Dr. Katherine Fischkoff, a skilled general and acute care surgeon with a keen interest in medical ethics and surgical quality, has been appointed Chief of the Division of General Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She was also recently awarded an endowed professorship, the Jose M. Ferrer Associate Professor of Surgery (in Anesthesia) at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and holds a variety of quality leadership roles.
"I am truly honored to take on the role of Chief of the Division of General Surgery. My goal is to enhance the already outstanding contributions of our team, advancing patient care and surgical excellence," said Dr. Fischkoff. She takes over the role from Dr. Tracey D. Arnell, who served as Chief of General surgery for over 10 years. Dr. Arnell will remain a critical member of the division.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Katherine Fischkoff, MD, has agreed to succeed Tracey Arnell, MD, as Chief of the Division of General Surgery,” said Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery. “Dr. Fischkoff is an outstanding surgeon who, throughout her career, has devised influential additions to clinical outcomes and medical research. The Division of General Surgery will thrive under her direction. I am also very appreciative of Dr. Arnell’s many years of service as Chief, and her strong displays of leadership within the division.”
Dr. Fischkoff earned her medical degree from George Washington University and went on to receive specialized clinical training at NYU Langone and Memorial-Sloan Kettering before joining the team at Columbia. Her clinical skills and research expertise have previously earned her leadership positions as Medical Director for the Surgical Step Down Unit and Chair of the Department of Surgery’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee. Her interest in medical ethics has resulted in influential research, including the development of standard-of-care recommendations to guide the diverse and numerous ethics challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbia’s General Surgery program is responsible for creating one of the nation’s first dedicated Acute Care Surgery teams and the first in the New York metropolitan area. The program has a long history of caring for patients within the Washington Heights and Northern Manhattan community. In her new role as Chief, Dr. Fischkoff will build upon the division’s proud history of innovation and service and look to grow their successful elective surgery practice.