techniques and options, including:

  • Laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery, which uses the most advanced techniques to perform weight loss surgery
  • Metabolic surgery to promote long-lasting remission for type 2 diabetes
  • Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery, which benefits patients with a faster recovery time and less pain than traditional surgical options

Meet Our GI, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons

If surgical treatment is the best option for you, our team provides the most advanced techniques and options, including:

The surgeons at the Weill Cornell Medicine GI, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery division offer patients the highest level of safety and care. As a top-ranked academic medical center, you have access to our extensive network of specialists who provide seamless care throughout your treatment — to promote long-term physical and mental health.

Our clinical team is led by Dr. Cheguevara Afaneh, Chief of the Division of GI, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Afaneh is a nationally recognized board-certified general surgeon at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, where he specializes in Robotic Surgery, General surgery, Foregut surgery, Bariatric surgery, as well as gastroesophageal motility disorders and colorectal disorders. He has a special interest in minimal access surgery, including single-incision laparoscopy and robotic surgery, offering patients improved cosmesis and potentially less postoperative pain. Dr. Afaneh was the first surgeon in New York City to successfully perform Totally Robotic Bariatric Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass) in 2015 and has performed Robotic-assisted Single-Anastomosis Duodenal Switch and Robotic-assisted One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass procedures. Dr. Afaneh successfully performed a Robotic Sleeve Gastrectomy without the use of any staples.

Media

Dr. Gregory Dakin discusses Weill Cornell Medicine's minimally invasive approach, which results in less pain, shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery time.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Nettie Jones.

Dr. Raymond Pastore has been my hematologist since 2015. He and his entire staff are a joy to be with the two,three times I see them. Dr Pastore is now the director of blood disorders. Dr Pastore is an amazing physician,when I met him he charmed me with his jovial personality and cool demeanor. At this time,he was more into his private practice,sharing an office with another doctor an oncologist. His patients received infusions in a room separate from the reception area. I think he was teaching at Weill Cornell part of the time. As a teacher myself,I appreciated the feelings of closeness he created this first visit with me. Appointments were met in a timely fashion. In time ,I witnessed many patients,most with very serious illinesses. Each of us were treated to a reception area that provided us with top of the line beverages,a library of relevant books and magazines provided to cause the wait to be pleasurable. Most of us were elderly. I suffer from conditions caused by three whole knee replacements,one a pulmonary embolism and deep vain thrombosis. I also have R/A and suffer chronic pain. Dr Pastore makes me feel secure,taking the fear out of the possibility of dying from internal bleeding. He is the son of a hematologist,a graduate of I think Princeton another top notch medical school and residences. His staff loves working with him,I know because I see precision team work over these five years. Before he left private practice to teach at the college,he actually would take calls from patients. Well those days are long gone as his position now as Director of Blood Disorders and faculty member and personal physician to patients ,he does not have much time for telephone calls from patients. Now, he has a nurse practioner to do such tasks and to assist him with the trememdous number of patients who like I will never think of leaving him. Dr Pastore visits with each patient and sometimes family members in his private office. My disorder is not as serious as many of his patients. Once I could not get my zarelto because of insurance denials. He actually sent me samples this medicine by one of his assistants who lived near me in Brooklyn. Once I had a problem at the New York University Dental School and he took the the time to write a very thorough letter that solved the problem. There is more I could say here but,I think you have gotten the point. Dr Raymond Pastore is a special physician because he is a special man whom I am fortunate to call my doctor. He is the best of the best!

Jul 18, 2025
Source: Google
Anonymous
Talking about Hey Joo Kang, M.D.

How was your experience with Hey-Joo Kang at Weill Cornell Medical College?Dr. Kang is very warm and does take the time to answer my questions when I have them. My appointments are usually very short since they are mostly monitoring and there are always a lot of people so it is easy to feel rushed. I had a few HSGs with her, which were painful for me and she was always very understanding and encouraging. She was also able to spend more time with me when I had an appointment as opposed to the monitoring visits. I do wish I had more time to spend with Dr. Kang, but she did encourage me with my personal situation from the get-go.What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Hey-Joo Kang at Weill Cornell Medical College?Don't expect to have long appointments with her. During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Hey-Joo Kang at Weill Cornell Medical College?The place is definitely a factory, so the face-to-face time is usually quite short. Dr. Kang, however, is very good at still making me feel like she knows who I am. She's always very warm.Describe the protocols Hey-Joo Kang used in your cycles at Weill Cornell Medical College and their degree of success.I started with natural IUIs because I have regular cycles and had good ovarian reserve etc. My "advanced" age is a factor we considered throughout as well as being single. I tried IUIs three times and all failed. I used donor sperm so my egg quality was seen as a factor. I had a blocked Fallopian tube as well, but after repeating the test, it eventually opened. To help with egg quality, she recommended I try CoQ10. We were going to try a medicated IUI, but based on my attempts, my age and egg quality, we went to IVF after failed IUI #3. I am just starting that cycle but it is much more complicated. Describe your experience with your nurse at Weill Cornell Medical College. (Assigned nurse: Jennifer)Jennifer (IUI nurse) was great. She was usually available when I called or at least gave me a call back that same day. Super organised and willing to answer my questions without rushing me off the phone. Diana, the care coordinator was also super helpful and she worked pretty seamlessly with Jennifer to schedule my IUIs and other appointments. The IVF team is different and I am just getting started there. The nurse I was assigned, Sarah, is different from Jennifer and a bit less warm and more "rushy". While I haven't had many interactions with her yet, so far I am not as satisfied as I was with the IUI nurse. Describe your experience with Weill Cornell Medical College.It's so busy. Monitoring hours are between 6:30 and 8:30 am so the waiting room is usually crowded. The staff is good about getting everyone checked in quickly and the nurses are constantly calling patients in so there is movement in the "line", but you just have to wait. The nurses drawing blood are quite skilled so the blood work is usually quick and painless. The system works like clockwork. The IUI scheduling didn't work out that great for me. They tell you to arrive by 8:30am, which is when the andrology lab opens. From there, if you are using frozen sperm, it is an hour-long thawing process, but it can be a long wait. For one IUI, I didn't actually get into the room for the IUI until after 10:30am (which I did not expect) so I was stressed out. I saw at least two other women in the waiting room who were also complaining about waiting for a long time. I don't know what they were in for, however. I would recommend that if you have other obligations, try to reschedule those obligations for hours later or another day if you go for an IUI. It takes much more time than they tell you. Describe the costs associated with your care under Hey-Joo Kang at Weill Cornell Medical College.My insurance covered most of my IUI appointments so I just had to pay co-pays.

Jun 25, 2025
Source: Fertilityiq
Anonymous

How was your experience with Steven Spandorfer at Weill Cornell Medical College?Dr. Spandorfer has an excellent bedside manner. He puts you at ease with his humor. He gives you hope even in the most grim situation while still being frank about the circumstances. He gave me treatment even when a previous doctor had given me no hope. When the first round of IVF was unsuccessful, he carefully tailored and alternative method of treatment for the next cycle. Ultimately, he helped me to successfully have a baby girl and for that I am eternally grateful to him.What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Steven Spandorfer at Weill Cornell Medical College?Know that you will not see him at every visit which is typical of larger fertility clinics, however, he will call you back if you leave messages with his assistant.During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Steven Spandorfer at Weill Cornell Medical College?The doctors and nurses at the clinic were very responsive and willing to take time to answer all of my questions. Dr Spandorfer puts you at ease with humor and gives you hope.Describe the protocols Steven Spandorfer used in your cycles at Weill Cornell Medical College and their degree of success.39yo, dimished ovarian reserve, 6 failed IUI cycles at age 33 with another doctor, 1 miscarriage (natural pregnancy) at 7 weeks at age 36, 2 cycles IVF at 39 yo,1 live birth of singleton girl at 39 yo 1st IVF Cycle 4 eggs retrieved, 1 fertilized but did not make it to day 3, day 3 transfer cancelled. Estrogen patch Gonal-F Menopur Garilinix 2nd IVF Cycle 4 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilized with ICSI, 4 transferred on day 3 (14 cell, 10 cell & (2) 8 cell). 1 implanted. 1 successful live birth of healthy baby girl. Birth control Lupron Gonal-F ProgesteroneDescribe your experience with your nurse at Weill Cornell Medical College. (Assigned nurse: Jackie Stahl)Jackie was absolutely amazing. She called me back instantly, was very informative and always full of hope. The other nurses at the clinic are nice and attentive as well.Describe your experience with Weill Cornell Medical College.Several doctors who meet together to determine e best course of treatment. Clean, modern facility. Very large so tons of patients.Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Weill Cornell Medical College.Tons of patients, however, wait time was not too long.Describe the costs associated with your care under Steven Spandorfer at Weill Cornell Medical College.For 2 cycles about $40k including all medicationsDescribe Steven Spandorfer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Weill Cornell Medical College.Because of my history, age, low AMH, we transferred all 4 embryos (per doctors suggestion)

Jun 25, 2025
Source: Fertilityiq
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