Department of Surgery

Division of Colorectal Surgery,
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Fergal Fleming, M.D., AFRCSI,has been appointed as an assistant professor of Surgery and Oncology, bringing his talents to URMC’s fast-growing colorectal surgery practice.
Fleming earned his medical degree and completed a surgical research fellowship at the University College Dublin, Ireland, and secured extensive training in general, vascular and hepatobiliary surgery at a number of hospitals in the Republic of Ireland before delving into more advanced training in colorectal surgery. In 2009, he joined URMC as a fellow in the Division of Colorectal Surgery, collaborating with division chief John Monson, M.D., F.A.C.S.,to conduct surgical outcomes research aimed at advancing the field.
Fleming brings a keen proficiency in laparoscopic surgery, and will join other division surgeons in offering transanal endoscopic microsurgery, or TEMS, a unique, minimally invasive technique that uses a special microscope to remove tumors or polyps in the rectum. The procedure – though remarkable in that it leave patients with no skin incisions, little pain, and a much speedier recovery – is not widely available in the U.S., let alone in the Rochester region.
Throughout his clinical training, Fleming has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in international journals. He is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery,
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Christian G. Peyre, MD has joined the University of Rochester Medical Center as an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Thoracic & Foregut Surgery. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Peyre earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
He completed his internship and residency in surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, during which time Dr. Peyre spent an additional two years as an esophageal research fellow focused on the study of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer. He then went on to serve as a resident in thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Peyre is licensed to practice medicine in the states of California and New York and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is also a member of professional organizations including Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
In addition to being the recipient of several prestigious awards, including research grant awards, Dr. Peyre has authored numerous publications and frequently presents across the country on topics related to thoracic and foregut surgery. His special interests include minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung cancer and diseases of the esophagus such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer. Dr. Peyre is dedicated to providing compassionate, quality, world-class surgical care in partnership with his patients.

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Division of Vascular Surgery,
Assistant Professor of Surgery

The University of Rochester Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer L. Ellis, MD as an Assistant Professor of Surgery. Dr. Ellis attended the combined pre-medical/medical program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she earned both her Bacholor of Science and medical degrees.
From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Ellis completed her residency in general surgery and served as chief surgical resident at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to joining URMC, she was a vascular surgery fellow at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Ellis is licensed to practice medicine in the states of New York and Ohio and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. She is also a certified Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation. Dr. Ellis is a current or past member of professional organizations including the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Society for Vascular Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Women’s Association and American Medical Association.
In addition to authoring numerous publications on vascular surgery and related topics, Dr. Ellis has been involved in several research studies. Her special interests include all aspects of vascular surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive and endovascular therapies.

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Division of Vascular Surgery,
Associate Professor of Surgery

The University of Rochester Medical Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicholas J. Gargiulo, III, MD, FACS as an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery/Division of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Gargiulo joins us from the Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Department in New York City.
Dr. Gargiulo completed his undergraduate studies at Colgate University where he graduated Cum Laude with Honors in Chemistry. He later earned his medical degree from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine and received two NIH research fellowships. Dr. Gargiulo completed his internship and residency in General Surgery, as well as Research and Vascular Surgery fellowships, at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he recently served as an Associate Professor of Surgery.
In addition to being certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Gargiulo holds a Certificate of Special Qualifications in Vascular Surgery. He is a member of professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons (Fellow), Society for Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Eastern Vascular Society and the Association for Academic Surgery.
Dr. Gargiulo has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors, including The Ronald Reagan Presidential Award for outstanding academic achievement, and has participated in a wide variety of research studies related to vascular conditions and surgery. He presents both nationally and internationally and has authored nearly 40 scientific publications and over 20 book chapters.
Dr. Gargiulo’s special interests include clinical and basic science research in the areas of peripheral atherosclerosis and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. With the help of all the talented researchers throughout the Rochester community and worldwide, he hopes to find the cure for atherosclerosis.

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Surgical Education,
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Sarah E. Peyre, Ed.D., joins the Department as an assistant professor of Surgery, and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry as the Director of Simulation and the associate director of Comprehensive Assessment. Peyre will split time between helping evolve surgical education (for medical students, residents and practicing faculty) and augmenting and integrating various simulation training initiatives currently spread throughout the medical school and Strong Memorial Hospital.
A member of the Association for Surgical Education and the American Educational Research Association, Peyre’s interests revolve around making today’s surgical education techniques more effective. Some of her main foci include “intraoperative assessment” (using objective checklists and rating scales in the operating room to benchmark residents’ skills, rather than simply tracking the number of completed cases), simulation-based instruction (utilizing models and virtual reality training to teach surgical skills so that real-life operating room experience can focus on higher-level functions, like decision-making), and empowering faculty to become better coaches, teachers and mentors.
Peyre’s also brings a keen interest in helping seasoned surgeons breakdown and explain how they make the many crucial “in flight” operating decisions that have become almost instinctive to them – thereby helping residents “deconstruct” what needs to be learned. Peyre also brings expertise in qualitative research methods specifically in the field of surgical decision-making. She will also assist faculty in developing curriculum and assessment tools necessary for delivering a truly rich educational experience.
Prior to joining the faculty, Peyre served as the Director of Education and Research for the STRATUS (Simulation, Training, Research and Technology Utilization System) Center for Medical Simulation at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, and as an assistant professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She earned both her Master in Science of Medical Education and her doctorate in Educational Psychology from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. She conducted her undergraduate work in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.

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