Community Corner

Hospital Names Surgical Services Director

Colorectal surgeon is Lloyd Harbor resident.

David E. Rivadeneira has been appointed director of surgical services and director of Colorectal Surgical Services at Huntington Hospital. 

In addition, he was named vice chair of surgical strategic initiatives for the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Eastern/Suffolk Region.

Board-certified in both general surgery and colon and rectal surgery, Rivadeneira’s main focus is on minimally invasive, complex colorectal procedures. He is one of the few surgeons in the northeastern United States who performs single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and robotic colorectal procedures using the DaVinci Surgical System, the hospital said.

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

SILS is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the surgeon operates almost exclusively through a single entry point, most commonly the patient’s navel. Unlike traditional, multi-incision laparoscopic surgery, SILS leaves only a single small scar.

“I don’t think you have to sacrifice quality or that individualized care in a community hospital setting for state-of-the-art surgical technology,” Rivadeneira said.  “At Huntington Hospital, patients receive the best of both.”

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“My goals for Huntington include both a continuation of the excellent surgical services now offered, coupled with the development of advanced surgical services as they become available,” Rivadeneira said. He performs laparoscopic and other minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of colon and rectal diseases, including cancer, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and many other conditions.

"The addition of a top-flight surgeon such as Dr. Rivadeneira, is a great step forward for Huntington Hospital, and is the result of our focus on providing the most advanced care across a range of programs" said Kevin Lawlor, the hospital's president and CEO.  "This respected surgeon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our hospital and to the region, where patients requiring the most advanced colorectal interventions often had to travel some distance to attain them.  Now, they can have these procedures right in our community, with their families and their own doctors nearby."

Another goal for Rivadeneira is a strengthening of the cancer services provided to patients. “According to statistics, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States,” he said. “We will provide our patients with the most up-to-date cancer care using a multidisciplinary or team approach--surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists, nutritionists, and genetic counselors all working together to serve the best interests of our patients. I know Huntington Hospital will be the leader in cancer and surgical care for Suffolk County. And we can do all of this while maintaining the utmost compassion for our patients and their families.”

A graduate of Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, with honors, Rivadeneira completed his surgical training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, where he served as chief resident.

He completed a National Institutes of Health (NIH) surgical oncology research fellowship also at Cornell University Medical College, as well as a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts where he received an award for outstanding academic achievement.  For five years, Dr. Rivadeneira was a member of Stony Brook University Medical Center’s full-time faculty where he was an associate professor of surgery.

Internationally recognized as a leader in the field of colorectal surgery, Rivadeneira is a coeditor of “Minimally Invasive Approaches to Colon and Rectal Disease: Techniques and Best Practices,” a textbook for surgeons and medical students throughout the country. Dr. Rivadeneira has published his research in numerous professional journals and serves as a reviewer for several including, Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgery, and World Journal of Surgery. He has also presented his research at professional conferences throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Rivadeneira is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

 Rivadeneira resides in Lloyd Harbor with his wife and two children.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here