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Alessandro Fichera, MD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and Professor and Division Chief of GI Surgery at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.

MD
Professor and Division Chief of GI Surgery

Area of interest

My research focuses on the application of new technology to the treatment of rectal cancer to provide minimal disruption of quality of life for these patients. I have a great deal of experience collaborating with colleagues both within and outside my own institution and I am the national principal investigator of the Alliance N1048 (PROSPECT) study, a phase II-III prospective randomized trial looking at selective use of radiation in locally advanced rectal cancer. One of the objective of this trial is to safely identify patients with locally advanced rectal cancer that do not need neoadjuvant radiation based on a composite of primary endpoints including disease-free survival and local pelvic recurrence at two years, quality of life, sexual and bowel function. I have also participated in the Organ Preservation in Rectal Adenocarcinoma (1R01CA182551-01) randomized controlled Phase II trial investigating the optimal timing of delivery of neoadjuvant therapy, in order to maximize the proportion of patients with distal rectal cancer who may be cured while preserving the rectum.

Awards and Honors

1997 Most outstanding poster presentation. Fourth Annual Charles Huggins Research Conference. The University of Chicago
1997 Most outstanding housestaff laboratory research presentation. Fourth Annual Charles Huggins Research Conference. The University of Chicago
1997 Northwest Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Award. 1997 ASCRS Annual Meeting
1998 Most outstanding housestaff clinical research presentation. Fifth Annual Charles Huggins Research Conference. The University of Chicago
1999 Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honorary Housestaff. University. of Chicago
1999 The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Humanism in Medicine. University of Chicago.
2001 First prize for poster presentation. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons 2001 Resident Night
2003 Robert J. Baker Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The University of Chicago.
2004 New Investigator Award. The University of Chicago Digestive Disease Research Core Center.
2006 Second Place. Chicago Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons 2006 Resident competition.
2007 University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Favorite Faculty Members.
2007 University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Research Forum. Honorable mention of excellence.
2008 University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Favorite Faculty Members.
2009 First place resident competition. Chicago Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons 2009
2009 First place resident competition. Chicago Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons 2009
2010 Winner of the Chicago Surgical Society Resident Research Award
2011 Best Video American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery Annual Meeting. Vancouver B.C.
2013 Grassi Prize. International Surgical Week 2013. Helsinki, Finland
2013 Golden Eddy for outstanding work in patient and family education. University of Washington Medical Center
2014 Best Clinical Paper. North Pacific Coast Surgical Association
2015 Michigan Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Award. ASCRS Annual Meeting

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