Trident Health System
February 08, 2021

Summerville, SC — Summerville Medical Center is proud to welcome board-certified colorectal surgeon Cesar Santiago, MD and the practice of Colorectal Specialists to Summerville Medical Center's campus.

"As Summerville and the Lowcountry continue to grow, we are proud to bring more services and specialties to our hospital to better serve our community," commented Jeff Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Summerville Medical Center. "I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Santiago to our campus and to be able to provide innovative colon and rectal care to our greater Dorchester and Berkeley county communities."

Dr. Santiago is board-certified in colon and rectal surgery and specializes in advanced minimally invasive robotic-assisted procedures for colon and rectal cancers. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Santiago completed his medical degree from the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and received his surgical training in New York City and Florida. Following an internship and residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, he completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital.

"I am very excited to join Colorectal Specialists at Summerville Medical Center, which shares my vision for individualized specialty colon and rectal care in an atmosphere of dignity and respect," commented Dr. Santiago.

Dr. Santiago is a patient-focused clinician who is a designated Intuitive Epicenter for minimally invasive robotic-assisted colorectal surgery. Criteria for Epicenter designation include performing more than 1,000 minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries; maintaining quality and patient safety outcomes; and teaching other surgeons.

"Patients want to maintain as much of their bodily functions as possible while treating their disease. My interest in finding a better, safer and patient-friendly surgical approach started more than a decade ago," said Dr Santiago. "Minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery provides many benefits to the patient that traditional surgery doesn't, such as less pain, better outcomes and shorter hospital stays. Over time I developed surgical techniques and designed equipment that help patients and the surgeons. It's a very rewarding experience to give someone hope when they had lost it."

Dr. Santiago offers a wide range of colon and rectal care including colon cancer, colon polyps, comprehensive management of pelvic floor disorders, Crohn's Disease, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), rectal cancer, and more.

The Colorectal Specialists practice is located in suite 130 of the Medical Office Building on Summerville Medical Center's campus. Learn more about Colorectal Specialists at Summerville Medical Center.