Department of Surgery
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Specialties

Elise Lawson, MD, MSHS, FACS

Associate Professor

lawson@surgery.wisc.edu
(608) 263-4224

  • Administrative Assistant: (608) 263-2521

Clinical Science Center
600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792-7375

Education

  • MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
  • Residency, UCLA General Surgery Residency Program, Los Angeles, California
  • Fellowship, Lahey Clinic Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Burlington, Massachusetts

Clinical Specialties

Dr Lawson is a fellowship-trained colon and rectal surgeon. She has specific expertise in the surgical treatment of colon cancer, rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), diverticulitis, and other benign conditions affecting the colon, rectum, and anus. Her practice includes diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy as well as the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Research Interests

Dr. Lawson’s research focuses on measuring and improving the quality of surgical care. She is Executive Director of the Surgical Collaborative of Wisconsin, a state-wide surgeon-led organization that aims to optimize quality, reduce costs, and promote delivery of care that is safe, effective, equitable, and patient-centered. Dr. Lawson’s research investigates variation in the delivery of colorectal cancer care, specifically addressing disparities in access, management, and outcomes.

Recent Publications

  • Subclonal response heterogeneity to define cancer organoid therapeutic sensitivity.
    Kratz JD, Rehman S, Johnson KA, Gillette AA, Sunil A, Favreau PF, Pasch CA, Miller D, Zarling LC, Yeung AH, Clipson L, Anderson SJ, Steimle AK, Sprackling CM, Lemmon KK, Abbott DE, Burkard ME, Bassetti MF, Eickhoff JC, Foley EF, Heise CP, Kimple RJ, Lawson EH, LoConte NK, Lubner SJ, Mulkerin DL, Matkowskyj KA, Sanger CB, Uboha NV, Mcilwain SJ, Ong IM, Carchman EH, Skala MC, Deming DA
    Sci Rep 2025 Apr 09; 15(1): 12072
    [PubMed ID: 40200028]

  • "So, what are you saying?": A qualitative study of surgeon-patient communication in the rectal cancer consultations.
    Fritz ML, Sommovilla J, Lawson EH, Zelenski AB, Schwarze ML, De Roo AC
    Am J Surg 2025 Feb; 240: 116115
    [PubMed ID: 39657331]

  • Barriers to Colonoscopy Quality Measurement in Rural Wisconsin.
    Schumacher JR, Weiss JM, Ties JS, Kitowski NJ, Levin JP, Gigot M, May JC, Pung DR, Lawson EH
    Dis Colon Rectum 2025 Mar 01; 68(3): 373-379
    [PubMed ID: 39530524]

  • Carboplatin and Paclitaxel Chemoradiation for Localized Anal Cancer in Patients Not Eligible for Mitomycin and 5-Fluorouracil.
    DeZeeuw AK, Bassetti MF, Carchman EH, Heise CP, Hayden D, Lawson EH, Sanger CB, King R, LoConte NK, Lubner SJ, Kratz JD, Deming DA
    Cancers (Basel) 2024 Sep 03; 16(17)
    [PubMed ID: 39272920]

  • Disposal of Unused Postoperative Opioids: A Real-World Demonstration of Surgeon-initiated Strategies Using an Activated Charcoal Bag System.
    Nishtala MV, Karim AS, Melnick D, Delarwelle T, Lawson E, Greenberg CC, Borza T
    Ann Surg Open 2023 Sep; 4(3): e313
    [PubMed ID: 37746621]

All Publications on PubMed