Dr. Celia M. Divino

Dr. Celia M. Divino, MD, is a distinguished surgical leader who serves as Chief of the Division of General Surgery and Stanley Edelman Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A graduate of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine and board-certified in General Surgery, she completed her residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Divino specializes in advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic gastrointestinal, hernia, and neuroendocrine (carcinoid tumor) surgery. She offers expert care at multiple Mount Sinai Hospital locations and emphasizes patient-centered approaches in both in-person and telehealth surgical consultations.

She is widely recognized for her excellence in surgical education, mentorship, and procedural innovation. Dr. Divino founded Mount Sinai’s Surgical Simulation Center and champions training that blends traditional mentorship with cutting-edge techniques. Her prior leadership as Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Resident Education, Vice Chair for Education and Quality, and service on key surgical advisory councils reflects her national influence. She has also led quality improvement initiatives focused on operative safety and outcomes while serving on hospital-wide performance improvement and quality assurance committees.

Dr. Divino has received numerous professional honors affirming her impact in surgery and education. These include awards such as the Surgical Attending of the Year, Medical Student Teaching Award, Robert Paradny Teaching Award, Physician of the Year, the Jacobi Medallion Award, and New York State Assembly’s Medical Leadership Award. She holds significant research grants from organizations like the NIH, Department of Defense, and Susan G. Komen Foundation, and has published extensively in surgical and tumor immunology literature. Through her roles in clinical innovation, education, mentorship, and institutional leadership, Dr. Divino is recognized as a top expert in minimally invasive and gastrointestinal surgery.