Marc Bessler, MD
Bariatric Surgery, Cancer Care, General Surgery, Surgery
Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Overview
Dr. Marc Bessler is the United States Surgical Professor of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Bessler's clinical specialties include laparoscopic and single incision bariatric surgery. He earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in general surgery and his fellowship in surgical endoscopy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Bariatric/Weight Loss Surgery
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Endoscopic Gastric Balloon Placement
- Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal Surgery
- Gallbladder Surgery
- Gastric Bypass
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- GERD-Laparoscopic Technique
- GERD Surgery
- Heartburn
- Hiatal Hernia
- Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- Laparoscopic Fundoplication
- Laparoscopic Revisional Bariatric Surgery
- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Laparoscopy
- Metabolic Surgery
- Minimal Access Surgery-GERD
- Obesity Surgery
- Splenectomy
- Stomach Cancer
- Stomach Surgery
- Weight Loss Surgery
- Weight Management
Academic Appointments
- United States Surgical Professor of Surgery at the Columbia University Medical Center
Administrative Titles
- Chief, Division of Minimal Access/Bariatric Surgery
- Director, Minimal Access Surgery Center
- Director, Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Languages
- Hebrew
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
New and Existing Patients:
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
161 Fort Washington Avenue
Suite 524
New York, NY 10032
Primary
Phone:
Fax:
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- BA, 1985 Yeshiva University
- MD, 1989 New York University School of Medicine
- Internship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
- American College of Surgeons, Associate Fellow
- Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons
- Member of the Executive Council of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- The Association for Academic Surgery
- American Society for Bariatric Surgery
- Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
- Hospital Credentials Committee, 2004-present
- Hospital Bariatric Standards Committee, 2004-present
- Faculty Practice Organization, Board of Directors, 2003-present
- FPO Practice, Operations Committee, 2003-present
- Society of Practitioners of the Columbia University Medical Center, Executive Board, 2002-present
- Minimal Access Surgery Center: Oversight Committee, 2000-present
- Columbia Presbyterian Physicians Network EPA: Board of Directors, 2000-present
- Hospital Quality Assurance Committee, 1999-present
Board Certifications
- Surgery
Honors & Awards
- New York Magazine's Top Doctors, 2005-2016.
- Blakemore Award for Surgical Research, 1992 and 1993.
- Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Resident Achievement Award, Best Resident Presentation, SAGES, 1995.
- Blakernore Prize for Excellence in Surgical Research, June 1996.
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor
Research
Research Interests
- Hormonal, oncologic, and immune responses in laparoscopy
Selected Publications
- Bessler M. Tumor Implantation at Laparoscopy: Is it a real problem? Surgical Endoscopy 1998; 12:1288-9.
- Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M. Minimal Access Surgery. and the Biology of Cancer. Minimal Access Surgery in Oncology. Geraghty JG, Sackier JM, Young HL Eds.: Greenwich Medical Media, London 1998; 1, 16.
- Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Horvath K.D., et. al. Increased Tumor Establishment and Growth After Open Versus Laparoscopic Surgery in Mice May be Related to Differences in Postoperative T cell Function.. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12.
- Wickens J.C., Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F, Bessler M., et. al. Wound Tensile Strength and Contraction Rate are not Affected by Laparotomy or Pneumoperitoneum. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:1166-70.
- Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Horvath K.D., et. al. Increased Tumor Establishment and Growth After Open Versus Laparoscopic Bowel Resection in Mice. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998;12:1035-8.
- Lee S., Gleason N., Woodring J., Seplowitz R., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Peritoneal Irrigation with Betadine Solution Following Laparoscopic Splenectomy Significantly Decreases Port Tumor Recurrence in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41(4)A24.
- Whelan R.L., Bessler M., Treat M.R. The Role of Laparoscopic Assisted Colectomy in the Treatment of Colonic Malignancies. In: Minimally Invasive Surgery: Principles and Outcomes. Andrus C, Cosgrove J, Longo W eds.: Harwood Academic Publishers, Reading 1998;137-48.
- Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Traumatic Handling of The Tumor Independent of Pneumoperitoneum Increases Port Site Implantation Rate of Colon Cancer in a Murine Model. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:828-34.
- Sellers G.J., Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F., Gleason N.R., Bessler M., et. al. An In Vitro Model fails to Demonstrate Aerosolization of Tumor Cells. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:436-9.
- Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Abdominal Wound Tumor Recurrence After Open and Laparoscopic assisted Splenectomy in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41:824-31.
- Southall J.C., Lee S.W., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Colon Adenocarcinoma and B-16 Melanoma Grow Larger Following Laparotomy Versus Pneumoperitoneum in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41:564-9.
- Southall J.C., Lee S.W., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. The Effect of Peritoneal Air Exposure on Postoperative Tumor Growth. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:348-50.
- Horvath K., Whelan R.L., Bessler M., et al. The effects of intraabdominal pressure hypercarbia and positioning on the hemodynamic responses to laparoscopic colectomy in pigs. Surgical Endoscopy 1998; 12(2):107-14.
- Donahue JP, Whelan RL, Wickens J, Buxton E, Allendorf JDF, Southall JC, Lee SW, Bessler M. Susceptibility to Dermal Bacterial Infection is Greater After Laparotomy vs Laparoscopy in a murine model. Surgical Endoscopy 1997; 1 1(2)A 195.
- Southall JC, Lee SW, Donahue JP, Bessler M., Whelan RL. Susceptibility to Dermal Bacterial Infection is Greater After Open than Laparoscopic Cecal Resection in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1997;40(6)A40-A41.
- Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Tumor Proliferative Index is Higher in Mice Undergoing Laparotomy vs. Insufflation. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1997;40(6)A40.
- Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. A Murine Model of Laparoscopic Assisted Intervention. Surgical Endoscopy 1997; 11:622-4.
- Horvath K.D., Whelan R.L., Lier B., Viscomi S., Bessler M., Buck K.A., Treat MR. A prospective comparison of laparoscopic exposure techniques for rectal mobilization and sigmoid resection. J Am Coll Surg 1997; 184:506-12.
- Allendorf J.D., Bessler M., Whelan R.L., Trokel W., et al. Postoperative immune function varies inversely with degree surgical trauma.Surg Endoscopy 1997; 11(5):427-30.
- Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Kayton M.L., Treat M.R., and Nowygrod R. Helium Neon Irradiation at Fluences of 1, 2 and 4 J/cm2 Failled to Accelerate Wound Healing as Assessed by Both Wound Contracture Rate and Tensile Strength. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1997, 20:340-5.