Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, a world-renowned expert in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease with 30 years of experience, has been named chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Michelassi joins the Medical Center from the University of Chicago, where he was the Thomas D. Jones Professor, vice chairman of the Department of Surgery, and chief of the Section of General Surgery. Dr. Michelassi succeeds Dr. William T. Stubenbord, who has served as acting chair since 2002.
Born in Pisa, Italy, Dr. Michelassi received his medical degree from the University of Pisa School of Medicine, Italy. He completed a surgical internship and surgical residency there and also at New York University, where he became surgical chief resident and instructor in surgery. Dr. Michelassi began his tenure with the University of Chicago as associate professor in their Cancer Research Center, moving on to serve as director of the Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery, program director of the General Surgery Residency, and chairman of the Surgery Care Center.
Dr. Michelassi is the recipient of numerous awards, including the "Distinguished Leadership Award" from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and has held key positions with numerous professional organizations, including president of the Western Surgical Society. In addition to serving in an editorial capacity for several professional journals, Dr. Michelassi is the author of nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 35 book chapters, and is editor of the book "Operative Strategies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease."
"Dr. Michelassi brings a unique blend of clinical and scientific excellence, a commitment to medical education, and administrative expertise to Weill Cornell that will enable him to strengthen the Department's programs and access the exciting opportunities available in the field today," said Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Medical College.
Photo by Weill Cornell Art & Photo.