Madhulika Varma, M.D.
- Professor of Surgery
- Division of Surgical Oncology
- Chief, Section of Colorectal Surgery
- Maurice Galante, MD Distinguished Professor in Surgical Oncology
- Director, UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology
Contact Information
Education
- 1983-87 Brown University, Providence, RI - A.B., Human Biology
- 1987-91 Brown University, Providence, RI - M.D.
Residencies
- 1991-97 University of California, San Francisco - Resident, Surgery
- 1997-98 University of California, San Francisco - Chief Resident, Surgery
Fellowships
- 1994-96 University of California, San Francisco - Research Fellowship, Department of Stomatology, PI
- 1999-00 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN - Fellow, Colon and Rectal Surgery
- 2000-01 University of California, San Francisco - Fellow, Advanced Training in Clinical Research: Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Biography
Dr. Madhulika Varma is Professor and Chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery, Division of General Surgery at UCSF. She specializes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, using minimally invasive techniques to treat diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Her areas of expertise also include inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and pelvic floor disorders.
Dr. Varma is also the Director of the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology, which evaluates patients with fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic floor prolapse, rectal cancer and anal fistulas. She is a member of the clinical team of the UCSF Women's Continence Center and the UCSF Center for Colitis and Crohn's Disease.
Dr. Varma earned her medical degree at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, R.I. She completed her residency in general surgery at UCSF and spent a year at the University of Minnesota to obtain specialized training in colon and rectal surgery. She returned to the faculty at UCSF in 2000, where she completed a fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research and Epidemiology. Her research interests include the assessment of clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and defecation disorders. Highly respected by her peers, Dr. Varma was named to the list of U.S. News "America's Top Doctors," a distinction reserved for the top 1% of physicians in the nation for a given specialty.
Research Overview
- A Randomized, Subject and Evaluator Blinded, Sham Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of NASHA/Dx for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence
- The Comprehensive Validation of the CSI (Constipation Severity Instrument) and CRQOL (Constipation-Related Quality of Life) and the Comprehensive Validation of the RCM (Rome III Constipation Module)
- A Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Local Excision for uT2uN0 Rectal Cancer
- Timing of Rectal Cancer Response to Chemoradiation
- The Effect of Rectal Resection on Bowel, Bladder, and Sexual Functioning in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- A Randomized Control Trial to Examine the Efficacy of Anorectal Biofeedback
- Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Ulcerative Colitis Patients
- Outcomes of Patients Presenting to the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology with Pelvic Floor Disorders
Clinical Trials
Data provided by UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI
- Study ID: NCT02008656Start Date: Nov 2013Estimated Completion Date: Nov 2020Condition(s): Colorectal Cancer, Rectal Cancer
- Study ID: NCT00502957Start Date: Mar 2005Estimated Completion Date: Nov 2007Condition(s): Constipation, Functional Constipation
Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 113
Data provided by UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI
- Chan H, Savoie MB, Munir A, Moslehi J, Anwar M, Laffan A, Rowen T, Salmon R, Varma M, Van Loon K. Multi-Disciplinary Management in Rectal Cancer Survivorship: A Clinical Practice Review. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2023 Jan 09. View in PubMed
- Greenberg AL, Tolstykh IV, Van Loon K, Laffan A, Stanfield D, Steiding P, Kenfield SA, Chan JM, Atreya CE, Piawah S, Kidder W, Venook AP, Van Blarigan EL, Varma MG. Association between adherence to the American Cancer Society Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines and stool frequency among colon cancer survivors: a cohort study. J Cancer Surviv. 2023 06; 17(3):836-847. View in PubMed
- Watanaskul S, Schwab ME, Chern H, Varma M, Sarin A. Robotic transanal excision of rectal lesions: expert perspective and literature review. J Robot Surg. 2023 Apr; 17(2):619-627. View in PubMed
- Watanaskul S, Schwab ME, Colley A, Chern H, Varma MG, Hoffman WY, Sarin A. Robotic repair of perineal hernias: a video vignette and review of the literature. Surg Endosc. 2023 03; 37(3):2290-2294. View in PubMed
- Greenberg AL, Kelly YM, Sarin A, Varma MG. Proof-of-concept for intervention to prevent post-operative ileus in patients undergoing ileostomy formation. Perioper Med (Lond). 2022 Jul 12; 11(1):25. View in PubMed
- View All Publications
In the News
- Muriel Steele Society - - May 31, 2019We are pleased to announce that the Muriel Steele Society website has officially launched! The Muriel Steele Society (MSS) was established in honor of Muriel Steele, MD, the first woman surgeon at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) — now Zuckerberg San Fransisco General (ZSFG). Throughout her career, Dr. Steele experienced significant prejudice and overcame enormous obstacles on the road to becoming a phenomenal surgeon. MSS is an inclusive community dedicated to inspiring, supporting, and [...]
- UCSF Department of Surgery - - May 21, 2019We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Muriel Steele Society (MSS), founded in honor of Muriel Steele, MD, the first woman surgeon at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) — now Zuckerberg San Fransisco General (ZSFG). Dr. Steele experienced significant prejudice and overcame enormous obstacles on the road to becoming a phenomenal surgeon. Led by co-chairs, Mika Varma MD, Professor and Chief of Colorectal Surgery, and Lucy Kornblith MD Assistant Professor, ZSFG Trauma and Surgical [...]
- UCSF Department of Surgery - - March 08, 2019The Muriel Steele Society invites you to celebrate International Women's Day at UCSF by recognizing our fantastic women surgeons and supporting initiatives that help us achieve gender equity that enable all of us to excel. To stimulate frank discussions about gender parity, inclusion and diversity, we'd like to share the lecture of Joan Reede, MD, MS, MPH, MBA, delivered at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress in 2018. Olga M. Jonasson, MD, Lecture: A path toward [...]
- UCSF Department of Surgery - - July 14, 2015Madhulika G. Varma M.D. was recently awarded the Maurice Galante, MD Distinguished Professorship in Surgical Oncology, recognizing her achievements and professional development in general surgery. The Professorship honors the late Maurice Galante, M.D., UCSF professor emeritus of surgery. Dr. Galante was described as "one of the last of a generation of real general surgeons"— those surgeons who bring the same superb technical expertise to a wide variety of surgical procedures. He developed a [...]
- Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program - December 14, 2013The University of California has awarded 11 grants totaling $5.4 million for multi-site projects designed to improve patient care and reduce the risk of clinical harm to UC surgery patients. About 110,000 patients undergo surgery each year at UC medical centers. The risk fellowship grants include projects to improve outcomes for neurosurgical patients, increase the quality of care for high-risk colorectal surgery patients, and decrease surgical site infections in patients undergoing procedures [...]
- UCSF Colorectal Surgery - June 12, 2010Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is an evening walk and fundraiser supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Team UCSF, led by the Section of Colorectal Surgery's nurse practitioner Lois Anne Indorf, placed second, raising over $7,500. Chief of the Section, Madhulika Varma, M.D., pictured left, also attended with friends and family. Funds raised will support CCFA's research efforts into better therapies and cures to improve the lives of people with colorectal conditions.
- UCSF Colorectal Surgery - July 01, 2009Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis is an evening walk and fundraiser supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. .......The UCSF team raised over $3,500 for CCFA - dollars that will support important research and our shared mission to improve the lives of people with colorectal conditions.......
- UCSF Department of Surgery - March 10, 2009The Department of Surgery at UCSF is pleased to announce the appointment of Madhulika G. Varma M.D. as Chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery, Division of General Surgery. Dr. Varma specializes in the surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Dr. Varma is also director of the UCSF Center for Pelvic Physiology. As chief, Dr. Varma will continue to recruit top faculty and develop the colorectal fellowship program, building its clinical, research and education programs to [...]
Patient Stories
- Herbert E. Barker Jr.
"Exceptional" Care at UCSF Center for Colorectal Surgery for Rectal Cancer Survivor
I too am a rectal cancer survivor. My relationships with the hospital at UCSF and with Dr. Varma’s team was like yours: exceptional. I am now nearly four years out from “D Day” (April 17, 2009) and thus far, no recurrence. We are truly fortunate and blessed to have been exposed to this disease when we were. There is now so much that can be done with the number of treatments available. Hope you are now and remain ok. I continue to support the UCSF Center for Colorectal Surgery as I participate in the research project. And, I too got back to a gym routine and feel great. Good luck! -Herbert[...]Story Categories: Rectal Cancer - Tom Bassett
Hitting Cancer "Hard and Heavy"
I found out I had colorectal cancer at 47. As an otherwise active and healthy person, when I saw traces of blood where they shouldn’t be, I chalked it up to my bike riding. Yet because of a family history of colon cancer and a father-in-law in the medical field, I thought I would preemptively get a colonoscopy, which turned out to be a wise decision. Results for patients who discover colorectal cancer early are generally good, and the majority of patients with early stage disease are cured. However, despite my luck at finding the cancer early on, it was staged as III. I would require[...]Story Categories: Colon Cancer - Courtney Annotti
Life After Ulcerative Colitis Surgery Feels Amazing
My name is Courtney Annotti. I’m 22 years old and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) eight years ago. UC is a chronic condition that causes long-lasting inflammation in the large intestine. For years I experienced pain that would come and go, and the anxiety of always having to know where a bathroom was. I tried several medications to control my symptoms, but to no avail. Concerned that my condition was worsening day by day, my gastroenterologist referred me to UCSF to meet with Dr. Madhulika Varma, Chief of Colorectal Surgery at UCSF. When I met with Dr. Varma, I immediately felt[...]