Elizabeth McConnell M.D.

I completed my residency in General Surgery in July of 1997.  I began my fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery in July of 2000at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. While there I invested a great deal of time in research so completed my fellowship with a special emphasis in Immunologic Oncology Research.   

I always dreamed of moving to Arizona and living in the desert.  After 3 years I needed to thaw-out. I joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and wrote several papers and book chapters.  The chapter which I am most proud is on Rectal Cancer which is my research area of interest.  I preformed numerous laparoscopic and open cancer resections while at the clinic. I left Mayo Clinic accepting a position as research faculty at Arizona State University where I still hold an appointment. Throughout this time I continued with group clinical practice and in January of 2005 opened my own office specializing in diseases of the anus, colon and rectum.   

I received a pleasant surprise within weeks of opening my solo practice.  The surprise – the physicians of the Thunderbird group wanted me to take care of their patients on a more formal basis and join their group. I had worked with patients referred to me by the physicians at the Thunderbird Clinic for many years.  I had found their patients to be well taken care of with the appropriate treatments already in place.  Successful surgery requires excellent preoperative care and preparation, which the Thunderbird physicians provide.  It was my privilege to accept their offer to affiliate with their practice for the treatment of colon and rectal conditions for their patients

I have brought the first Three Dimensional Ultrasound to the State of Arizona for use in diagnosis for appropriate treatment of invasive rectal cancer as well as diagnosis of sphincter function for incontinence. I continue my research affiliation with ASU with special emphasis in immunology, particularly glycosylation patterns of proteins of cancer patients.  I have a grant from the National Institute of Health, which provides funding for this research. 

My mission is to allow the research scientist, the physician and the patient to work together to find not only the cure but the cause of colon and rectal cancer.  I work very closely with my patients and have turned to them for many answers to questions which my research presents.  

I am excited to work with the Thunderbird group

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Joined Thunderbird Internal Medicine: