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Topic: Foregut Disease: Minimally Invasive and

Innovation Therapeutics

Prof. Luigi Bonavina

Dr. Bonavina is currently a full-professor at the University
of Milano Medical School and Chief of the Department
of Surgery at IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Italy. He
graduated from University of Padova and specialized in
General Surgery and in Thoracic Surgery. As postdoctoral
research fellow at the University of Chicago and Creighton
University, he was involved in esophageal pathophysiology
and reconstructive surgery of the foregut.

Dr. Bonavina’s past research at the University of Padova
and Milano focused on esophageal surgery and disease,
fundoplication and ablative techniques for Barrett’s
esophagus, and cancer prevention. His current research
includes studies on gastroesophageal reflux disease,
esophageal motility disorders, minimally invasive
(thoracoscopic, laparoscopic, and trans-oral) surgical
procedures, surgical oncology, and surgical education.

Prof. Rasa Zarnegar

Principal Investigator

Dr. Zarnegar is a Professor of Surgery (Endocrine and
Minimally Invasive Surgery) at Weill Cornell Medical
College and an Attending Surgeon at New York-
Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, as
well as the Director of Robotic Surgery.

His focuses are endocrine tumors (thyroid, parathyroid,
adrenal, neuroendocrine tumors), specializing in novel
robotic scarless techniques to avoid neck incisions and
foregut disorders (GERD, achalasia, gastric and complex
GI disorders). In the realm of reflux and foregut surgery,
Dr. Zarnegar directs the motility center at Weill Cornell
and is involved in multiple studies assessing outcomes in
reflux and esophageal surgery. Dr. Zarnegar collaborates
with a team of researchers and is supported by the NIH
with a grant aimed at identifying novel methods for
targeting solid tumors allowing for another potential
pathway for improved patient outcome. He is widely
published in these fields and has presented his work
nationally and internationally, over 100 peer reviewed
articles and 9 book chapters.