Renown Health Welcomes Dr. Anathea C. Powell to Colon & Rectal Surgery Team

Providing Access to the Latest Advances in Surgery and Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Care

Renown Health, the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care system serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California, is proud to announce the appointment of Anathea C. Powell, MD, FACS, FASCRS, a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon, to its highly regarded Colorectal Surgery team and to the Department of Surgery. Dr. Powell brings a wealth of experience and expertise in surgical oncology, colon and rectal surgery, and general surgery, to northern Nevada.

She joins Christos A. Galanopoulos, MD, MBA, MSc, FACS, VP, Chairman, Department of Surgery; Matthew Crapko, MD; Michael Scott Thomas, MD, PhD; and the Renown Surgery Care team to provide comprehensive colon and rectal care.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Powell as our newest colorectal surgeon to the Renown team,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “As a highly skilled physician and an accomplished endurance athlete, she brings both surgical excellence and a deep commitment to health and wellness; qualities that align perfectly with our vision of creating a healthier future through exceptional care and discovery. We are proud to welcome her to our active northern Nevada community and know she will make a significant and positive impact on the lives of patients and families.”

“The rise in colorectal health issues across our state, and the U.S., is a growing concern, as conditions like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent,” says Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Medical Group. “At Renown Health, we are addressing this need by employing highly skilled and respected surgeons like Dr. Powell who have experience in complex colorectal procedures and state-of-the-art, minimally invasive robotic technology to meet the growing needs of our patients and community. We are thrilled that Dr. Powell is joining both the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute and the Renown Department of Surgery, and we welcome her to Nevada!”

Dr. Powell specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, and complex anorectal disorders.

Dr. Powell earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency at New York University Langone School of Medicine. She completed subspecialty fellowship training in surgical oncology and endocrinology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD and in colon and rectal surgery at Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

She served as a general surgeon with the Indian Health Service; Phoenix Indian Medical Center and San Carlos Apache Indian Hospital in AZ; as a Colon and Rectal Surgeon for Kaiser Permanente - Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and most recently served as a Colon and Rectal Surgeon for the Dignity Health Cancer Institute; formerly University of Arizona Cancer Center in Phoenix. She also served as Associate Professor, Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix.

Dr. Powell’s clinical interests include providing multidisciplinary care for patients requiring complex operations, involving re-operative surgery and/or locally advanced pelvic tumors. She performs open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, as well as screening and diagnostic endoscopy. Her research interests include organ preservation for locally advanced rectal cancer and health disparities in screening for, and treatment of colorectal cancer. She holds board certifications from the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Powell has also been actively involved in various professional societies and committees, contributing to the advancement of surgical practices and patient care. She is a Fellow with both the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons where she currently serves on the Research Committee, Research Foundation. Dr. Powell is an expert in the field of colon and rectal surgery, having published numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and presented at a variety of regional, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Powell is also an endurance athlete, completing two Ironman distance triathlons and serving as USA Triathlon All American Athlete in Triathlon and Aquabike (2019). She was a Member of Team USA for Long Course Aquabike in 2020/2021. She brings a special interest in supporting high performance athletes and holds certifications in the following coaching domains: Personal Trainer (American College of Sports Medicine); Nutrition Coach (Precision Nutrition, Level 1); Sleep, Stress Management and Recovery Coach (Precision Nutrition, Level 1); and Movement and Mobility Specialist (The Ready State).

“Dr. Powell has earned a national reputation for excellence in patient care, with a holistic approach that emphasizes excellent surgical outcomes and also post-surgery support, nutrition, and lifestyle changes for long-term success,” says Christos A. Galanopoulos, MD, MBA, MSc, FACS, VP, Chairman Department of Surgery at Renown Health. “We are so fortunate to have her joining our team. The addition of additional expertise in colon and rectal surgery aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive and essential healthcare services to our growing community. Dr. Powell is a superb clinician, skilled investigator, and effective educator. Her expertise is a critical resource for people looking to achieve a healthier, more fulfilling and active lives.”

Clinical Experience provided by Dr. Powell and Renown Surgical Care now includes:
Diagnostic and Preventive Services

• Endoscopic Procedures: Minimally invasive techniques to diagnose gastrointestinal issues.
• Cancer Risk Assessment: Evaluating patients with family histories of colorectal cancer or genetic conditions.

Surgical Treatment

• Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Removing cancerous tissues from the colon or rectum, often using minimally invasive or robotic-assisted techniques.
• Diverticulitis Treatment: Surgical intervention for severe or recurrent diverticulitis.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Surgery: Managing Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis through resections or other specialized procedures.
• Hernia Repairs: Treating abdominal or inguinal hernias.

Management of Benign Conditions

• Hemorrhoid Treatment: non-surgical and surgical management of internal and external hemorrhoids.
• Fistula and Fissure Repair: Addressing anal fistulas and fissures with advanced techniques.
• Abscess Drainage: Treating perirectal or anal abscesses.
• Pilonidal Disease Management: Treating cysts near the tailbone.

Pelvic Floor Disorders

• Constipation Management: Diagnosing and addressing chronic constipation caused by structural or functional issues.
• Rectal Prolapse Repair: Correcting rectal prolapse through minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive and Advanced Techniques

• Laparoscopic Surgery: Using small incisions for faster recovery and reduced scarring.
• Robotic-Assisted Surgery: Enhancing precision and outcomes in complex procedures.
• Trans anal Surgery: Removing polyps or early-stage rectal cancer through the anus without external incisions.

The Region's Leader in Robotic Surgery

Renown Health offers physician-guided da Vinci Robotic Surgery. Benefits may include less pain after surgery, minimal to no scarring, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.

Dr. Powell is now accepting new patients. If you are a physician and would like to refer patients, or a person who wishes to be screened for surgery by Dr. Powell, please contact Renown Surgery Care at 775-982-6270. The surgeons see patients at Renown Surgery at 1500 E 2nd St, Ste 300 in Reno, NV. To learn more about Renown Health’s surgical services, please visit renown.org.

As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over one million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center was named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.