Carla Liberatore, MD
Associate Professor
Director of Gynecology
Dr. Carla Liberatore, a native New Yorker, brings over 25 years of experience as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, devoted to patient care and the education of medical students, residents, and colleagues. Her heart is full, grounded in gratitude, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose.
Throughout her career, Dr. Liberatore has embraced wellness as a personal value and as a professional responsibility. She believes that supporting the well-being of patients begins with the well-being of those who provide that care. From the exam room to the classroom, she has made it her mission to cultivate a culture of empathy, connection, and balance in medicine. This guiding belief shapes her commitment to wellness leadership and inspires her efforts to create a culture of support, harmony, and joy across all areas of medicine.
She serves Downstate Health Sciences University as Assistant Dean of Wellness and Wellbeing, Associate Professor, Vice Chair, Director of Gynecology, and Associate Residency Program Director. A lifelong advocate for underserved patients, she has championed initiatives that improve quality and access.
Dr. Liberatore is a recognized expert in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, including advanced laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures. For over 15 years, she has performed and taught complex da Vinci robotic surgeries, continuing this mission as Director of Gynecology. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG).
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Anatomy and Physiology at Cornell University, where her love of dissection and surgery was established. At the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she was shaped by unforgettable mentors, her gross anatomy teaching assistant role, and the enduring lessons of her patients. Her Hospice volunteer work fostered deep compassion and listening, and national and global electives, in Tokyo, Japan, Edinburgh, Scotland, Yucatan, Mexico, and with the Lakota and Tlingit indigenous communities in South Dakota and Alaska, gave her new perspectives on shared humanity and cultural connection.
Dr. Liberatore completed her residency at Albany Medical Center, where she developed exceptional skills in high-risk obstetrics and complex gynecologic surgery and strengthened her love for anatomy and teaching.
For over two decades, she served at Upstate Medical University and Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, where she held leadership roles such as Chief of Staff of the Upstate Medical University Community Campus and Quality Officer for both the Upstate Medical University Downtown and Community Campuses. She spearheaded quality initiatives and collaborated with the Wellness committee to develop programs supporting the health and happiness of the medical community.
Her commitment to education is unwavering. As Associate Residency Program Director, she supports residents and fosters their growth. She has been honored with several awards, including:
- Teacher of the Year, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Downstate Health Sciences University (2024)
- National Faculty Award, Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology (2023)
- National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education, Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (2022)
As Assistant Dean of Wellness and Wellbeing. Dr. Liberatore works closely with the Student Counseling Center, Graduate Medical Education, and residency programs to develop wellness lectures, workshops, and events like the Wellness Fair. With over 500 hours of yoga and meditation teacher training, including Ashtanga and Hatha training in India and Nepal, and Yin yoga training on Gozo in Malta, she is certified in multiple modalities, including prenatal yoga, children’s, and power yoga, and recently completed sound healing training on Koh Yao Noi in Thailand.
She offers individual and group wellness sessions, integrating yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and stress-reduction techniques. Dr. Liberatore volunteers at student events and community gatherings, sharing her joy, energy, and deep commitment to healing the whole body, mind, and spirit.