His specialty interests include carcinoma of the small bowel and large bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, sphincter-saving operations, stoma surgery and pediatric gastrointestinal surgery.After training in Australia and the United States, he joined Cleveland Clinic in 1976 with board- certification. He served on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors at Cleveland Clinic as well as numerous boards associated with national organizations. Dr. Lavery has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications as well as book chapters used as learning criteria for the specialty of colon and rectal surgery.