TMH Welcomes Region's First Fellowship-Trained Colorectal Surgeon

Jarrod Robertson, MD, is expertly trained to treat colorectal cancer and other conditions of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023) – Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer or other complex colorectal diseases and conditions requiring surgery can now receive highly specialized surgical care at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH).

Jarrod Robertson, MD, has joined TMH Physician Partners – General Surgery as the region’s first fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon, adding a new sub-specialty to TMH’s surgical and cancer care.

Dr. Robertson is one of four fellowship-trained surgeons who joined TMH Physician Partners in 2023, furthering the healthcare system’s commitment to providing the most advanced care right here at home. In addition to Dr. Robertson, TMH has added fellowship trained surgeons in breast surgical oncology, trauma surgery and bariatric surgery.

“As TMH grows and furthers our mission as a regional healthcare system, we are dedicated to continual advancement in the quality of care and the type of surgical services we provide,” said Logan Van Wagenen, Assistant Vice President of Surgical Services. “Patients in 21 counties turn to TMH for high acuity specialty care. With Dr. Robertson on our team, patients can be confident they’re receiving the most advanced colorectal surgical care without having to leave the Tallahassee region.”

Dr. Robertson is board certified in general surgery and graduated from the Colon and Rectal Fellowship program at Orlando Health in the spring of 2023. Only three fellows are accepted into the program each year. Fellowships are competitive, merit-based programs for advanced study and training in a specialty area of medicine.

Dr. Robertson graduated from the Florida State University College of Medicine and completed his residency in general surgery at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Ga.

A native of Perry, Fla., he is excited to return to the region he calls home.

“I love the people here,” Dr. Robertson said, “and it’s always been my desire to serve the patients in this community with the high quality care they deserve and have come to expect from their local providers.”

In addition to strengthening TMH’s surgical services, Dr. Robertson brings expert training to TMH’s oncology team at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, which offers multi-disciplinary care for patients with breast cancer, lung cancer and gynecologic cancer, among other types of cancer. 

TMH has implemented an integrated model of care with its breast and thoracic oncology clinics. These clinics streamline weeks of appointments into a single visit by bringing all the medical experts needed to collaborate on a patient’s care together in a single location to create an integrated treatment plan. This compressed timeline brings convenience and peace of mind to patients and moves them toward treatment faster after receiving a cancer diagnosis. 

“The clinic model of care is typically seen at nationally recognized cancer centers, and it’s what we’re focusing on for the future of cancer care here at TMH,” said Kathy Brooks, Oncology Administrator. “We’re looking forward to what Dr. Robertson’s presence means for our patients, including the potential to offer expanded multi-disciplinary colorectal cancer care under one roof in the future.”

Dr. Robertson performs nearly all his colorectal cancer surgeries using the da Vinci XI Robotic Surgical System. TMH was the first in the region to receive accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) and has focused on consistently raising the standard of healthcare in the Big Bend by providing specialized and innovative surgical care.

Colorectal surgeons specialize in treating conditions that affect the lower gastrointestinal tract, which includes the colon, rectum and anus. These conditions may include cancer, polyps, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and other structural defects in the colon, such as fistulas and hernias.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends adults age 45 to 75 receive routine screening for colorectal cancer, as advised by their primary care provider. Additionally, those who experience symptoms such as abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen, unexpected weight loss, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool that may make stool look dark brown or black, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or narrow stool that lasts for more than a few days, should speak to their primary care provider right away.

To learn more about cancer services at TMH, visit TMH.ORG/Cancer.