Renowned Expert in Digestive and Minimally Invasive Surgery Joins Team at Hudson Valley Hospital

July 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Dr. Klaus Thaler, a renowned expert in digestive and minimally invasive surgery and author of groundbreaking studies in the field, has joined Hudson Valley Hospital Center to create a center of excellence in minimally invasive surgery and digestive disease.

Dr. Thaler comes to Hudson Valley Hospital Center from the University of Missouri where for the past five years he served as Director of Gastrointestinal Surgery and co-chair of the Robotic Surgery program. Dr. Thaler has done groundbreaking work in the newly emerging field of natural orifice surgery, which is the next generation of minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Thaler said his goal is to create a Center of Excellence in minimally invasive surgery at the hospital, ultimately, offering ground-breaking techniques in digestive surgery. His specialties include the use of laproscopic and endoscopic techniques in the treatment of diseases of the esophagus, adrenal gland, spleen, colon and gallbladder. His special focus is on the treatment of reflux (GERD); Paraesophageal Hernia Repair and achalasia (a swallowing disorder).    

“Minimally invasive surgery is a very exciting field that offers limitless possibilities for patients to reduce trauma and promote faster healing,’’ said Dr. Thaler. “By creating a Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery here at Hudson Valley Hospital Center we hope to offer our patients the latest, cutting edge technology closer to home.’’

John Federspiel, President, Hudson Valley Hospital Center said that Thaler’s arrival was part of a continued effort by the hospital to improve the level of care for patients and provide the latest, state-of-the art medicine. Federspiel added that surgeons would have new, more modern facilities in which to work with the opening in March of a new surgery center with state-of-the-art operating rooms and a bigger and brighter, post anesthesia care unit. The center has its own entrance and valet parking service and is next to the new Center for Rehabilitation Services.

“Our investment in this hospital – in the all new private room patient tower, expanded emergency room and a new surgery center  – is helping us to attract the brightest and the best to Hudson Valley Hospital Center,’’ said Federspiel. “Dr. Thaler is a welcome addition and it is our hope that having someone of his caliber will help us to build a Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive Surgery that will be the best in the region.”  

Dr. Thaler’s clinical work and research focus is laparoscopic and endoscopy surgery of the digestive tract including single incision laparoscopy and Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Natural orifice surgery is a ground breaking surgical technology that enables surgeons to perform procedures without scaring. He was one of the first in the country to perform clinical trials in the area of natural orifice surgery and participate in an international trial to investigate transoral, incisionless weight loss surgery to treat morbid obesity (TOGA Study). Dr Thaler’s work is published in over one hundred peer reviewed papers and six books.

As expert in his field, Dr. Thaler has given more than 50 lectures at national and international societies in recent years. He is actively involved in national committees and societies including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Surgical Society of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Society of Gastroenterology (ASGE), and the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE).

Dr. Thaler earned his medical degree at the University of Vienna and completed his  residency in general surgery at the University of Vienna in Austria and at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. He completed a research fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and a clinical fellowship in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Portland, Oregon.

As a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Thaler is board certified in the US and in Europe. Dr. Thaler lives in Peekskill with his wife Sibylle and has two children, David, 19, and Nici, 16.

Dr. Thaler’s offices are located at 1985 Crompond Road, Bldg. C in Cortlandt Manor. Patients and physicians can contact Dr. Thaler by calling 914-736-1100

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Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor. NY provides quality, comprehensive medical care and state-of-the-art diagnostic treatment, education and preventive services. Call 914-737-9000 or visit www.hvhc.org We practice Patientology!