Walter Longo, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS
Professor of Surgery (Colon and Rectal Surgery)Cards
About
Titles
Professor of Surgery (Colon and Rectal Surgery)
Chief, Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery; Director, Colon and Rectal Surgery; Director of Surgical Education
Biography
Walter E Longo, MD, MBA , FACS, FASCRS, Is one of five Yale surgeons who is board-certified specifically in colorectal cancer. He earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He is fellowship trained and is a Board Certified General Surgeon and a Board Certified Colon and Rectal Surgeon.
Dr. Longo is committed to providing patients with the highest standards for the diagnosis and medical and surgical management of the diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus using minimally invasive techniques. Watch a video with Dr. Walter Longo >>
He specializes in screening and management of colon cancer; rectal cancer; anal cancer; sphincter preserving surgery; transanal removal of cancer; diverticulitis; inflammatory bowel disease; stricturoplasty; bowel resection; ostomy; polyposis syndromes and adenomatous polyps; hemorrhoids; fissures; fistulas; anal abscesses; disorders of continence; and pelvic floor disorders.
Appointments
Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Bariatric Surgery Program
- Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Colorectal Surgery
- Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) Program
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) Program
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Oligometastatic Cancer Program
- Surgery
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- MBA
- St. Louis University (2001)
- Fellow
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH (1991)
- Chief Resident
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (1990)
- Senior Resident
- Yale Medical Center, New Haven, CT (1989)
- Research Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (1988)
- Junior Resident
- Yale University Medical Center, New Haven, CT (1987)
- Intern
- Yale University Medical Center, New Haven, CT (1985)
- MD
- New York Medical College (1984)
Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Walter Longo, MD, MBA, cares for patients who are 19 and older, using surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat problems ranging from hemorrhoids to Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcerative colitis, as well as anal, colon, and rectal cancers.
Colorectal care has changed dramatically with the use of minimally invasive surgery, as well as chemotherapy, radiation, and biologic medicines, Dr. Longo says. More research is focused on better drug delivery for treating inflammatory bowel disease and less invasive surgical techniques for all afflictions. "For a lot of problems that were chronic and sometimes ending in mortality, we are now improving survival and quality of life," he says. In some cases, surgeons can take more conservative approaches to treating conditions for which surgery used to be the only solution, he says.
Dr. Longo chose to become a doctor because he wanted to pursue a life of service. "My father was a surgeon. I watched his life, and I admired the fact that he changed people's lives for the better. Being a surgeon is a calling. You can have people who are very sick, and you can perform an operation and quickly improve their quality of life. I like colorectal surgery because you can take care of simple things, complex illnesses, benign disease, and cancer. It gives you a whole spectrum."
Many of Dr. Longo's patients come to him with problems they find difficult to talk about. "As a doctor, you have to listen and say, 'I really appreciate what you're going through, and I know this is more common than you think. You're here because you're either concerned about having a disease or you're sick, and we're here to make you better.' "
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Learn More on Yale MedicineRectal Bleeding
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Latest Certification Date
- 2015
- Original Certification Date
- 1995
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- May 02, 2024
Yale Surgeons Recognized by Connecticut Magazine's 2024 “Top Doctors” List
- October 25, 2023
Dr. Benjamin L. Judson Receives Walter E. Longo MD Award
- May 01, 2023
Connecticut Magazine’s 2023 “Top Doctors” issue recognizes 81 Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center physicians
- January 08, 2023
Digestive Health Learning Series Back for 2023!