George A. Yavorek, MD

George Yavorek, MD, is a clinical instructor in surgery. He has over 25 years of clinical experience and resident training in New Haven, providing nonsurgical and surgical care for teenagers and adults of all ages with problems ranging from hemorrhoids and diverticulitis to a variety of colorectal cancers.

Dr. Yavorek graduated from Jefferson Medical College and served his surgical residency at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ, and his colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, OH. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and is a fellow of both organizations.

Most recently, Dr. Yavorek was site director of colon and rectal surgery at the St. Raphael's Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital and has assumed the role of medical director of colon and rectal surgery at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. He specializes in benign and malignant diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus and has been performing minimally invasive colorectal surgery for 25 years with a special interest in robotic surgery for colon and rectal cancers.

Doctors often can do more when colorectal problems are diagnosed early, Dr. Yavorek says. Care for colorectal cancer has changed dramatically with the use of minimally invasive surgeries. “The outcomes, in terms of cancer survival, are equal to open surgery, but the length of stay and patient satisfaction are better,” Dr. Yavorek says. Results are also improving as different specialists collaborate on plans of care that may include such treatments as chemotherapy, radiation, and biologic medicines, he adds.

His message to anyone, whether or not they have a family history of colorectal problems: Never miss a routine colonoscopy screening. “It's heartbreaking to see someone who is in their late 50s or early 60s, and never had a colonoscopy, show up with advanced colon cancer. Colonoscopy screenings can prevent cancer or at least catch it at an earlier stage when it is much more curable,” Dr. Yavorek says. The American Cancer Society recommends that people considered to be of average risk start regular colonoscopy screenings at age 45 and continue with regular recommended screenings through age 75.