Three Physicians Join Colorectal Surgery Team

Penn State Colon and Rectal Surgery added three experienced surgeons to its roster this year. The colorectal team—one of the largest and most experienced in Pennsylvania—now includes six surgeons, along with three advanced practice clinicians, a dedicated laboratory staff and several medical assistants who provide patient communication and follow-up.

The three new surgeons are:

• Michael Deutsch, MD, previously at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey. Dr. Deutsch has a strong background in all colorectal conditions and conducts basic science research.
• Arjun Jeganathan, MD, previously at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Jeganathan has special expertise in inflammatory bowel disease management, laparoscopic approaches and colorectal cancer care.
• Jeffrey Scow, MD, previously at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Scow served in the Navy, and his specialties include inflammatory bowel disease and minimally invasive robotic surgery.

“Between the six of us, the group covers the entire gamut of colorectal disease, and we’re ready and able to take care of patients on very short notice because of the size of our team,” says Walter A. Koltun, MD, chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He adds that the team has particular strengths in colorectal cancer—and specifically rectal cancer—inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticulitis.

The entire surgery team focuses on minimally invasive approaches such as laparoscopic and robotic procedures. “These techniques are becoming more popular with patients and clinicians,” Dr. Koltun says.