Dr. Atif Iqbal MD

Dr. Atif Iqbal is a colon and rectal surgeon practicing in Gainesville, FL. Dr. Iqbal specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. As a colon and rectal surgeon, Dr. Iqbal often treats conditions like rectal cancer, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal fissures and diverticulitis. Colon and rectal surgeons may be referred to you by your gastroenterologist if your doctor believes you need a surgical procedure.

Dr. Atif Iqbal earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University and completed a surgical internship at Mayo Hospital, Pakistan. He then completed a surgical research fellowship at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of Missouri and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He joined the University of Florida (UF) as an assistant professor in 2011 and was promoted to associate professor in 2018.

Dr. Iqbal leads the Colorectal Surgery team, and specializes in surgical procedures for benign and malignant pathology of the colon, rectum and anus. He has a special interest in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures for colon and rectal cancer, including sphincter saving procedures for low rectal cancer. He is a member of the Baylor Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and offers laparoscopic pouch procedures for ulcerative colitis and minimally invasive surgery for Crohn’s disease.

His clinical interests include robotic surgery, advanced laparoscopy, pelvic surgery and surgical treatment of rectal cancer, including transanal endoscopic microsurgery. His research interests focus on health services and outcome-based translational research in colorectal pathology with a focus on rectal cancer outcomes and institution of enhanced recovery programs after surgery. He has over 130 research publications, presentations and posters. 

Dr. Iqbal has held various leadership positions in the past including, being the Medical Director for the UF outpatient surgical clinics, Program Director for the UF PA residency program, the cancer liaison physician for the UF Health cancer network, and the lead robotic surgeon for his division. 

Dr. Iqbal is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He is recognized nationally as a colorectal cancer expert and is currently serving as an elected surgical expert on the NCI Rectal-Anal Task Force and the Colon task force of the GI steering committee. He is actively involved with the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and NRG Oncology. He has earned honors for his research presentations to the ACS, SAGES and the Commission on Cancer, as well as a medal of achievement in physiology by the Pakistan Physiological Research Organization. He has earned numerous ‘patient nominations’ and awards for the quality of care provided.