Cary B. Aarons

Cary B. Aarons serves as Professor of Surgery at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, holding dual leadership roles as Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Surgery and Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. His clinical practice spans multiple locations including the Herbert Irving Pavilion in Washington Heights, Bronxville, and White Plains.

His educational journey includes undergraduate training at Harvard University, medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine, general surgery residency at Boston University Medical Center, and colorectal surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic. He further enhanced his academic credentials with a Master's in Medical Education from University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Aarons' research spans colorectal disease management (including IBD, cancer, and pelvic floor disorders) and transformative surgical education initiatives. His work integrates minimally invasive techniques with innovative educational frameworks addressing work-hour compliance, diversity recruitment, and resident resilience. His current research portfolio demonstrates a clear shift toward systemic educational reform and workforce diversity since 2020, with 12 of 15 recent publications focusing on surgical education policy and inclusion strategies.

Honors include:

• 2022 Department of Surgery Teaching Award of Distinction
• 2022 Department of Surgery Cary B. Aarons Advocacy Award
• 2018 Penn Medicine Minority Hall of Fame Inductee
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society membership

As Program Director and Vice Chair of Education, he oversees all residency training while developing national educational standards through multi-institutional collaborations like the TrainHPB research group. His leadership extends to national surgical education committees where he shapes ACGME milestone assessments and recruitment protocols. Current initiatives include smartphone-based work-hour monitoring and holistic review processes for residency selection.

He maintains active clinical practice across three New York metropolitan locations, specializing in complex colorectal conditions while mentoring the next generation of surgeons through structured educational pathways that emphasize both technical excellence and humanistic values.