Institute for Surgical Excellence Announces the Appointment of Dr. Laila Rashid a New Board Member
WASHINGTON – The Institute for Surgical Excellence (ISE) announces a new board member, Dr. Laila Rashid. ISE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to create innovative solutions addressing complex surgical challenges utilizing emerging technologies to improve patient safety and outcomes.
Dr. Laila Rashidi is a double board-certified colorectal surgeon and nationally recognized leader in minimally invasive and robotic colorectal surgery, specializing in advanced techniques for complex diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. She practices at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Washington, where she serves as Director of Colorectal Surgery, Program Director for the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), Chair of the Robotic Surgery Committee, and Program Director for the Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery Fellowship.
Dr. Rashidi is dedicated to advancing sphincter-preserving procedures through robotic, transanal, and natural orifice techniques, and has performed more than 1,500 robotic procedures. She was among the first surgeons in the United States to adopt single-port robotic surgery following FDA approval.
A graduate of the University of Tehran, where she earned her degree in Engineering, Dr. Rashidi went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch and her Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
“Dr. Rashidi is a master surgeon, educator, innovator, researcher, and an America’s Top Doctor,” said Dr. Jeffrey Levy, ISE’s Executive Director. “She has received numerous awards and is the founder of Women in Northwest Surgery (WINS) that promotes mentorship, equity, and collaboration among female surgeons. We are proud to have her join the ISE board.”
Dr. Ross joins ISE’s internationally recognized leadership of existing board members:
Martin Martino, MD, Ascension Health
John Porterfield, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Carla Pugh, MD, PhD, Stanford University
Dimitrios Stefanidis, MD, PhD, Indiana University
Keith Nahigian, Nahigian Strategies
William Kennedy, White and Williams LLP (retired)
Caitlin Houghton, MD, University of Southern California
Ahmed Ghazi, MD, Johns Hopkins University
Sharona Ross, MD, Advent Health
ISE looks ahead to an exciting year as it provides leadership in safely integrating advanced technologies with clinical expertise to improve surgical care globally.
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The Institute for Surgical Excellence (ISE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates innovative solutions addressing complex surgical challenges utilizing emerging technologies to improve patient safety and outcomes. ISE works with academic institutions, surgical societies, industry, government and computer scientists to create new standards in robotic surgery and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgical care.
