Anathea Powell, MD

Dr. Powell is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, and complex anorectal disorders. She is skilled in open, laparoscopic, and robotic procedures, as well as screening and diagnostic endoscopy. Dr. Powell earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency at NYU Langone Health. She went on to complete fellowships in surgical oncology and endocrinology at the National Cancer Institute and in colon and rectal surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her clinical experience spans roles with the Indian Health Service, Kaiser Permanente, and most recently the Dignity Health Cancer Institute (formerly the University of Arizona Cancer Center), where she also served as Associate Professor at Creighton University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include multidisciplinary care for complex re-operative surgeries and locally advanced pelvic tumors. Her research focuses on organ preservation in rectal cancer and addressing health disparities in colorectal cancer care. An active contributor to her field, Dr. Powell is a Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, where she serves on the Research Committee. She has published extensively and presented nationally and internationally. Outside of medicine, Dr. Powell is an accomplished endurance athlete and former USA Triathlon All American and Team USA member. She is certified in personal training, nutrition coaching, recovery and stress management, and mobility training, with a particular interest in supporting high-performance athletes.