Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s (MSK) graduate medical education programs train the next generation of physician leaders in oncology - fostering innovation that drives meaningful clinical and scientific advances.
In this Q&A series, we speak with former MSK trainees as they reflect on their career paths, share insights from their current work, and discuss how their experiences at MSK continue to inform the way they practice, lead and innovate. These conversations bring to life the lasting impact of training at MSK, and the evolving ways our alumni shape clinical practice, and advance care for patients, both within the United States and around the world.
MSK: Dr. Spolverato, thank you for speaking with us. We are thrilled to learn more about your experience at MSK and beyond. What drew you to train at MSK and what aspects of the program had the greatest impact on your development as a physician/researcher?
Dr. Spolverato: My connection with MSK dates to my medical school years at the University of Padova, when I had the opportunity to rotate at MSK as an international medical student during my final year. Even at that early stage, I was deeply impressed by the way oncologic patients were managed. What struck me most was that MSK is not a place where guidelines are simply followed — it is a place where evidence is created. Clinical trials are designed, hypotheses are tested, and new standards of care are defined. That intellectual environment, where curiosity drives progress, was profoundly inspiring. MSK was not just a training experience; it was home.
MSK is an extraordinary institution where culture goes beyond imagination. Basic science and clinical practice are seamlessly integrated, and surgeons are not just technical operators, but central figures in the oncologic pathway—true scholars of their field. My experience at MSK shaped me into the surgical oncologist I am today. It taught me that surgery is not only about technical excellence, but about taking full ownership of the patient’s journey, embracing a broader concept of care that includes decision-making, multidisciplinary collaboration, and long-term outcomes.
MSK: Can you tell us about your current role?
Dr. Spolverato: I am currently Chief of the Third General Surgery Clinic at the University Hospital of Padua and Associate Professor of General Surgery at the University of Padua. Alongside my clinical and academic role, I also serve as Head of the Research Biobank at our institution. My work combines surgical leadership, clinical research, translational science, and academic mentorship, with a particular focus on surgical oncology and colorectal cancer.
MSK: What research or new initiatives you are currently involved in?
At the research level, I am involved in several national clinical and translational initiatives in colorectal cancer and rare tumors. These include projects on rectal cancer organ preservation, national colorectal cancer registries, and collaborative platforms focused on complex pelvic disease. A major area of interest for me is early-onset colorectal cancer, where my group has been studying how immune dysregulation and tumor–host interactions may help explain why these cancers are increasing in younger patients. This work has progressively evolved toward a broader translational effort aimed at understanding biological vulnerability, exposure-related mechanisms, and precision prevention strategies.
An initiative I am interested in is how new technologies can meaningfully improve surgical practice. I conceived ROSI (robotic surgery and intelligent systems), a project exploring the development of an AI-assisted surgical copilot designed to support surgeons in real time during procedures. I also developed an AI-driven model to predict treatment response in rectal cancer, with the goal of better selecting patients who may benefit from a rectal-sparing strategy. In both cases, the aim is not to replace the surgeon, but to enhance precision, situational awareness, and decision support.
I am also deeply committed to education and training. One initiative I am particularly proud of is launching the first Surgical Oncology Fellowship of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology, SICO, which I now direct. For me, that was an important step toward creating a more structured and ambitious training pathway for young surgical oncologists in Italy.
Beyond my clinical and research work, I also serve as Rector’s Delegate for Equal Opportunities at the University of Padua, which reflects another dimension of my professional mission: helping create academic and clinical environments where people can grow, contribute, and lead.
Overall, I see my work as bringing together patient care, research, innovation, and mentorship. Those dimensions have always felt deeply connected to me, and they continue to shape the kind of surgeon and academic leader I want to be.
MSK: What lessons or practices from your training at MSK do you still rely on in your current role?
Dr. Spolverato: My experience at MSK had a profound and lasting impact on both my professional and personal development. I learned the importance of questioning existing paradigms, contributing to the generation of evidence, and approaching every clinical decision with intellectual rigor. This is something that I incorporate into my practice every day.
Another lesson I took with me was the importance of a network. One of the most valuable aspects of MSK is its network—both internal and external. Within the institution, the level of collaboration across disciplines creates an environment where ideas circulate freely, and innovation thrives. MSK offers access to a global network of leaders in surgical oncology, fostering collaborations that extend far beyond the time spent on-site. Equally important are the human relationships that are built there. The connections with colleagues, mentors, and collaborators are deep and enduring, and they continue to shape my career to this day. This gave me a vision of what surgical oncology can and should be.
MSK: What emerging advances or shifts in your field are you most excited about right now?
Dr. Spolverato: Technology is radically transforming the way we approach surgical oncology, and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the center of this evolution. AI is already reshaping our ability to design clinical trials, enabling more precise patient selection and more efficient study structures. It is enhancing early diagnosis through advanced imaging analysis and biomarker integration. It is also transforming surgical planning, allowing us to better understand complex anatomy and tailor our approach to each individual patient. In the operating room, AI is progressively integrating with robotic platforms and real-time navigation systems, supporting surgeons in managing technical complexity.
Predictive tools are helping us anticipate complications, optimize perioperative care, and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, AI is becoming a powerful instrument for surgical education, accelerating learning curves and standardizing training. Importantly, AI will not replace human judgment, it will augment it. The future of surgical oncology will not be defined by technology alone, but by our ability to integrate these tools intelligently, always keeping the patient at the center.
MSK: For physicians considering advanced training in oncology, what makes the experience at MSK distinctive?
Dr. Spolverato: Joining MSK means becoming part of a family, a community where excellence, curiosity, and collaboration are part of everyday life. It is a place where basic science, translational research, and surgical practice intersect continuously. It is a place where treatment is not standardized, but personalized, where scientific knowledge is constantly adapted to the individual patient, and where the boundaries of cancer care are continuously pushed forward.
At the same time, MSK maintains a strong human dimension. The relationships between colleagues and the commitment to patient-centered care are as important as scientific and technical achievements. I hope that anyone who wants to truly understand and practice modern surgical oncology can experience a place like MSK.
Learn more about MSK’s Graduate Medical Education programs.