Dr. Larissa Temple

Patients walking into Wilmot Cancer Institute’s meet Dr. Larissa Temple, Chief of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Director of Cancer Survivorship. She opens the conversation by asking what work, family, and daily activities matter most, then gathers gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pelvic-floor therapists, genetic counselors, wound-ostomy nurses, dietitians, and social-work partners around one shared screen. Cross-sectional imaging, colonoscopic photos, molecular profiles, and cardiopulmonary data appear together so every discipline can weigh timing, technique, and safety before any incision is scheduled. A nurse navigator calls later that day with a clear itinerary; financial advocates confirm authorizations; fertility specialists stand ready for younger adults. Physical therapists begin prehabilitation exercises that protect core strength, while dietitians tailor fiber, protein, and hydration plans that prepare the gut for surgery and chemotherapy. Secure electronic portals link community physicians so postoperative labs and ostomy supplies are handled close to home. Families leave the visit knowing that one coordinated, evidence-based roadmap will guide them from diagnosis through long-term wellness. 

 

Colleagues credit Dr. Temple with redefining quality-of-life science in colorectal cancer. Her prospective studies showed that sphincter-sparing procedures, when paired with structured pelvic-floor rehabilitation, maintain continence without compromising oncologic outcomes. Building on that work, she leads a flagship trial using high-resolution anorectal manometry and microbiome sequencing to predict who benefits from neoadjuvant radiation versus upfront surgery. Fresh tissue and stool samples collected before each clinic visit flow to a translational core where immunologists map inflammatory cytokines that correlate with urgency, frequency, and pain. Interim findings already suggest that specific microbial signatures forecast radiation-induced fibrosis, information now feeding dose-modification algorithms. For participants, these bench-to-bedside loops transform everyday symptoms into actionable data, allowing therapy adjustments while tumors remain fully controlled.

 

Education and outreach fill the hours between operations. Dr. Temple mentors surgical residents through simulation modules that teach transanal total mesorectal excision step by step; visiting surgeons observe live cases streamed with anatomical commentary they can replicate back home. Public webinars in English and Spanish explain colorectal-cancer screening, ostomy care, and survivorship fatigue, while short videos on mindful eating and scar management play in waiting areas and online portals. Community forums held in churches and libraries invite questions about diet, intimacy, and workplace accommodations; translated materials ensure every voice is heard. National guideline panels rely on her input when updating protocols for rectal-cancer surveillance and survivorship metrics, accelerating the journey from publication to community practice. People logging on from rural counties or urban centers find that expert guidance is only a click away.