About Dr. Harsha Polavarapu

Dr. Harsha is a board-certified general surgeon with advanced specialization in colon and rectal surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and brings more than a decade of experience caring for patients with gastrointestinal and colorectal conditions.

Dr. Harsha completed his foundational surgical training in the United Kingdom, followed by a General Surgery residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. He then pursued advanced fellowship training in Colon and Rectal Surgery and Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida, where he developed a strong focus on modern, less invasive surgical techniques.

When facing surgery, patients want more than technical expertise—they want a surgeon they can trust. For over 13 years, Dr. Harsha has served as that trusted guide for thousands of patients, performing more than 15,000 surgical procedures with a consistent focus on safety, precision, and patient comfort.

Dr. Harsha is recognized not only for his surgical skill, but also for his leadership and dedication to education and teamwork. He has received multiple honors, including the Preceptor of the Year Award from physician assistant students for excellence in teaching and mentorship, the Graduate Medical Education Research Award, and a Nursing Excellence Award recognizing his collaborative approach to patient care.

An active contributor to the field of surgery, Dr. Harsha has authored peer-reviewed publications, contributed to textbook chapters, and presented research at national and international surgical meetings. His clinical interests include minimally invasive and robotic colorectal surgery, surgical education, and healthcare economics.

Above all, Dr. Harsha believes in clear communication, thoughtful decision-making, and treating every patient with respect and compassion. Whether performing a routine screening procedure or a complex operation, he is committed to providing care that is not only clinically excellent, but also personal, transparent, and reassuring.

Your health, comfort, and trust are at the center of everything he does.

PUBLICATIONS

• Polavarapu HV, Craig M, Hofmann M, Yuschak J. Risk of bleeding in elderly patients with pelvic fracture after low-energy injuries. [Abstr] J Am Geriatr Soc 2010;58:S236.
• Polavarapu HV, Reyes JM, Anoia EJ, Jubelirer RA. Massive penoscrotal hematoma and testicular ischemia from failed vascular closing device. EJVES Extra 21 (2011), pp. e29–e31.
• Polavarapu HV, Reyes JM, Anoia EJ, Jubelirer RA. Massive penoscrotal hematoma and testicular ischemia from failed vascular closing device. [Abstr] European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.
• Polavarapu HV, Kurian A, Myers VS, Antanavicius G. Intraoperative fetal monitoring, an invaluable tool in pregnant patients with internal hernia after gastric bypass and review of literature. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. [PubMed.ID: 21546320]
• Polavarapu HV, Fassler SA, Zebley MD. Intestinal nonrotation in an adult. The Am Surg 2011 Dec;77(12):260–1. [PubMed.ID: 22273188]
• Polavarapu HV, Kurian A, Josloff R. Is Dexmedetomidine the agent of choice in the resection of Pheochromocytoma? Am Surg 2012 Mar;78(3):E127–8. [PMID:22524734]
• Polavarapu HV, Kulkarni N, Josloff R. Incarcerated inguinal hernia repair by laparoscopic total abdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach with mesh. [Abstr] Hernia.
• Polavarapu HV, Berumen SC, Edmonds P, Lim PS, Pezzi CM. Adrenocortical carcinoma: Complete surgical resection after 18 years. World J Oncol 2011 Dec;2(6):307–310.
• Polavarapu HV, Kurian A, Josloff R. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in the elderly: Does the type of hernia matter? Hernia 2012 Aug;16(4):425–9. [PubMed.ID: 22273188]
• Atallah S, Albert MR, deBeche-Adams T, Nassif G, Polavarapu HV, Larach SW. Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Total Mesorectal Excision (TAMIS-TME): A stepwise description of the surgical technique with video demonstration. Tech Coloproctol 2013 Jun;17(3):321–5. [PubMed.ID: 23377536]
• Polavarapu HV, Kulaylat AN, Sun S, Hamed O. 100 years of surgical education: The past, present, and future. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2013 Jul. [PubMed.ID: 24010218]
• Atallah S, Nassif G, Polavarapu HV, deBeche-Adams T, Ouyang J, Albert MR, Larach SW. Robotic-assisted transanal surgery for total mesorectal excision (RATS-TME): a description of a novel surgical approach with video demonstration. Tech Coloproctol. 2013 Aug;17(4):441–7. [PubMed.ID: 23801366]
• Anupam K Gupta, Polavarapu H, Kirk Hill. Metastatic sacral chordoma presenting as a cecal polyp: a case report. J Surg Case Rep. 2025 Dec (12). [PubMed.ID: 41446008]

TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS

• Matthew Albert, H. Polavarapu. Right Hemicolectomy: Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery Technique, Operative Techniques in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Edited by Mulholland MW, Albo D, Dalman R, Hawn M, Hughes S, Sabel M, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2014.
• Sergio W. Larach, H. Polavarapu. Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS), Advanced Techniques in Minimally Invasive and Robotic Colorectal Surgery, Edited by Bardakcioglu O, Springer, 2015.