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