Columbia Surgery

11/01/2026

What can ChatGPT really tell you about prognosis after a liver cancer diagnosis?

In this episode of Dr. AI, transplant hepatologist Meaghan Phipps, MD, poses the question she hears most often. While AI gets quite a bit right, there’s plenty of nuance missing. Not all liver cancers are alike, survival statistics can be misleading without context, and treatment options may be very different from what many people expect.

Dr. Phipps breaks it all down and really demonstrates why having a care team that knows you makes all the difference. Her verdict on ChatGPT? 6-7 out of 10

10/30/2026

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, lightning is a metaphor. In film adaptations, it’s famously also a direct mechanism. It is the flash that splits the sky, the force that animates the creature, and the reminder of how close life and death can sit to one another.

But the heart is its very own electrical organ. Each beat begins with a spark; not from the heavens, but from the sinoatrial (SA) node, a cluster of cells in the right atrium. These cells spontaneously depolarize, setting off an electrical impulse that cascades across the heart in a perfectly orchestrated sequence.

→From SA node to atria

→Through the AV node

→Down the His-Purkinje system (HPS)

The entire process takes less than a second, an elegant, repeating pattern that sustains every moment of our lives. Unlike Frankenstein’s stitched-together creature, whose life depends on an external jolt, our hearts carry their own internal battery. Pretty incredible.

Link below to read what happens when the heart misfires, and may need that external jolt too. Happy Halloween! 🧟‍♂️

10/29/2026

As advances in breast cancer treatment have allowed for a greater focus on quality of life and breast conservation, the roles of breast and plastic surgery seem to be increasingly intertwined. And all patients have the right to reconstruction after mastectomy.

As advances in breast cancer treatment have allowed for a greater focus on quality of life and breast conservation, the roles of breast and plastic surgery seem to be increasingly intertwined. And all patients have the right to reconstruction after mastectomy.

10/28/2026

When Jeff learned his pancreatic cancer had spread, surgery was no longer an option. But a clinical trial offered another possibility.

Under the care of Gulam Manji, MD, PhD, and the team at The Pancreas Center at Columbia, Jeff responded to an experimental treatment, eventually underwent surgery, and was found to have no evidence of disease.

His story is a remarkable example of what can happen when research and clinical care inform one another directly, in real time. Watch Jeff’s story and meet just a few of the people behind this work.

We’re also proud to share that this film, Breakthrough: Pancreas Cancer, is a finalist for the 2026 The Anthem Awards. Community voting is open through tomorrow, October 29. If you’d like to show your support, vote here: https://celebrate.anthemawards.com/PublicVoting #/2026/health/content-media/non-profit

10/28/2026

Eggs are a fantastic source of inexpensive, high quality protein. In fact, one egg contains seven grams of protein in addition to 14 essential nutrients including choline and vitamin D. They are easily digested and great for patients experiencing digestive symptoms. However, not all eggs are created equal, so let’s take a look at the differences between eggs by looking at labels:

By Danielle Staub, MS, RD, CDNDivision of Digestive and Liver DiseaseEggs are a fantastic source of inexpensive, high quality protein. In fact, one egg contains seven grams of protein in addition to 14 essential nutrients including choline and vitamin D. They are easily digested and great for patien...

10/26/2026

Progress against pancreatic cancer takes more than advances in research and treatment. (and we’ve seen a lot lately!) It takes a whole community willing to come together, share what they’ve learned, and help shape the future of care.

On Tuesday, November 3, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) will host its first-ever Community Conversation in New York City, bringing together researchers, physicians, advocates, and community members for an evening of connection and conversation.

We’re proud to have Dr. Kazuki Sugahara joining the discussion alongside fellow experts and PanCAN leadership to explore the work being done across our community and the many ways we can make a difference for patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer.

Tuesday, November 3 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Sage Realty, 437 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, NYC
All are welcome. RSVP required.
Link in bio!

10/23/2026

A warm welcome to Robert Goldstone, MD, our new Chief of Colorectal Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia!

Joining us from Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Goldstone brings extensive expertise in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery, with a particular focus on approaches that help patients recover more quickly, preserve function, and minimize the impact of surgery.

From colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease to some of the most complex colorectal conditions, his work reflects a commitment to advancing surgical care while keeping patients’ quality of life at the center.

We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Goldstone as he builds on the extraordinary work of our colorectal team and leads the division into its next chapter.

10/23/2026

For years, Gaby Tosto-D’Antonio, DNP, has been the person patients and families turn to for answers, reassurance, and care. Chief NP for the Dept of Neurosurgery Weill Cornell Medicine, and former lead nurse practitioner for Columbia University Department of Neurological Surgery Cerebrovascular Division, listening to patients is at the heart of what she does. In the spring of 2024, she found herself on the other side of that relationship.

After noticing changes in her breast during IVF treatment, Gaby was initially told they were likely related to hormones. But something didn't feel right. With a family history of breast cancer and a growing sense that something was being missed, she kept asking questions. Eventually, she met with Columbia breast surgeon Dr. Lisa Wiechmann, who diagnosed her with Stage III inflammatory breast cancer and Paget’s disease.

Gaby shared her story in hopes other women will feel empowered to speak up, ask questions, and trust themselves when something feels wrong. “It is so important to stay up to date on your annual screenings and advocate for yourself to your care team when your intuition tells you something is wrong,” she says.

Neurosurgery NP Gaby Tosto-D'Antonio shares her story through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Her journey serves as a reminder to know your body and be your advocate.

10/22/2026

The 500th robotic heart surgery, and a remarkable team behind every single one!

We’re celebrating a major milestone for the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where advances in minimally invasive surgery are changing what heart surgery can look like.

“I am incredibly proud of our accomplishment and growing the program so quickly,” says Arnar Geirsson MD, Director of the Surgical Heart Valve Program. “This is a testament to what can be done here at NYP-Columbia with a dedicated robotic team and support from everyone involved.”

Led by Dr. Geirsson, the program has grown rapidly while maintaining exceptional outcomes, including a 99% repair rate for mitral valve prolapse. Behind that number are hundreds of patients, an extraordinary amount of teamwork, and the shared commitment to making complex heart surgery less invasive.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make 500 possible. Here’s to all that’s ahead!

10/22/2026

The news about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is a sobering reminder that blood clots don’t discriminate by age, fitness, or athletic ability. Hurts was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary emboli, bringing renewed attention to a serious condition that can develop even in young, otherwise healthy people.

In this episode of Dr. AI, interventional cardiologist Dr. Sanjum Sethi put ChatGPT to the test with a deceptively simple question: What are the most common risk factors for developing DVT?

From injury and prolonged travel to underlying clotting disorders, the answer is more complicated than many people realize. Best wishes to Hurts for a full recovery.

Link in bio to learn more about DVT.