Daniel Geisler, MD, FASCRS, is an internationally recognized colon and rectal surgeon. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Geisler pioneered single-port colorectal surgery and is one of just a few surgeons in the country doing this procedure, currently the least invasive way to perform colorectal surgery, allowing patients a quick recovery, and decreasing many of the complications associated with more invasive conventional surgery. Dr. Geisler has utilized single-port surgery in both the pediatric and adult patient population and currently offers a minimally invasive approach to over 90 percent of his patients. In 2009, while at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Geisler performed the world’s first SILS total proctocolectomy and ileoanal pouch procedure, where he was able to remove the entire colon and rectum with the creation of an ileoanal pouch through the same incision that was also used to create a temporary defunctioning ileostomy, hence leaving the patient without any visible incision after the procedure.
Dr. Geisler served as the Director of Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic from 2005-2010 and was responsible for the resurgence of minimally invasive surgery in the United States during that time. Prior to practicing at the Cleveland Clinic and the West Penn Allegheny Health System, Dr. Geisler was director of minimally invasive colorectal surgery at St. Vincent Health System in Erie, where he also completed his residency in colon and rectal surgery. An additional year of fellowship training was later completed in Philadelphia under John Marks, MD, and Gerald Marks, MD, at The Lankenau Hospital and Institute for Medical Research in Wynnewood, PA concentrating on minimally invasive colorectal surgery as well as the multimodality treatment of low rectal cancers with emphasis on sphincter-preservation surgery.
Dr. Geisler received his bachelor’s degree from Austin College in Sherman, TX and his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa.
A diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Colorectal Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners, Dr. Geisler has also authored numerous papers and book chapters and lectured on a wide variety of topics related to minimally invasive surgery and the treatment of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulitis. He is a member of several advisory boards in various societies related to general and colorectal surgery.
Dr. Geisler will lead the Colorectal Surgery Division’s interest in innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques for a variety of colorectal conditions with particular emphasis on inflammatory bowel disease, advanced transanal surgery, and ultra-low rectal cancer. He will also lead the Division’s expansion to the New Jersey region. In addition to seeing patients and operating at our Main Campus, he will be available to see patients at the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery’s Hudson Valley, New York and Englewood, New Jersey offices.