The Columbia Hernia Center team comprises world-class, fellowship-trained hernia surgeons who are leaders in advanced hernia repair, minimally invasive techniques, and complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Our surgeons have dedicated their careers to performance, innovation, and research in hernia care, including robotic and laparoscopic approaches that reduce recurrence risk and improve quality of life. Each physician brings a unique focus within hernia surgery, ranging from complex mesh revision and salvage procedures to abdominal wall reconstruction and minimally invasive repair. We ensure patients receive the most appropriate, evidence-based treatment for their specific condition.

Meet the Team

Our surgeons’ areas of focus:

Yuri W. Novitsky, MD, FACS. Director of the Columbia Hernia Center. Dr. Novitsky is an internationally recognized expert in advanced laparoscopic and robotic repair of complex inguinal and ventral hernias. He is credited with the transversus abdominis release (TAR) and its extension to robotic surgery for large and recurrent hernias.

Dina Podolsky, MD. Co-Director of the Columbia Hernia Center and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia. Dr. Podolsky completed fellowship training in complex abdominal wall reconstruction and robotic surgery at Columbia. She treats inguinal, ventral, umbilical and complex abdominal wall hernias with laparoscopic and robotic techniques, and sees patients in Manhattan and Westchester.

Philip George, MD, FACS. Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia and a fellowship-trained hernia surgeon. Dr. George performs robotic total abdominal wall reconstruction for large ventral and incisional hernias, transversus abdominis release (TAR), and eTEP repair. He also offers mesh-free repair, including the Shouldice repair for groin hernias, and treats patients with problems from earlier mesh including offering minimally invasive mesh removal. He sees patients in Manhattan and Teaneck, NJ.

Alex Addo, MD. Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia, with fellowship training in minimally invasive foregut and complex abdominal wall surgery. Dr. Addo uses advanced minimally invasive techniques to repair inguinal, ventral, incisional and complex abdominal wall hernias, and his research includes patient-reported outcomes after these operations. He sees patients in Manhattan, Teaneck, NJ and Goshen, NY.