Sidney Winawer

Dr. Sidney J. Winawer is internationally recognized for his contributions to the prevention and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, describing the developmental stages of colorectal cancer, defining familial high-risk groups, promoting screening, and demonstrating the prevention of colorectal cancer by removal of polyps through his leadership of the National Polyp Study. This has led to the concept of the screening colonoscopy.

Dr. Winawer was chief of the Gastroenterology-Nutrition service and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control Program for 20 years. He initiated the Integrative Medicine Program and was head of the WHO Collaborating Center for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer.  He was an attending physician and member with tenure at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  In addition, he is a Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and holder of the Paul Sherlock Chair in Medicine.

Dr. Winawer's pioneering work - he has received many research grants, published more than 400 research articles, reviews, and book chapters and has been a leader in Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines since 1997 - has earned him the Memorial Sloan- Kettering Alumni Award, the ACG's Master Award, the Clinical Achievement Award from the American College of Gastroenterology for distinguished contributions to gastroenterology, and the Rudolf Schindler Award from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in recognition for his contributions to the fields of gastroenterology, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and gastrointestinal malignancy, the Fiterman Award by the American Gastroenterology Association for Achievement in Clinical Research, the American Cancer Society Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the John Wayne Clinical Research Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Laurel Award for International Leadership from the Cancer Research & Prevention Foundation and an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center.  He is also the editor of a textbook on colorectal cancer and co-author of "Cancer Free," a book on cancer prevention written for the general public.  His book "Healing Lessons" has been reviewed by the NY Times and has been translated into several languages.  Dr. Winawer helped Katie Couric plan, and appeared on, the NBC Colorectal Cancer series and also participated in the White House Colorectal Cancer Campaign kickoff in 1999.

After completing a GI fellowship on the Harvard Service of Boston City Hospital, Dr. Winawer served as a faculty member of Harvard Medical School. He belongs to numerous professional societies and has served as the President of the American College of Gastroenterology, was a founder of the NY Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and has been Co-Chair of the New York City Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign.  He is Co-Chair of the International Digestive Cancer Alliance which has initiated a worldwide campaign to increase Awareness and Prevention of Digestive Cancers.  The Alliance was launched at the Vatican, with support by late Pope John Paul II, and is in collaboration with major world medical societies.

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