Preetha Ali, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health
Provider is directly employed by MedStar HealthSpecialties: Colon And Rectal Surgery, General Surgery
Languages: English, Spanish, Tamil
202-877-8483
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
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst Administrators
- TRICARE East Prime
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna HMO
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Aetna Basic
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Medicare Direct
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Student Resources
- First Health PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- UHC Passport
- Sentara Health
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HighMark
- IH-Open HMO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Choice POS
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst EPO
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- First Health PPO
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Network OA
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- TRICARE East Select
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- IH-PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst NASCO
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare FFS
- Choice POS II
- Beech Street PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- OA Plus
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
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)