George Peek

AdventHealth Tampa, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

George Peek is a surgical outcomes researcher whose work centers on the comparative effectiveness and cost-efficiency of robotic versus traditional approaches in esophageal cancer surgery. His primary research area is the optimization of transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) for esophageal adenocarcinoma, with a focus on robotic-assisted techniques. Peek’s major contribution lies in providing critical, real-world data that challenges assumptions about the superiority of robotic surgery. His most cited paper, “Evaluating the Cost for Robotic vs ‘Non-Robotic’ Transhiatal Esophagectomy” (2021, 10 citations), prospectively analyzed 82 patients and found that robotic THE did not offer clear clinical advantages over open or laparoscopic approaches, while raising important questions about cost-effectiveness. This work has informed surgical decision-making at high-volume institutions. In a more recent study (2024, 2 citations), he compared ACS NSQIP-predicted risks with actual outcomes for robotic THE, further validating risk models in complex oncologic resections. Peek’s research is notable for its rigorous methodology and focus on actionable, value-based surgical care, making him a key voice in the ongoing debate over the adoption of expensive surgical technologies.