Amit Khanna, MD, is a colorectal surgeon and specialist in minimally invasive techniques, but always makes it a point to tell his patients that he isn’t married to any particular method.
“I am comfortable performing surgeries in many different ways and it comes down to deciding which technique is best for the patient and for their issue,” Dr. Khanna says. “It’s not about whether I like to do surgery robotically, laparoscopically, or open, but having a conversation with the patient and deciding what makes the most sense.”
Dr. Khanna’s expertise includes colorectal oncology, complex abdominal disease, and benign rectal disease including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal bleeding, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Growing up, Dr. Khanna says he was heavily influenced by the medical field because his late mother was a pediatric hematologist-oncologist. “I grew up watching her and knew I wanted to be a physician because I saw how much fulfilment she got from working with kids with cancer,” he says.
However, he did not expect to become a surgeon. “I thought I would be a cardiologist, but in medical school I was doing rotations and got to be on service with a surgeon who was an innovator of minimally invasive colorectal surgery,” he says. “After I saw him do one case, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. I saw patients get better faster and with smaller incisions; it was like a switch turned on and that was my goal—to do this kind of work.”
When he meets a patient, Dr. Khanna says his first goal is to build a relationship. “They might have an issue that requires surgical intervention, but I want to foster a relationship built on trust and transparency. If surgery is a step we take, it begins with listening and understanding where they are and allowing them to ask a lot of questions,” he says. “I never try to tell a patient what to do. I try to understand their preferences and provide options and education for them.”
The best part of his job, Dr. Khanna says, is making patient better and preserving their quality of life. “I also love working with amazing staff members and accomplishing things as a team,” he says.
