B. Mark Zhao, MD

Dr. B. Mark Zhao is a colorectal surgeon who cares for patients with conditions of the colon, rectum and anus. His expertise encompasses inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; colon, rectal and anal cancers; diverticulitis (infection or inflammation of small pouches in the intestines); and pelvic floor disorders, including rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence (problems with bowel control) and constipation. He specializes in using minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat many of these conditions, including transanal endoscopic microsurgery (a procedure using special instruments to remove rectal tumors without surgical incisions). He also performs colonoscopies and endoscopies to screen for or diagnose conditions of the colon and rectum.

Zhao conducts research on colorectal surgical outcomes, with the goal of making these procedures safer and more effective. He has a particular interest in using biomedical informatics (health-related datasets) to improve patient care.

Zhao earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of California, San Diego, where he also earned a master of advanced study degree in clinical research and completed a fellowship in clinical informatics. He completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.