Our Team
The surgeons in the Rochester General Division of General Surgery are experts in all major body systems and specialize in treating patients with a broad range of diseases. We collaborate with specialists in other surgical divisions to provide the highest level of care and the experience of each physician, surgeon and staff member involved in your diagnosis and treatment.
Christopher Caldwell, MD
Dr. Caldwell is from Vermont and attended Bowdoin College, where he received a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology. He then earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Dr. Caldwell completed his surgical residency at the University of Rochester and later completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is board certified in general surgery. Dr. Caldwell is a frequent presenter to patient and community organizations and has co-authored research papers and contributed to chapters in medical texts related to his specialty areas.
Vincent Chang, MD
Dr. Chang earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He then completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital/University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Chang is board certified in general surgery and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Rochester.
Anthony DiBenedetto, MD
Dr. DiBenedetto Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Rochester General Health System, recognized as a Bariatric Surgery of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Dr. DiBenedetto earned his medical degree and completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Buffalo State University. Dr. DiBenedetto is board certified in general surgery and has a special interest in bariatric (weight loss) surgery, biliopancreatic diversion, gastric bypass gastrojejunostomy and Lap-Band procedures.
Valerie Dunn, MD
Dr. Dunn is a Rochester native who received a B.S. in Bio-Engineering from Syracuse University. She earned her medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY and completed her Surgery Residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C. In addition, Dr. Dunn has also completed a Research Fellowship in breast cancer at John Hopkins Cancer Research Center in Baltimore, MD. She is Board Certified in General Surgery.
Dr. Dunn’s special interests are hernia repair, upper and lower gastro intestinal tract procedures, and trauma. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, and Monroe Medical Society.
Stephen Ettinghausen, MD
Dr. Stephen Ettinghausen is the Director of Surgical Oncology at Rochester General Hospital and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. He received a BA from Amherst College and an MD from Weill Cornell Medical College. After completing two years of residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and one year of residency in anatomic pathology at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, he finished residency in General Surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. His training in surgical oncology included fellowships in the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health and at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Alok Ghandi, MD
Dr. Alok Gandhi earned his medical degree at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY. He then completed an internship/residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY and a fellowship at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Dr. Gandhi is board certified in general surgery and has a special interest in bariatric (weight loss) surgery.
Ruth Hetland, MD
Dr. Hetland earned her medical degree from Washington University and also completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Washington University. She is board certified in general surgery and is a faculty member of the University of Rochester.
Matthew Schiralli
Robert Tripp, MD
Dr. Tripp was born and raised in Rochester and attended McQuaid Jesuit High School. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Tripp completed his surgical residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Tripp is board certified in general surgery and has a special interest in endocrine, gastrointestinal, hernia, and oncology (cancer) surgeries.
Vithal Vic Vernenkar, DO
Dr. Vic Vernenkar earned his medical degree at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed his general surgery residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY. He subsequently completed a vascular surgery fellowship at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center affiliated with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is New York State licensed, Board Certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery and is a Certified ATLS instructor. Dr. Vernenkar is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, ACOS In-Service Exam committee member as well as an ACOS Residency Evaluation & Standards committee member.