Carter Lebares

MD

Gastrointestinal surgeon
Stress and cognition researcher, wilderness lover

Dr. Carter Lebares is a gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon who specializes in treating gastrointestinal disease, particularly of the esophagus and stomach, using minimally invasive surgery, such as robotics and surgical endoscopy. Her expertise includes treatments for reflux disease, obesity, early esophageal or gastric cancer, esophageal motility disorders, hernias, gallbladder disease and some kinds of biliary disease.

Lebares' research interests include resilience and mindfulness in surgery, mindfulness and nutrition in metabolic syndrome and obesity, the neuroendocrine and cognitive effects of stress on learning and performance, and endoscopic surgery for diseases of the esophagus and stomach.

Lebares received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed a surgical residency there. She also completed a surgical residency at UCSF. She completed a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery and surgical endoscopy at the IRCAD Institute of the University of Strasbourg in France.

Lebares is a member of the American College of Surgeons. She received the University of Minnesota Foundation's Metropolitan – Mount Sinai Award for future excellence in 2008, the University of Minnesota's Gaviser-Hays Award for compassion in surgery in 2013 and the surgical resident teaching award from the UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators in 2013.

  • Education

    University of Minnesota Medical School, 2008

  • Residencies

    University of Minnesota, Surgery, 2011

    UCSF, Surgery, 2013

  • Fellowships

    IRCAD Institute, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Endoscopy, 2015

  • Board Certifications

    Surgery, American Board of Surgery

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

"Even when it's 2 a.m., even when I'm exhausted, I think, 'I was made for this.'"

Meet Dr. Lebares

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (2)

    Challenges have their own unique rewards.

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    96 Ratings
    About our process
    Dec 18, 2024
    Wonderful surgeon!
    Jun 28, 2024
    This was my first visit with this provider and I was very impressed with her. She was knowledgeable and very helpful.
    Jun 28, 2024
    good
    Jun 09, 2024
    The best consult with a medical professional, by far
    Jun 07, 2024
    She is one of the best doctors I have ever encountered in my 80 years of seeing doctors.
    May 17, 2024
    The overall experience. Was good. I'm glad I finally got in with UCSF Health
    May 16, 2024
    Dr Lebares is amazing. She can take complex subjects and explain them quite easily so that I understand. This is such a tremendous skill for a physician. I feel comfortable with understanding and participating in planning for my surgery.
    Nov 10, 2023
    Dr Lebares is excellent
    Oct 17, 2023
    Very clear explanation of all the process.
    Sep 29, 2023
    Really liked Dr Lebares
    Sep 23, 2023
    Dr. Lebares- was knowledgeable, friendly, engaged, curious, and created a comfortable environment for discussion of my case.
    Jul 31, 2023
    Dr Lebares is everything I want in my surgeon.
    May 31, 2023
    Dr Lebaras was incredibly understanding and was supportive and worked hard to address the time constraints that I had and found a way to get my surgery done soon after diagnosis.
    May 12, 2023
    Awesome
    May 08, 2023
    The audio was weak, This may have been my computer, but it hurt the effectiveness of the entire presentation.
    Mar 17, 2023
    This doctor really took the time and care to explain the procedure as well as options and risks. She was reassuring and understood my condition.
    Feb 17, 2023
    No discussion on follow-up care.

    Selected research

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    My work

    Q&A: How a former biochemist got hooked on GI surgery

    Dr. Lebares was in her thirties when she decided to become a doctor. The day she witnessed her first GI surgery, she knew she'd found her field.

    Read the story

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