Debra R. Tarantino, MD

Debra Tarantino, MD, Section Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Dr. Debra Tarantino graduated from Bucknell University and went on to get her medical degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She graduated in the top 5 % of her medical school class and was inducted into the national honor society Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed her general surgery training at Case Western Reserve University Integrated Residency Program in Cleveland, OH. From there she decided to pursue specialty training in colon and rectal surgery and completed her training at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. For the last 20 years she has practiced exclusively colon and rectal surgery. She is an attending surgeon at St. Barnabas Medical Center/RWJBarnabas Health, in Livingston, NJ where she holds the position of Chair for the division of colon and rectal surgery. She has been actively involved in resident education for 20 years and is currently faculty for Rutgers University Surgical Residency Program.

Dr. Tarantino specializes in treating cancers of the colon and rectum. She has utilized minimally invasive techniques throughout her career and introduced robotic colon and rectal surgery to St. Barnabas Hospital. She currently uses the robotic platform. She has capitalized on its many surgical advantages especially for rectal cancer and as well for benign conditions including complicated diverticulitis and rectal prolapse.

Her practice also includes the management of anorectal conditions including hemorrhoids, anal fissures and complex perirectal fistulas. She enjoys doing colonoscopy both for screening and endoscopic removal of large complex polyps. The scope of her practice also includes management of severe constipation and fecal incontinence.

Dr. Tarantino is a recipient of the 2014 NJ monthly Top Docs award.