The surgical literature clearly shows that two important factors determine successful outcomes following surgery:
• Specialty training
• Volume of procedures performed

Colon Rectal Surgical Associates performs a greater volume of colon resection and anorectal surgery than any other group in the state of Maryland. Members of the group have been recognized by their peers as Top Doc’s in the field of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Additionally, members of the group consistently have shorter hospital lengths of stay, fewer returns to surgery and post operative complication rates when compared to both statewide and nationwide statistics.

The group has been identified as superior Laparoscopic Surgeons consistently performing between 200 and 300 laparoscopic colon resections each year. We conduct teaching seminars to teach other surgeons in the Mid-Atlantic region how to properly perform laparoscopic colon resections as well as the new PPH procedure when surgical management is required for treating hemorrhoids.

	HOWARD K. BERG, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S. Dr. Berg attended Emory University and graduated with an Honors BS in Biology. He attended the University of Maryland Medical School. At SUNY Buffalo, he interned in General Surgery, performed his residency in General Surgery and his fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery. He was board certified in 1987 for General Surgery and in 1988 for Colon & Rectal Surgery. Dr. Berg is a member of the faculty in the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Berg is the Director of Colonrectal surgery at St. Joseph Medical Center. He is the Medical Director of the St. Joseph Cancer Institute's Colonrectal Surgery division. He is also the Division Head of Colonrectal Surgery at Northwest Hospital. He has been in practice since 1987.
	JAMES J. ZALUCKI, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S. Dr. Zalucki attended Union College and Dartmouth Medical School. At Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, he interned in General Surgery, performing his residency in General Surgery at St. Agnes Hospital and his fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was board certified in 1991 for General Surgery and in 1992 for Colon & Rectal Surgery. He has been in practice since 1991.
	DEBRA A. VACHON, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S. Dr. Vachon attended the University of West Virginia and the University of Maryland Medical School. At the University of Maryland Medical School, she interned in General Surgery, performed her residency in General Surgery and her fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson. She was board certified in 1990 for General Surgery and in 1991 for Colon & Rectal Surgery. Dr. Vachon is a member of the faculty in the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr Vachon is also the Director of the Center for Colon Rectal Surgery at Mercy Medical Center. She has been in practice since 1990.
	VINCENT CIFELLO, M.D. F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S. Dr, Cifello attended University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a BS in BA Biochemistry. He attended the Columbia University Medical School. At St. Lukes/Roosevelt, he interned in General Surgery, performing his residency in General Surgery at St. Lukes/Roosevelt and his fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson. He was board certified in 1999 for General Surgery and in 2000 for Colon & Rectal Surgery. Dr. Cifello is Head of Colon Rectal Surgery at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. He has been in practice since 1999.
	ROBERT P. AKBARI, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Akbari received his BA in Biochemistry from Vassar College. Dr. Akbari earned his M.D. from Penn State University College of Medicine and completed his General Surgery training at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh. He furthered his training by completing a Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and a Colonrectal fellowship at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis St. Paul. He is Board Certified in both General Surgery and Colon Rectal Surgery. Dr. Akbari is a reviewer for the journal Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. He has been in practice since 2004.

F.A.C.S. - Fellow, American College of Surgeons
F.A.S.C.R.S. - Fellow, American Society of Colon Rectal Surgeons