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 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
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-POS Plus
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Administrators
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Tricare Reserve Select
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Choice Fund PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Optimum Choice
- CIGNA EPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-POS
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Beech Street PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HighMark
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- OA Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- First Health PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Navigate
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Sentara Health
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Employee Health Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- IH-Indemnity
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Choice POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- United Student Resources
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna VA Exchange
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CIGNA PPO
- UHC Passport
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Network OA
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Select
- TRICARE for Life East
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Basic
- IH-HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Healthcare Choice
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Fellowship: Swedish Medical Center (2014)
Residency: Stamford Health System (2013)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2008)