About me
Preetha Ali, MD, FACS, FASCRS is a general and colorectal surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Ali is double board certified in general and colon and rectal surgery. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of benign and malignant diseases in the colon and rectum, including common complaints such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures or fistulas to more complex conditions such as colorectal cancer and pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Ali especially takes great joy in improving the quality of life in women with pelvic floor disorders.
Dr. Ali performs a variety of surgical and endoscopic interventions including open, laparoscopic and robotic abdominal surgery (DaVinci Xi) for colon and rectal surgery; simple and complex anorectal surgery; and colonoscopies for screening and diagnostic purposes. She is also certified in placement of sacral neurostimulator devices. In all cases, Dr. Ali strives to provide her patients with the most effective and least invasive treatment method possible while also following national standards and guidelines.
Dr. Ali has a special interest in minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery via laparoscopic and robotic approaches of colorectal cancer and diverticulitis. She finds robotic surgery an exciting tool as it allows doctors to access areas that can be difficult to reach while also offering great visualization. To that end, she is certified in robotic surgery.
Dr. Ali obtained her BA in Chemistry from University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude. She went on to receive her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Ali trained in general surgery at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. Next, she completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA.
Philosophy of care
“My practice is rooted in empathy, empowerment, and advocacy. When patients come to me, they often say that they felt like no one was listening to them or taking their symptoms seriously. I want my patients to know that I am going to listen and collaborate with them to address all their symptoms. It is my goal to make my patients feel comfortable and safe to share with me all their concerns, so that we can reach the best health outcomes possible. With all my patients, I am willing to go the extra mile: whether helping a patient feel comfortable through an awkward hemorrhoid exam or walking through all their options so they can make the best health decisions for themselves. When I work with referring physicians, I see our relationship as a partnership. I will always circle back with them to provide our mutual patients the best and most comprehensive care.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Fissures
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Enterocele Repair
- Hemorrhoids
- Open Colectomy
- Perianal Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Cancer Surgery
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Open Wound
- Abnormal Digestive Findings
- Accessory Sinuses Cancer
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Fissures
- Anal Venous Thrombosis
- Anus And Rectum Diseases
- Artificial Openings Complications
- Benign Neoplasm Of Skin
- Bladder Disorders
- Bladder Incontinence
- Bowel Obstruction
- Carcinoma In Situ Of Digestive Organs
- Colon Cancer
- Colon Stricture
- Colonic Diverticulosis
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Congenital Malformations Of Intestine
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's Disease [Regional Enteritis]
- Cutaneous Abscess
- Digestive System Complications
- Diverticulitis
- Female Genital Tract Fistulae
- Functional Intestinal Disorders
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastroenteritis
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoids And Perianal Venous Thrombosis
- Paracolostomy Hernia
- Perianal Fistula
- Perianal Itching
- Pilonidal Cyst
- Pruritus
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Fissure
- Rectal Pain
- Spinal Stenosis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Ventral Hernia
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Canal Reconstruction
- Anal Fistula Treatment
- Colectomy
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Colostomy
- Colostomy Revision
- Endorectal Advancement Flap
- Enterectomy
- Enterocele Repair
- Enteroscopy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- J-Pouch Surgery
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy
- Open Colectomy
- Perianal Surgery
- Rectal Cancer Surgery
- Rectal Stricture Dilation
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Sigmoid Colectomy
- Small Bowel Resection
- Stoma Revision
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- TRICARE for Life East
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- UHC Passport
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- First Health PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-HMO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HighMark
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- CIGNA PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Choice Fund PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Employee Health Plan
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Choice POS II
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Beech Street PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Sentara Health
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- POS OA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-Open POS II
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-PPO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- IH-EPO Plus
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- OA Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Choice POS
- Network OA
- CareFirst NASCO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Fellowship: Swedish Medical Center (2014)
Residency: Stamford Health System (2013)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2008)