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
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anal Abscess
- Anal Cancer
- Anal Condyloma
- Anal Dysplasia
- Anal Fissure
- Anal Fistula
- Anal Pain
- Anal Polyp
- Anorectal Abnormalities
- Appendiceal Carcinoid
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Benign Carcinoid Tumor Of Small Bowel
- Benign Neoplasm Of Colon
- Bladder Fistula
- Bowel Perforations
- Colonic Volvulus
- Colorectal Disorders
- Colorectal Malignancy
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticular Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Enterovesical Fistula
- Familial Polyposis
- Fecal Incontinence
- Foreign Body (ANUS-RECTUM)
- Foreign Body (COLON-INTESTINE)
- Gallbladder Disease
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer
- Hemorrhoids
- Hernia
- Ileitis
- Ileo Colonic Fistula
- Incarcerated Hernia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intestinal Carcinoid Tumor
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Colon
- Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Of Rectum
- Parastomal Hernia
- Peridiverticular Abscess
- Proctitis
- Pseudopolyposis Of Colon
- Radiation Proctitis
- Rectal Abscess
- Rectal Cancer
- Rectal Hemorrhage
- Rectal Prolapse
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Severe Dysplasia Of Rectum
- Sigmoid Vesical Fistula
- Turcot Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
Procedures I perform
- Abdominoperineal Resection
- Anal Cerclage
- Anal Dilation
- Anal Fissure Fistulectomy
- Anal Fistula Repair
- Anal Incontinence Surgery
- Anal Sphincterotomy
- Anorectal Manometry
- Anorectal Myectomy
- Bowel Resection
- Cancer Risk Reduction Surgery
- Colectomy
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Screening
- Colostomy
- Colostomy Revision
- Complex Hernia Repair
- Da Vinci
- Da Vinci Cholecystectomy
- Excision Of External Hemorrhoidal Tags And Papillae
- Fissurectomy
- Hemicolectomy
- Hemorrhoid Surgery
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hernia Repair
- Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis Surgery
- Ileostomy
- Laparoscopic Anterior Resection
- Laparoscopic Colectomy
- Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
- Laparoscopic Rectal Prolapse Repair
- Laparoscopic Treatment Of Small Bowel Obstruction
- Low Anterior Resection
- Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
- Non Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment
- Ostomy
- Ostomy Care
- Partial Colectomy
- Proctectomy
- Proctocolectomy
- Proctoplasty For Stenosis
- Prolapse Colostomy
- Refashioning Of Colostomy
- Removal Anal Seton Marker
- Repair Of Paracolostomy Hernia
- Repair Of Rectal Prolapse
- Repair Of Rectourethral Fistula
- Repair Of Rectovaginal Fistula
- Robotic Colorectal Surgery
- Robotic Proctectomy
- Seton Placement
- Sigmoidectomy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Sphincter Sparing Surgery
- Sphincterotomy
- Subtotal Colectomy
- Surgical Treatment Of Crohn's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis
- Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Transrectal Drainage Of Pelvic Abscess
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
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Choice
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Tricare Prime
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- FIRST HEALTH
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- POS OA & OA Plus
- Network OA
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Choice Fund PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- CIGNA EPO
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Open EPO Plus
- Opoen HMO Option
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna HMO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, Surgery
Fellowship Program: Swedish Medical Center Main Hospital (2014)
Internship/Residency: Stamford Hospital (2013)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2008)