Madhulika Varma, MD

Madhulika Varma, MD

Maurice Galante, MD Distinguished Professor in Surgical Oncology, UCSF

Chief of Colorectal Surgery; Director, UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology Professor, Department of Surgery, UCSF

Phone: (415) 885-3606 (appts)

Box 0144, UCSF
San Francisco, CA 94143-0144

Physician Biography

UCSF Profiles

Research Summary

Dr. Madhulika Varma, Chief of Colorectal Surgery, specializes in the surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. Her areas of expertise include colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pelvic floor disorders. She is also a specialist in advanced laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery, using minimally invasive techniques to treat many of these diseases. Dr. Varma is the director of the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology, which evaluates patients with fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic floor prolapse, rectal cancer, and anal fistulas. She is a member of the clinical team of the UCSF Women’s Continence Center and the UCSF Center for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Dr. Varma earned her medical degree at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, R.I. She completed her residency in general surgery at UCSF and spent a year at the University of Minnesota to obtain specialized training in colon and rectal surgery. She returned to the faculty at UCSF in 2000, where she completed a fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research and Epidemiology. Her research interests include the assessment of clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and defecation disorders.

Education

2018 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
M.D., 1991 - School of Medicine, Brown University

Selected Publications

  1. Chan H, Savoie MB, Munir A, Moslehi J, Anwar M, Laffan A, Rowen T, Salmon R, Varma M, Van Loon K. Multi-Disciplinary Management in Rectal Cancer Survivorship: A Clinical Practice Review. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2023 Jan 09.  View on PubMed
  2. Greenberg AL, Tolstykh IV, Van Loon K, Laffan A, Stanfield D, Steiding P, Kenfield SA, Chan JM, Atreya CE, Piawah S, Kidder W, Venook AP, Van Blarigan EL, Varma MG. Association between adherence to the American Cancer Society Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines and stool frequency among colon cancer survivors: a cohort study. J Cancer Surviv. 2023 06; 17(3):836-847.  View on PubMed
  3. Watanaskul S, Schwab ME, Chern H, Varma M, Sarin A. Robotic transanal excision of rectal lesions: expert perspective and literature review. J Robot Surg. 2023 Apr; 17(2):619-627.  View on PubMed
  4. Watanaskul S, Schwab ME, Colley A, Chern H, Varma MG, Hoffman WY, Sarin A. Robotic repair of perineal hernias: a video vignette and review of the literature. Surg Endosc. 2023 03; 37(3):2290-2294.  View on PubMed
  5. Greenberg AL, Kelly YM, Sarin A, Varma MG. Proof-of-concept for intervention to prevent post-operative ileus in patients undergoing ileostomy formation. Perioper Med (Lond). 2022 Jul 12; 11(1):25.  View on PubMed
  6. Garcia-Aguilar J, Patil S, Gollub MJ, Kim JK, Yuval JB, Thompson HM, Verheij FS, Omer DM, Lee M, Dunne RF, Marcet J, Cataldo P, Polite B, Herzig DO, Liska D, Oommen S, Friel CM, Ternent C, Coveler AL, Hunt S, Gregory A, Varma MG, Bello BL, Carmichael JC, Krauss J, Gleisner A, Paty PB, Weiser MR, Nash GM, Pappou E, Guillem JG, Temple L, Wei IH, Widmar M, Lin S, Segal NH, Cercek A, Yaeger R, Smith JJ, Goodman KA, Wu AJ, Saltz LB. Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2022 08 10; 40(23):2546-2556.  View on PubMed
  7. Schwab ME, Hernandez S, Watanaskul S, Chern H, Varma M, Sarin A. Comparison of advanced techniques for local excision of rectal lesions: a case series. BMC Surg. 2022 Mar 27; 22(1):117.  View on PubMed
  8. Greenberg AL, Kelly YM, McKay RE, Varma MG, Sarin A. Risk factors and outcomes associated with postoperative ileus following ileostomy formation: a retrospective study. Perioper Med (Lond). 2021 Dec 13; 10(1):55.  View on PubMed
  9. McNamara B, Guerra R, Qin J, Craig AD, Chen LM, Varma MG, Chapman JS. Survival impact of bowel resection at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 Nov; 38:100870.  View on PubMed
  10. Jafari MD, Pigazzi A, McLemore EC, Mutch MG, Haas E, Rasheid SH, Wait AD, Paquette IM, Bardakcioglu O, Safar B, Landmann RG, Varma MG, Maron DJ, Martz J, Bauer JJ, George VV, Fleshman JW, Steele SR, Stamos MJ. Perfusion Assessment in Left-Sided/Low Anterior Resection (PILLAR III): A Randomized, Controlled, Parallel, Multicenter Study Assessing Perfusion Outcomes With PINPOINT Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging in Low Anterior Resection. Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 08 01; 64(8):995-1002.  View on PubMed
  11. Savoie MB, Paciorek A, Zhang L, Van Blarigan EL, Sommovilla N, Abrams D, Atreya CE, Bergsland EK, Chern H, Kelley RK, Ko A, Laffan A, Sarin A, Varma MG, Venook AP, Van Loon K. Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Before and After Treatment Initiation. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2019 Dec; 50(4):769-779.  View on PubMed
  12. Marco MR, Zhou L, Patil S, Marcet JE, Varma MG, Oommen S, Cataldo PA, Hunt SR, Kumar A, Herzig DO, Fichera A, Polite BN, Hyman NH, Ternent CA, Stamos MJ, Pigazzi A, Dietz D, Yakunina Y, Pelossof R, Garcia-Aguilar J, Timing of Rectal Cancer Response to Chemoradiation Consortium. Consolidation mFOLFOX6 Chemotherapy After Chemoradiotherapy Improves Survival in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Final Results of a Multicenter Phase II Trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2018 Oct; 61(10):1146-1155.  View on PubMed
  13. Bailey JJ, Jordan EJ, Burke C, Ohliger MA, Wang ZJ, Van Loon K, Varma MG, Hope TA. Does Extended PET Acquisition in PET/MRI Rectal Cancer Staging Improve Results? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2018 10; 211(4):896-900.  View on PubMed
  14. Bordeianou LG, Carmichael JC, Paquette IM, Wexner S, Hull TL, Bernstein M, Keller DS, Zutshi M, Varma MG, Gurland BH, Steele SR. Consensus Statement of Definitions for Anorectal Physiology Testing and Pelvic Floor Terminology (Revised). Dis Colon Rectum. 2018 Apr; 61(4):421-427.  View on PubMed
  15. Varma MG. Expert Commentary on Rectal Prolapse. Dis Colon Rectum. 2017 11; 60(11):1135-1136.  View on PubMed
  16. Zukotynski K, Jadvar H, Hope T, Subramaniam RM, Van Loon K, Varma M, Niederkohr RD, PET Center of Excellence. SNMMI Comment on the 2016 Society of Surgical Oncology "Choosing Wisely" Recommendation on the Use of PET/CT in Colorectal Cancer. J Nucl Med. 2017 01; 58(1):11-12.  View on PubMed
  17. Matthews CA, Varma MG, Takase-Sanchez MM, Hale DS, Van Drie D, Muir T, Wells E, Jannelli M, Richter HE. Characteristics Associated With Successful Fitting of a Vaginal Bowel Control System for Fecal Incontinence. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2016 Sep-Oct; 22(5):359-63.  View on PubMed
  18. Sarin A, Litonius ES, Naidu R, Yost CS, Varma MG, Chen LL. Successful implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program shortens length of stay and improves postoperative pain, and bowel and bladder function after colorectal surgery. BMC Anesthesiol. 2016 08 03; 16(1):55.  View on PubMed
  19. Cohan JN, Ozanne EM, Sewell JL, Hofer RK, Mahadevan U, Varma MG, Finlayson E. A Novel Decision Aid for Surgical Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results of a Pilot Study. Dis Colon Rectum. 2016 Jun; 59(6):520-8.  View on PubMed
  20. Paquette IM, Varma M, Ternent C, Melton-Meaux G, Rafferty JF, Feingold D, Steele SR. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Constipation. Dis Colon Rectum. 2016 Jun; 59(6):479-92.  View on PubMed

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