We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marsha Harris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marsha below.

Marsha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I had the opportunity of starting my own colon and rectal surgery practice. It was never my desire to start my own practice, However, after a tumultuous end to a previous partnership with another colon and rectal practice I decided to take the leap. I trusted that my relationships with my current and previous patients were strong and they would follow me into this new endeavor. I was also confident in my referral base and my reputation in my surrounding health care community. I knew they had tremendous respect and trust in the work that I was doing and they would be very supportive of me. Despite being locked out of the space that I was a guarantor of the lease, defamation by my previous partners, and difficulty with logistics because of having to border in a temporary space and rerouting patients, I was able to establish my new practice in a beautiful space and location. Although there were frequent challenges over the first 6 months, we eventually were able to run a smooth operation and were very solvent. Through it all, the support from my colleagues, staff, patients, family, and friends allowed for prosperity and growth in the early months after the establishment of the practice.

Marsha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Dr. Marsha Harris grew up in Jamaica, Queens, New York. She attended the College of Arts and Sciences at New York University where she majored in Chemistry and minored in Mathematics. While attending New York University, she was an All-American women’s basketball player and won a national championship in her junior year. She later earned her medical degree in 2002 from New York University’s School of Medicine and in 2007 completed her general surgery residency training there as well. At the Colon and Rectal Clinic of Orlando, University of Florida, she completed her fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery in 2008. She has been practicing colon and rectal surgery in Manhattan, while holding an academic appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at New York University. She has practiced earnestly in the field with special interests in minimally invasive surgery for colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, and colon motility disorders. She has worked extensively with patients with anorectal diseases, rectal prolapse, pilonidal disease and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Dr Harris is a board-certified general surgeon and colon and rectal surgeon. She has been recertified by the American Board of Surgeons as well as the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She has earned recognition as Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor and received Vitals Compassionate Doctor award, Vitals Patient Choice award, and Healthgrades Honor Roll. She is also New York Magazine’s Top Doctor.
Dr. Harris is a member and fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. She has publications in Diseases of Colon and Rectum. In Spring 2021 she started her own medical practice, Park Avenue Colon and Rectal Surgery in Manhattan, New York.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe that word of mouth, patient outcomes, communication and availability were the key tools that I used to build my reputation and grow my practice. I believe it is very important to communicate and teach patients about their disease process and set expectations regarding their healthcare journey.. Communicating and coordinating with referral physicians are necessary to allow for smooth transitions when care is transferred from one physician to the next. The hallmark of every good surgeon will be results (positive outcomes) and patient satisfaction.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would indeed choose my profession and subspecialty again. It is a privilege to participate in a profession that draws on all your passions and yet gives you tremendous purpose and joy. To be able to treat patients and effect change in a more immediate way is an amazing feeling. Taking patient from distressing and painful situations to pain-free and productive people it markedly gratifying. Using your hands to do these things is particularly amazing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marshaharrismd.com
• Instagram: @parkavenuecolonandrectalsurgery