Faculty

Program Director – Laila Rashidi, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Laila Rashidi, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a double board-certified colorectal surgeon. She provides minimally invasive treatments for conditions of the colon, rectum and anus through the use of robotic, laparoscopic, transanal and natural orifice techniques for sphincter preservation. Her special interests in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drove her to be one of the early adopters of robotic, transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME), and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS).

Dr. Rashidi chairs the MultiCare GI tumor board and is the program director for minimally invasive surgery. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Tehran. She moved to the United States to pursue her medical training, ultimately receiving her Doctorate of Medicine from Ross University. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch followed by her colorectal surgery fellowship at Swedish Medical Center.

Dr. Rashidi is an innovator and expert in her field and is regularly invited to speak and teach at national and international conferences. Dr. Rashidi heads one of the few robotic colorectal case observation training centers in the country and is teaching faculty for APDCRS and SAGES fellow courses. She is the principal investigator of numerous local and national research projects with the goal of improving the care of patients with colorectal conditions.

Dr. Rashidi believes in a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to treatment of colon and rectal disease. Her interests include education and minimally invasive surgery for complex colorectal diseases, and she is an ardent advocate for women in the field of surgery, founding Women in Northwest Surgery (WINS) in 2019. Her research interests are in rectal cancer, surgical education and quality and financial outcomes.

Associate Program Director – James A. Sebesta, MD

Board-certified Bariatric Surgeon
Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery

James Sebesta, MD treats obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal wall hernias, breast cancer, as well as other gastrointestinal surgical diseases.

Dr. Sebesta is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, outdoor sports and watching his children’s sporting events.

Kelly Blair, MD

Board-certified Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Blair is a board-certified surgeon, specializing in bariatric surgery. He has expertise in robotic and laparoscopic procedures, offering treatment for a wide array of conditions, including severe reflux and GERD. LINX surgery allows these patients to immediately resume normal activities.

Dr. Blair received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He then went on to complete his residency at Vanderbilt University Medial Center in Nashville, before returning to Chicago for his fellowship work at the University of Chicago School of Medicine.

Away from work, Dr. Blair enjoys learning languages, studying other cultures and foreign travel. He also dedicates time to serving the community through medical missions and participating in his church’s outreach programs.

Gabriela Vargas, MD, MS, FASC, FASCRS

Board-certified General Surgeon and Colon and Rectal Surgeon

Dr. Vargas is a double board-certified surgeon specializing in colon and rectal surgery. Dr. Vargas treats the full spectrum of colon and rectal diseases and has expertise in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Her special interests include the treatment of colon and rectal cancer and pelvic floor disorders.

In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband enjoying many of the outdoor activities the PNW offers.

Debra Lai, DO

Board-certified General Surgeon and Board eligible Colon and Rectal Surgeon

Dr. Lai is a board-certified surgeon specializing in colon and rectal surgery. She provides minimally invasive treatments for conditions of the colon, rectum, and anus.

She received her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed General Surgery residency at George Washington University in Washington DC, before coming to Seattle for her Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship with Swedish Colon and Rectal Clinic. Away from work she enjoys crafts, art, music, trying new restaurants, rock climbing, yoga, and traveling.