Colorectal Surgery

John Gahagan, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Section of Colorectal Surgery. He has extensive training in advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques including robotic and laparoscopic surgery. He has authored several textbook chapters and original articles in peer-reviewed journals. His clinical practice is focused on the surgical treatment of colon and rectal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), and benign colon and anorectal diseases (diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, fistulas, fissures). He believes in patient-centered care and multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. He joined Stanford in 2019 and is excited to build a Stanford colorectal surgery practice in the East Bay and Tri-Valley area at Stanford – ValleyCare in Pleasanton.

Pelvic floor and functional bowel disorders refer to a series of symptoms and anatomic findings that effect men and women of all ages. These may include: constipation, difficult evacuation, fecal incontinence, irritable bowel disorders, diarrhea, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and sexual dysfunction and pain. Although not life threatening, these disorders can severely affect quality of life and individual performance. Over the past two decades I have dedicated my career to working with other specialists for comprehensive care for individuals with pelvic floor disorders. In July 2017, I joined The Department of Surgery, Division of Colorectal Surgery at Stanford University as the Medical Director of the Pelvic Health Center. I previously spent the prior decade at Cleveland Clinic running a multidisciplinary clinic and performing over 200 combined procedures in conjunction with colleagues in urology and urogynecology. We developed a robotic surgical approach to woman with vaginal and rectal prolapse and performed many surgeries to repair intestinal and rectal fistula (abnormal communications between the intestine and vagina). Prior to that I established a Pelvic Floor Center at Maimonides Medical Center received a Jahnigan Career Development Award looking at multicompartment prolapse in elderly women. In addition to performing surgery and teaching throughout my career, I have maintained a commitment to long-term follow up of patients after surgery. Although my training and focus is around surgical techniques and solutions for anorectal disorders and pelvic health, I believe that prevention, non-surgical alternatives, diet, exercise, and behavior management are vitally important to patient success. One of my many goals is to educate patients, health care providers, and trainees about pelvic floor disorders. When I am not at work I enjoy quality time with my three teenagers, dog, friends and I practice yoga.

Arden M. Morris, MD, MPH is professor and vice chair of clinical research in the Department of Surgery, director of the Stanford-Surgery Policy, Improvement Research and Education (S-SPIRE) Center, and core faculty in the Stanford Department of Health Research and Policy. Dr. Morris joined Stanford in 2016 from the University of Michigan where she was an associate professor and division chief of colorectal surgery. In her research, she uses mixed methods to focus on improving quality and equity in surgical care. She has deployed her expertise in a number of leadership and advisory roles and policy panels such as National Quality Forum’s Consensus Standards and Approval Committee and the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee.