Dr. Bobel understands that anorectal diseases are uncomfortable for anyone to discuss with healthcare providers. As a member of the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies, he ensures that all members of the LGBTQ+ community receive high quality anorectal care in a safe environment. He also partners with Cheeky Charity (https://www.cheekycharity.org/) to ensure that everyone receives appropriate anal, colon, and rectal cancer screening. He works closely with the UAF Legacy Health Clinic (https://www.uaflegacyhealth.org/) in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Bobel understands that surgery is a journey. He partners with his patients and their care team(s) from pre-operative preparation through post-operative recovery to ensure the best possible outcome. He aims to optimize each patient’s health before surgery, so they are ready to undergo the stresses during and after surgery. This includes increasing physical activity, diet modification to decrease inflammation around the time of surgery and minimizing post-operative pain through a multi-modal pain control strategy to limit or eliminate the need for narcotics.

Dr. Bobel has a particular interest in minimally invasive operations, specifically robot-assisted surgery. He has completed over 200 robotic colorectal surgeries since starting practice in Utah. Dr. Bobel was the first colorectal surgeon in Utah to be trained to use the Da Vinci SP robotic surgery platform. He performed the first APR using the SP robotic surgery platform in the country and the first right colectomy, ileostomy takedown, colostomy takedown, and colostomy revision in the state of Utah. Dr. Bobel was trained to perform natural orifice extraction—removing the diseased colon through the vagina or rectum—to minimize the size of incisions, thereby reducing the risk of post-operative hernias, decreasing post-operative pain, and speeding up the return to normal activities.

Dr. Bobel has a passion for education. He was a first-grade teacher before returning to medical school. He loves educating patients about their disease process and options for treatment. Additionally, he is the Associate Program Director of the Utah HealthCare Institute/St. Mark’s Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship and the Director of U.S. Education for SurgeOn.