Dr. Katie S. Artz, MD, MS

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Get to know General Surgeon Dr. Katie S. Artz, who serves patients in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Artz is a top general surgeon who lends her skills and expertise to serve patients at Southwestern Surgery Associates, an affiliate of Arizona Community Specialists, in Tucson, Arizona, which she joined in 2006 upon completing her surgical training. With sixteen years of experience as a general surgeon, she specializes in all facets of her specialty, including general, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, i.e. hernias, ventral hernias, gallbladder, and breast surgery.

The surgeons at Southwestern Surgery Associates have a long history of providing the best-specialized surgical care in Southern Arizona. All of their surgeons come from first rated training programs, exceeding credentialing criteria, and most have over 10 years of practical surgical experience. In addition to performing general surgery, individual surgeons sub-specialize in areas of expertise such as colorectal, thyroid, lung, breast, hepato-pancreato-biliary, and other advanced cancers.

Originally from Tucson, Dr. Artz is a graduate of Sabino High School. She received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She completed her internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, followed by a residency in general surgery at Texas A & M College of Medicine.

Recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), 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.

The doctor shares her love of medicine as she mentors high school students in both the Tucson and Vail school districts aspiring to be doctors and surgeons. Additionally, she mentors Birrelevant College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Students, and family practice residents. As an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, and a Professor at Burrell College of Medicine, she teaches medical students on the path to becoming physicians.

Among her other roles, Dr. Artz can be found on staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, as well as Tucson Medical Center and Camp Lowell Surgery Center. She is the newest member of the Arizona Medical Board.

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and other body systems. A general surgeon performs a wide range of surgeries for many forms of intestinal and abdominal wall neoplasms, gallbladder disease, gastric and biliary disease. They follow the patient through critical care and surgical recovery all the way to outpatient care.

Among her various accolades, Dr. Artz has been the recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012), and On-Time Doctor Award (2018).

Happily married, she and her husband, Dr. Timothy Dixon, have two children, Austin and Scarlett. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, movies, reading, running and soccer. She participates in medical missions to Bolivia and Honduras, and volunteers at St. Elizabeth’s Health Center, whose clinic focuses on treatment and care for the uninsured and the underserved.

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