Houston Methodist Division of Colorectal Surgery 

Colorectal surgeons in the Houston Methodist Division of Colorectal Surgery are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the field of advanced colorectal care, offering laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive colorectal surgical procedures. We offer the most advanced therapies and improved outcomes for patients with complex colon or rectal conditions. With a dual focus on clinical excellence and academic innovation, the division is committed to delivering cutting-edge care, pioneering surgical techniques and training the next generation of colorectal surgeons. 

Our expert surgeons strive for excellence in clinical outcomes, research and education. We treat each patient as a whole person, caring for the physical, mental and emotional needs of our patients regardless of disease severity and acuity. 

We are leaders in robotic and minimally invasive colorectal surgery for the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) and Crohn’s disease, colostomy reversal surgery and other conditions. We innovate surgical techniques that improve both recovery and quality of life. We are sought out by patients and referrers alike who have been told elsewhere that they need a permanent colostomy. When possible, we perform reconstructive surgery, curing disease and removing the colostomy. 

The Houston Methodist Division of Colorectal Surgery is composed of a close-knit group of surgeons who blend our diverse experiences to provide the best colorectal care throughout the entire Houston  metropolitan area. Our team is made up of a blend of various academic and private practitioners who choose Houston Methodist as their primary site of practice and integrate with the Houston Methodist Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health and Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center. 

Our team brings years of experience and expertise in colorectal procedures for the treatment of diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease and other conditions. We have diverse faculty of various backgrounds, and the patients we see and treat present all variations of disease — from the most life-threatening rectal cancer, colitis and diverticulitis to everyday issues such as hemorrhoids, difficulty using the bathroom or having an obstructive injury at birth. 

A division is only as strong as its division members, and we hand select our staff for their excellence, innovation and collaborative spirit. Working as a team is ingrained in our spirit, and this approach has given us a national reputation in the colon and rectal community. In addition to working together at Houston Methodist, regular systemwide collaborations ensure consistent, high-quality care across all campuses, as do unified quality improvement initiatives such as the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program. 

Division Chief Eric Haas, MD, has earned a national and international reputation for expertise in advanced laparoscopic, robotic and minimally invasive approaches in colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, IBD and other conditions. He is known for innovative and modern advancements in the field and serves as the Program Director of the newly established, ACGME-accredited Houston Methodist Colorectal Surgery Fellowship training program. Our division also enjoys the active participation of Micheal J. Snyder, MD, Professor of Surgery at the UTHealth McGovern Medical School and the Program Director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency training program at UT. 

Our physicians chair and serve on regional and national colorectal surgery committees, helping to develop standards and new technologies for the Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Fellowship Council and more. 

Our Faculty ➝   Our Physicians ➝ 

Through our advanced research program, we developed the approach, technique and training for the Natural orifice IntraCorporeal anastomosis with transrectal Extraction procedure, or NICE procedure. We modified minimally invasive colon surgery by performing the entirety of the procedure without an incision — simply a small robotic port. 

We use a stepwise approach to research, creating new ways of performing surgery safely and efficaciously, with clinical and academic research working in tandem. Our colorectal physicians publish peer-reviewed abstracts and manuscripts, book chapters and review articles, and are regularly invited to present work at lectures around the world.   

We also regularly participate in and lead national clinical trials. Currently, we are launching a phase two national trial with 20 other academic centers around the country, focused on the NICE procedure, with Houston Methodist as the lead center. The division is also involved in the da Vinci single port national trial for colon and rectal cancer with Houston Methodist as one of nine study locations. 

A recent systemwide initiative in surgical site infection protection supports our low surgical site infection rate and high adherence to enhanced recovery. We are also collaborating with Baylor College of Medicine on nanotechnology and designing devices to mitigate anastomotic leak. 

Our minimally invasive surgeons work with The Bookout Center, one of the largest and most comprehensive surgical education and research facilities in the world, to introduce our surgical advances to surgeons from around the country.  

Our surgeons are dedicated to training advanced colon and rectal surgeons to further the field of colorectal surgery. We directly impact teaching by serving on committees helping to develop educational curriculum for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Fellowship Council. 

Colorectal surgeons from some of the largest academic centers across the country seek our expertise in state-of-the-art techniques. We now offer a Houston Methodist Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program, an ACGME-accredited fellowship for board-certified colorectal surgeons to spend one or two years with us and develop expert-level skills in all areas of colorectal surgery, including robotic surgery. We also continue to train colon and rectal surgical fellows from the UTHealth Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program during their rotation through Houston Methodist Hospital. 

In addition, we teach medical students from institutions such as the University of Houston and Texas A&M University students through our EnMed program partnership. 

Surgeons in our division lead or participate in colorectal tumor conferences such as the weekly rectal cancer tumor board, surgical grand rounds, regular meetings with leaders in the Department of Surgery, webinars, journal clubs and Morbidity and Mortality conferences. Training is focused and consistent, securing a unified process in the treatment of patients across the system. 

Invested in the Greater Houston community, we offer cancer survivorship programs, educational webinars and podcasts, a monthly educational series and a citywide colorectal GI conference. We work with Legacy Community Health to provide monthly cancer screenings.