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Rasa Zarnegar, MD, General Surgery, New York, NY, New York-Presbyterian Hospital

RasaZarnegarMD

General Surgery • New York, NY

Endocrine, Surgical Oncology (Other than Breast), Minimally Invasive Surgery

Professor of Surgery

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Overview of Dr. Zarnegar

Dr. Rasa Zarnegar is a Professor of Surgery (Endocrine/Minimally Invasive Surgery) at Weill Cornell Medical College and an Associate Attending Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He has been repeatedly recognized by Castle Connolly as one of the "Best Doctors." He was also named by New York Magazine as one of New York's "Best Doctors."

Dr. Zarnegar's primary clinical interests include thyroid/parathyroid/adrenal and GI neuroendocrine disease as well as benign and malignant foregut disease. He has focused on minimally invasive and robotic approaches for the management of these disorders and has been involved in the development of techniques to minimize scars through single incision surgery.

He has pioneered techniques in single incision foregut surgery and robotic surgery further improving operative technique for reduced scar formation and postoperative pain. He is the Director of Robotic Surgery.

In the realm of reflux and foregut surgery he is directing the motility center at Weill Cornell and provides a multidisciplinary approach to the management of reflux, esophageal, and gastric dysmotility. By centralizing care his team has improved patient experience and outcomes. He is involved in multiple studies assessing outcomes in reflux and esophageal surgery.

During his time at Weill Cornell he has gained expertise in robotic surgery and performs over a 150 robotic procedures a year. Using this technique he is able to perform complex surgery for benign and malignant gastric and esophageal conditions.

Education & Training

  • Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterResidency, Surgery, 2003 - 2005
  • University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (Mount Sinai)
    University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (Mount Sinai)Residency, Surgery, 2002 - 2003
  • Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
    Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceClass of 1999
  • San Jose State University
    San Jose State UniversityB.S., 1989 - 1994

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 2005 - Present
  • NY State Medical License
    NY State Medical License 2007 - 2025
  • NJ State Medical License
    NJ State Medical License 2023 - 2025
  • OH State Medical License
    OH State Medical License 2003 - 2005
  • IL State Medical License
    IL State Medical License 1999 - 2005
  • American Board of Surgery Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Co-PI Targeted Therapy for Solid Tumors NIH
  • Frank Glenn Scholar of Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College, 2017
  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2011-2013
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Association of Adrenal Venous Sampling with Outcomes in Primary Aldosteronism for Unilateral Adenomas  
    Toni Beninato, Brendan M Finnerty, Thomas J Fahey, Rasa Zarnegar, JAMA Surgery
  • Thyroidectomy for Multinodular Goiter in the Elderly: Age Is Just a Number  
    Brendan M Finnerty, Katherine D Gray, Rasa Zarnegar, Thomas J Fahey, Toni Beninato, Journal of The American College of Surgeons
  • Less Is More: The Impact of Multidisciplinary Thyroid Conference on the Treatment of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma  
    Aaron Schulman, Vivian R Sobel, Theresa Scognamiglio, Rasa Zarnegar, James R Hurley, World Journal of Surgery
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Books/Book Chapters

  • World Clinics Obstetrics and Gynecology. 
    Chapter: Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer. 
    Brown DN, Pejovic T, Nezhat FEditors: Arora M, Bhattacharya S, Kumari V.Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., New Delhi, IndiaEdition 2nd,2013

Abstracts/Posters

  • Endorectal advancement flaps for anorectal fistula in Crohn’s Disease in the era of immune therapy.
    Eisenstein S, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Colorectal Surgeons, 1/1/2014
  • Endorectal advancement flaps for anorectal fistula in Crohn’s Disease in the era of immune therapy.
    Eisenstein S, New York Society of Colorectal Surgeons Residents’ Night, 1/1/2014
  • Paired Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor-B (PIRB) regulates the suppressive function and M1/M2 differentiation of MDSCs.
    Eisenstein S, Academic Surgical Congress, 1/1/2010
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Lectures

  • Fetal chest mass. 
    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA - 1/1/2012
  • Laparoscopic Myomectomy 
    Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD - 1/1/2012
  • How to Suture and Tie Knots: Demonstration of Intracorporeal, Extracorporeal, and New Methods. 
    The Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD - 1/1/2010
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Other

  • High-Altitude Hydration System. 
    Parazynski, Scott E., Evelyne Orndoff, Grant C. Bue, Mark E. Schaefbauer, and Kase Urban, US Patent 8,839,996
    1/23/2014
  • The Use of Adjuvants in Vaccine Development. Master's Thesis 
    Risi GF
    The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - 1/1/2011
  • Modular Lifestyle Intervention Tool (MLIT), Pocket PC version 
    Strayer SM, Copyright University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    1/1/2005

Authored Content

  • Thyroidectomy for Multinodular Goiter in the Elderly: Age Is Just a NumberOctober 2018

Press Mentions

  • Robot Surgeon Successfully Performs Pig Intestine Surgery by Itself: What This Means for the Future
    Robot Surgeon Successfully Performs Pig Intestine Surgery by Itself: What This Means for the FutureMay 5th, 2016

Grant Support

  • Targeted Therapy for Solid TumorsNIH2013–2018

Professional Memberships

Other Languages

  • Spanish, Farsi

Hospital Affiliations

Industry Relationships

  • Co-Founder/Scientific Advisor, EndovorDevelop Medical Devices for patient interaction improvement and refluxDisclosure: None2017 - Present

External Links

Insurance Accepted

  • Aetna Choice POS II
    Aetna HMO
    BCBS Blue Card PPO
    BCBS Illinois PPO
    CIGNA HMO
    CIGNA Open Access
    CIGNA PPO
    Empire BCBS HMO
    Empire BCBS PPO
    GHI PPO
    Great West PPO
    HIP of New York - Select PPO
    Humana ChoiceCare Network PPO
    Medical Mutual of Ohio SuperMed Plus
    Medical Mutual of Ohio SuperMed POS
    MVP Healthcare PPO
    Oxford Health Freedom
    Oxford Health Liberty
    United Healthcare - Direct Choice Plus POS
    United Healthcare - Direct Options PPO
  • Please verify your coverage with the provider's office directly when scheduling an appointment

Dr. Rasa Zarnegar, Dr. Rasa Zarnegar, MD, Dr. R Zarnegar