Sidney J. Winawer, MD, Dr Sc (Hon), FASGE, MACG, AGAF

Dr Sidney J. Winawer (Author photo 1, Author photo 2, Author photo 3, Author photo 4, Author photo 5, Author photo 6, Author photo 7, Author photo 8, Author photo 9, Author photo 10, Author photo 11, Author photo 12, Author photo 13, Author photo 14, Author photo 15, Author photo 16, Author photo 17, Author photo 18; Video 1, available online at www.VideoGIE.org) is internationally recognized for his contributions to the prevention and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, describing the developmental stages of colorectal cancer, defining familial high-risk groups, promoting screening, and demonstrating the reduction in incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer by the removal of adenomatous polyps through his leadership of the National Polyp Study. This led to the concept of screening colonoscopy, which was introduced by the 1997 U.S. GI Consortium Guidelines Committee (later the U.S. Multisociety Task Force), which he co-chaired.

Dr Winawer was Chief of the Gastroenterology-Nutrition service and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering for 20 years and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He initiated the Integrative Medicine Program and was head of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer. He is an Emeritus Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Dr Winawer has received many research grants; has published more than 400 research articles, reviews, and book chapters; and has been an international leader in colorectal cancer screening. He has earned many awards, including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Alumni Award; the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Master Award; Distinguished Achievement Awards from the ACG and the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) for distinguished contributions to gastroenterology; the Rudolf V. Schindler Award from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in recognition for his contributions to the fields of gastroenterology, GI endoscopy, and GI malignancy; the Fiterman Award by the AGA for Achievement in Clinical Research; the American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology Award; the John Wayne Clinical Research Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology; the Laurel Award for International Leadership from the Cancer Research & Prevention Foundation; the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Prevent Cancer Foundation; a recognition award for service to New York City from the Commissioner of Health; an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center; the Israel Cancer Research Foundation Founders Award; and, recently, the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor for Cancer Control. He has been the editor of textbooks on colorectal cancer and coauthor of Cancer Free, a book on cancer prevention written for the general public. His book, Healing Lessons, written after his wife Andrea’s death, was reviewed by The New York Times and has been translated into several languages. Dr Winawer helped Katie Couric plan, and appeared on, the NBC Colorectal Cancer series and also participated in the White House Colorectal Cancer Campaign kickoff in 1999.

After completing a GI fellowship on the Harvard Service of Boston City Hospital, Dr Winawer served as a faculty member of Harvard Medical School. He belongs to numerous professional societies and has served as the President of the American College of Gastroenterology, was a founder of the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and was Co-Chair of the New York Citywide Colorectal Cancer Control Coalition (C5). He was Co-Chair of the International Digestive Cancer Alliance, which has initiated a worldwide campaign to increase awareness and prevention of digestive cancers. The Alliance was launched at the Vatican, with support by the late Pope John Paul II, and is in collaboration with major world GI societies. Dr Winawer has homes in New York City and East Hampton with his wife, Barbara, and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He partakes of many New York cultural opportunities, especially opera, and enjoys several outdoor activities. Dr Winawer has a strong identification with Judaism and Israel and is very involved with his synagogue and with the Israel Cancer Research Fund.