New Colon And Rectal Surgery Chief Named At Northwell Health

CHAPPAQUA/MOUNT KISCO, NY — Northwell Health plans to build a colorectal surgery program in Westchester County that will not only be the envy of other healthcare systems, but will be emulated in communities across their own network of hospitals and clinics.

Northwell Health announced on Thursday the appointment of Parul J. Shukla, MD as regional chief of colon and rectal surgery for Westchester County, serving Phelps and Northern Westchester hospitals, as well as the Northwell Health Physician Partners medical practice in Chappaqua Crossing. In his new position, Dr. Shukla will be responsible for building up the colorectal surgery program for the Westchester community which will serve as a prototype to build similar programs throughout the Northwell Health system. Dr. Shukla will also serve as professor of surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the U.S., and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society. It's expected to result in about 52,580 deaths this year.

The colorectal surgery program will enhance an existing, best-in-class gastroenterology team already established at Northwell facilities throughout Westchester County. The planned expansion and growth will build upon the surgical teams and programs, adding more specialists and screenings to include upper gastrointestinal tract (GI), bariatrics and Hepato-Pancreato-Bilary (HPB) surgeries, so patients can get the care they need close to home.

"We are extremely lucky to have an internationally known expert in gastrointestinal surgical oncology join the Northwell Health team here in Westchester County," said Gene Coppa, MD, senior vice president and executive director of surgical services at Northwell. "I know the entire Westchester community joins me in welcoming Dr. Shukla. Having this type of leadership and expertise close to home will benefit the overall health of our patients in Westchester and surrounding areas."

The development of Northwell’s Westchester County colorectal surgical program will be a core contributor to a Comprehensive Cancer Center – in partnership with medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, genetics and the Northwell Health Cancer Institute. The Westchester County colorectal surgical program will include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, pelvic floor disorders like fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse and refractory constipation. The colorectal surgery team will enhance the capabilities of the advanced GI team and support a much-needed boost in screening colonoscopies.

Dr. Shukla joins Northwell Health after 10 years as vice chief of colon and rectal surgery and professor of surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan. He is skilled in all established minimally invasive surgical modalities, including laparoscopic, endoscopic and robotic techniques. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Shukla is a renowned researcher and educator. He is widely published with over 120 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and 17 book chapters. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Colorectal Diseases and as a member of the editorial board for the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO). Dr. Shukla is an invited reviewer for many international journals and has been an invited lecturer at hundreds of meetings and conferences around the world.

"I am excited by this new challenge to raise the level of expertise for colorectal diseases and provide our patients here in Westchester County and surrounding areas the best-in-class medical care," Shukla said. "Our hospitals in Westchester have continually worked to elevate the care they provide to the community. Together we will be able to enhance our clinical services and capabilities for colon and rectal surgery that’s convenient for patients where they live right here in Westchester County."

Dr. Shukla is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow. He has earned many honors and awards throughout his career. He received an endowed professorship of surgery from Weill Cornell Medicine of the Cornell University and was honored by the Caribbean Society of Endoscopic Surgeons for his contributions to the practice of advanced minimally invasive colorectal surgical techniques and was made an honorary member of the society. Dr. Shukla is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the Association of Surgeons of India and the Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of India. He trained extensively in the United Kingdom and Australia from 1994 until 1999. He accepted an appointment of assistant professor at Tata Memorial Hospital in November of 1999 and was promoted to professor of surgical oncology and chief of gastrointestinal surgical oncology in his time there until departing in August 2011 to join New York Presbyterian Hospital.

For more information about colon/rectal surgery or to book an appointment, visit th website or call (877) 469-4362.