Neuromodulation · Inflammatory bowel disease
Site principal investigatorBOOM-IBD2
Investigating sacral neuromodulation for inflammatory bowel disease. Building on experience as site principal investigator in the BOOM-IBD early feasibility study.
Surgeon · Investigator · Clinical advisor
Marco
Bertucci ZoccaliMD, FACS, FASCRS
Colorectal care.
Surgical science. Meaningful innovation.
Colorectal surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, bringing clinical practice, research, and medical technology together.
NEW YORK · NEW JERSEY01 / PROFILE
Colorectal SurgeryColumbia University
NewYork-Presbyterian
NewYork-Presbyterian
Columbia UniversityAssistant Professor of SurgeryNewYork-PresbyterianColumbia University Irving Medical CenterBoard certifiedGeneral Surgery · Colon & Rectal Surgery
01 / About
A clinical perspective.
An academic purpose.
From the operating room to the next research question.
I am a colorectal surgeon with a practice spanning colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor disorders, and complex anorectal conditions. My work includes robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgery, with an emphasis on understanding the problem and choosing an approach for the individual patient.
My training took me from the Catholic University of Rome to the University of Chicago and Weill Cornell. Since joining Columbia in 2019, I have combined patient care with clinical investigation, surgical education, and collaboration on emerging medical technologies.
I serve as an investigator in multicenter trials of neuromodulation and therapies for Crohn’s perianal fistulas, and as a medical advisor translating clinical needs into device development.
Marco Bertucci Zoccali, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colorectal Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He received his medical degree with honors from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and completed general surgery training in Rome and at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. He undertook fellowships in minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery and colon and rectal surgery at the University of Chicago.
He is board certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and a member of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery editorial board. His research interests include inflammatory bowel disease, perianal fistulas, sacral neuromodulation, pelvic floor surgery, and outcomes after colorectal procedures.
2007RomeMedical degree, cum laude
Catholic University
Catholic University
2011ChicagoMinimally invasive GI
surgery fellowship
surgery fellowship
2018New YorkGeneral surgery residency
Weill Cornell
Weill Cornell
2019Chicago → ColumbiaColorectal fellowship
Faculty appointment
Faculty appointment
02 / Clinical practice
Comprehensive colorectal care.
Complex problems deserve a considered approach.
Care across the full spectrum of colorectal disease.
01Colon & rectal cancer
Surgical care for colon and rectal cancer within a multidisciplinary program, including minimally invasive surgery and discussion of organ preservation where appropriate.
02Inflammatory bowel disease
Surgical evaluation and treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, including complex fistulas, intestinal strictures, and pouch-related conditions.
03Pelvic floor & prolapse
Care for rectal prolapse, obstructed defecation, and complex pelvic floor disorders, with experience in robotic rectopexy and perineal hernia repair.
04Fecal incontinence
Assessment of bowel control symptoms and functional anorectal disorders, including evaluation for sacral neuromodulation.
05Complex anorectal disease
Management of anal fistulas, fissures, hemorrhoids, anal dysplasia, and anorectal narrowing, informed by clinical and research experience.
06Diverticular & redo surgery
Care for diverticular disease and its complications, stoma-related problems, and patients requiring complex or repeat colorectal operations.
Robotic · Laparoscopic · Open surgeryArrange a consultation
03 / Research & investigation
Questions that begin
with patients.
Clinical investigation at the intersection of
bowel function, inflammation, and surgical outcomes.
Crohn’s disease · Perianal fistulas
Lead principal investigatorExoFlo multicenter trial
A multicenter study evaluating an extracellular vesicle therapy for Crohn’s perianal fistulas.
Bowel control · Device evaluation
Site principal investigatorSacral neuromodulation
Site leadership in pivotal studies of Axonics sacral neuromodulation systems, including the ongoing rechargeable system study.
Microbiome · Surgical outcomes
Principal investigatorBiology of fistula healing
A prospective cohort examining the microbiome and outcomes after surgical repair of perianal fistulas, with published preliminary findings.
Studies are investigational; participation and availability are determined by the study team.Columbia research profile
04 / Scholarship
A body of work.
A continuing conversation.
122Scientific contributions in the August 2026 CV
Articles · Chapters · Congress abstracts
Articles · Chapters · Congress abstracts
Explore the CV bibliography, supplemented with verified PubMed records. Video publications are included alongside articles; congress abstracts are labeled separately.
CV prepared August 24, 2026. Public records reviewed October 19, 2026. Citations reflect their source; an abstract and its subsequent article may both appear.
05 / Surgical education
Technique, shared.
Operative videos and published technical work
for surgeons, trainees, and clinical collaborators.
DCR · Didactic operative video
Sigmoid colectomy: clinical scenarios and technical options
Videos hosted by the official Diseases of the Colon & Rectum Journal channel ↗. Operative footage is intended for surgical education.
More from the technical library
2026
Robotic repair of bilateral levator ani eventration
Video publication ↗ 2026Robotic ventral mesh rectopexy: standard technique and difficult scenarios
Video publication ↗ 2025Robotic ventral mesh rectopexy with repair of perineal hernia
Video publication ↗
2026
Robotic repair of enterocele with ventral mesh rectopexy
ASCRS video abstract ↗ 2025Triple-stapled technique for the correction of stoma prolapse
Video publication ↗ 2023Partial Delorme procedure for recurrent posterior wall prolapse
Video publication ↗ 2023Robotic assisted removal of migrated IUD
Video publication ↗ 2014Minimally invasive redo esophagojejunostomy
WeBSurg video ↗ 2012Antimesenteric functional end-to-end handsewn (Kono-S) anastomosis
Technical publication ↗ 2012Single-incision laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy for refractory ulcerative colitis
Technical publication ↗ 2011Heller myotomy — open and laparoscopic · SCORE resident curriculum, with Marco G. Patti
SCORE portal ↗ 2011Single incision laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy
Technical publication ↗Teaching through technique. Recipient of the 2011 ASCRS Best Video Award for single incision laparoscopic total proctocolectomy for refractory Crohn’s colitis. Invited lectures and operative teaching across colorectal cancer, IBD, and pelvic floor surgery.
06 / Consulting & collaboration
Clinical insight.
Practical development.
Working with teams to connect an unmet clinical
need with a useful, testable solution.
My advisory work brings a practicing surgeon’s perspective to device design, clinical strategy, and research development.
- Clinical strategy & patient selection
- Device usability & clinical workflow
- Trial design & outcome selection
- Surgeon education & training
Medical technology
Lumina Medical
Medical Lead · Anorectal program
Clinical input on indications, patient selection, workflow, training, and formative usability planning for an anorectal device program.
Bioelectronic medicine
Boomerang Medical
Prior consulting · Ongoing clinical research
Prior consulting experience in neuromodulation. Current work includes site leadership of the BOOM-IBD2 clinical trial, described in the research section.
Medical education & expert opinion
Renaissance Health
Co-founder
Development of an initiative focused on medical education, expert medical opinions, and care navigation.
Industry trial leadership is listed in Research. Consulting and advisory experience is described here by role.
Academic service
Editorial work
Editorial Board
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Professional service
IBD Committee
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
University service
Voting Member, Faculty Council
Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
07 / Connect
Let’s move
the conversation forward.
For care, collaboration,
research, or an invitation to speak.
Start a care inquiry.
For appointment requests, referrals, and general care inquiries.
Visit my ColumbiaDoctors page to schedule an appointment and find patient care information.
Patient inquiries at ColumbiaExplore a collaboration.
For research, clinical consulting, medical technology, education, and speaking.