Dr. Adrienne Forstner-Barthell, MD, FACS, FACSRS

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Get to know Colorectal Surgeon Dr. Adrienne Forstner-Barthell, who serves patients in Glendale, Arizona.

A board-certified colorectal surgeon, Dr. Forstner-Barthell is the Founder of a thriving female colon and rectal practice, Colon & Rectal Center of Arizona, and is affiliated with Arizona Associated Surgeons. She specializes in the treatment of colon and rectal and anal cancer, in particular the robotic and laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgical approaches to this disease.

The doctor helped to bring to the valley a revolutionary minimally invasive approach to rectal cancer resection, called Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery. She performs screening colonoscopies and treats all forms of benign colon and anorectal disease – including anal pain, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, fissure, fistulas, fecal incontinence, rectocele, rectal prolapse and constipation. She continues to pursue cutting edge approaches to issues such as robotic surgery and the sacral nerve stimulator for fecal incontinence.

In regards to her educational background, Dr. Forstner-Barthell completed her medical education and residency in general surgery at the Mayo Clinic in 2000 and 2005, respectively. She completed her fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando in 2006.

An authority in her field, the doctor is board-certified in colon and rectal surgery by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. It is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties that issues certificates for practitioners of colorectal surgery.

Moreover, she is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Achieving fellowship status, Dr. Forstner-Barthell is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (FASCRS). She is also an active member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.

Among her other roles, she has staff privileges at hospitals in Phoenix, Glendale, and Sun City/Peoria. Previously, she was the Chair of the Cancer Committee until it dissolved and participated in the Medical Executive Board at Banner Thunderbird Hospital from 2008-2017.

With a passion for teaching, she is an Adjunct Professor at AT Still University and Midwestern University, training PA students.

Colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. The field is also known as proctology, but this term is now used infrequently within medicine and is most often employed to identify practices relating to the anus and rectum in particular. A colorectal surgeon is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anorectal and colorectal conditions (conditions of the colon, rectum, and anus).

Among her various accolades, Dr. Forstner-Barthell has been the recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010), and On-Time Doctor Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014).

In her free time, she works on her Nicaraguan charity, “Por Ellos”, and enjoys traveling, singing, and hiking with her husband.

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