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
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- HighMark
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- IH-POS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- First Health PPO
- OA Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-POS Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- CareFirst EPO
- Employee Health Plan
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Basic
- IH-Open POS II
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-EPO Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Medicare Direct
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Choice POS II
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- POS OA
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Choice POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice Fund PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Navigate
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
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)