Lori DeFreest, MD, PhD, FACS, General Surgeon Owner verified

About

When someone finds out they need surgery, it’s natural to have questions and feel anxious. I believe it's essential that patients understand what’s happening to them, so I take the time to meet them where they are — explaining their condition and treatment options in a way that empowers them to be active partners in their care.Before becoming a physician, I spent many years as an analytical chemist and molecular biologist with the New York State Department of Health, and as a professor at Clinton Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh. That foundation in science and education continues to shape my approach to medicine today.I earned my medical degree at SUNY Albany and completed my residency in general surgery at Albany Medical College, followed by a fellowship in critical care and trauma surgery. I then spent a decade as an acute care surgeon at Albany Med Health System, where I also served as an assistant professor at the medical college.Now practicing in the North Country, I’m proud to offer a range of laparoscopic and open surgeries, with a focus on outpatient and ambulatory procedures. I’m especially grateful to be part of a system that allows me to care for patients close to home — before, during and after surgery.I’ve always considered the North Country, where my family has kept a home since the early 1990s, as my home. I’m an avid hiker and kayaker with an abiding love for the Adirondacks.

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