Cary B. Aarons, MD

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Imahiyerobo received his B.A. from Harvard University where he graduated with Honors, cum laude. After also receiving his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Imahiyerobo entered the combined Plastic Surgery Residency at New York Presbyterian/Columbia and New York Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell. During his residency, Dr. Imahiyerobo was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Dicran Goulian award for academic excellence in Plastic Surgery, as well as the Weill Cornell Alumni Council award for Distinguished House Staff. During his final year of residency Dr. Imahiyerobo served as chief resident in Plastic Surgery and was recognized by New York Presbyterian Hospital for his outstanding patient care. Dr. Imahiyerobo’s areas of expertise include the treatment of cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, frontal facial advancement and orthognathic (jaw) surgery. He also specializes in the care of adult cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. He helps lead the Craniofacial Center at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, where he is committed to providing comprehensive, cutting-edge, compassionate care to patients of all ages with craniofacial differences. He has completed additional training in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery during his fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While there, he was an integral part of one of the largest cleft and craniofacial teams in the country. Dr. Imahiyerobo is the author of numerous academic publications. He has been a speaker at national meetings of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Plastic Surgery Research Council. In 2014 he was awarded the prestigious Gaspar Anastasi Award for best presentation during the Resident and Fellows Forum at the meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. His current research interest includes the use of innovative approaches to treat global midface hypoplasia and severe Class III malocclusion. He is also focused on outcomes research for cleft lip and palate surgery, as well as the effects of craniosynostosis on pediatric cognitive development. Give to the Cleft and Craniofacial Fund »Read how Dr. Imahiyerobo helped Lily, a child with craniosynostosis »

Dr. Hiroo Takayama is Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart and vascular problems. As the Director of the Aortic Surgery Program and co-Director of the Aortic Center, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and the Marfan Clinic at NYP/Columbia, Dr. Takayama has contributed to the care of over 4,000 patients by performing a variety of aortic and cardiac surgical procedures, approximately 300-350 operations every year. Dr. Takayama is internationally recognized for his work on complex aortic surgery (minimally invasive aortic surgery, valve-sparing aortic root replacement, aortic valve repair, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair), hybrid aortic surgery (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair), myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure surgery. He is a leader in outcome research in aortic diseases and heart failure. He has published more than 300-350 manuscripts in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and has authored numerous book chapters about heart disease. Dr. Takayama attended University of Tokyo for Medical School, did his internship at University of Tokyo, general surgery residency in University of Washington Medical Center, and cardio-thoracic surgery fellowship in New-York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Marco B. Zoccali is a minimally invasive surgeon with extensive expertise in the treatment of the broad range of colorectal diseases including IBD, colon and rectal cancers, and benign colorectal diseases. He received his medical degree at the Catholic University in Rome, Italy where he also completed his surgical training. He then came to the USA where he did a Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery Fellowship at the University of Chicago followed by a surgical residency at Weill Cornell Medical Center. He then completed his Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship at the University of Chicago. Although committed to managing the entire spectrum of pathologies that can affect the lower intestinal tract, his personal interest lies mostly in minimally invasive approaches to colorectal conditions – including the robotic platform – and the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Zoccali is also a prolific researcher. He has published more than 50 articles in major surgical journals including The Journal of The American College of Surgeons, The British Journal of Surgery and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and has contributed to several book chapters.