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Department Colorectal Surgery
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish
Surgeon Yes
Locations Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Abdominal Surgery
  • Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Advanced Operative Laparoscopy
  • Anorectal Fistula Treatment
  • Anorectal Surgery
  • Anoscopy
  • Cancer Center
  • Colectomy
  • Colon And Rectal Surgical Procedures
  • Colon Surgery
  • Colorectal Cancer - Prevention
  • Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
  • Colorectal Cancer Research
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies
  • Colorectal Cancer Treatment
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Colostomy
  • Consultation for Complicated Colon and Rectal Disease
  • Fecal Diversion
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
  • Hemorrhoidectomy
  • Ileoanal Pouch
  • Ileostomy
  • Intestinal Stomas
  • J Pouch
  • Laparoscopic Colectomy
  • Laparoscopic Colon Resection
  • Laparoscopic Colon Surgery
  • Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
  • Laparoscopic Fecal Diversion
  • Laparoscopic Ileocolectomy
  • Laparoscopic Proctosigmoidectomy
  • Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Laparoscopic Surgery for Digestive Diseases
  • Laparoscopy
  • Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
  • Ostomy Reversal and Creation
  • Pelvic J-pouch Creation
  • Pouch Center
  • Rectum Reoperative Abdominopelvic Surgery
  • Re-Do Rectal Surgery
  • Reoperative Abdominal and Pelvic Surgery
  • Reoperative Abdominal Surgery
  • Reoperative Pelvic Surgery
  • Reoperative Surgery
  • Resection of Colon and Rectal Diseases
  • Rigid Sigmoidoscopy
  • Robotic Colorectal Surgery
  • Rubber Band Ligation Of Hemorrhoids
  • Second Opinion
  • Sphincter Sparing Surgery
  • Stoma Surgery
  • Surgery
  • Surgery For Carcinoma Of The Colon
  • Surgery For Crohn's Disease
  • Surgery for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
  • Surgical Management for Ulcerative Colitis
  • Surgical Treatment for Mucosal Ulcerative Colitis
  • Total Abdominal Colectomy
  • Treatment for Anal Fissure
  • Treatment for Anal Fistula
View all 61 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Abdominal Abscess
  • Adenomas
  • Adenomatous Polyps
  • Anal Abscesses
  • Anal Cancer
  • Anal Fissures
  • Anal Fistula
  • Anal Itching
  • Anal Pain
  • Anorectal Disease
  • Anorectal Fistula
  • Benign Anorectal Disease
  • Cancer
  • Cancer of the Colon, Rectum and Anus
  • Carcinoma of the Colon
  • Carcinoma of the small and large bowel
  • Colon Cancer
  • Colon Diseases
  • Colon Polyps
  • Colonic Neoplasia
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies
  • Colovaginal Fistula
  • Colovesticle Fistula
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Diverticulitis
  • Diverticulosis
  • Diverticulum
  • Endometriosis
  • Enterocutaneious Fistula
  • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
  • Fap
  • Fissure
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Intestinal Endometriosis
  • Intestinal Fistula
  • Intestinal Fistulae
  • Intestinal Ischemic Syndrome
  • Large Bowel Cancer
  • Large Intestine Cancer
  • Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender LGBT Health
  • Polyps of the Colon and Rectum
  • Rectal Cancer
  • Small Bowel Cancer
  • Small Intestine Cancer
  • Stoma Related Problems
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Volvulus
View all 49 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Hermann Kessler, MD, PhD

Hermann Kessler, MD, PhD, F.A.C.S is currently the Section Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Kessler obtained his medical degree and Ph.D. from the University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.  There he completed his surgical training with board exams and certifications in General Surgery, Comprehensive Visceral Surgery, and Proctology. He finished two years of clinical and research fellowships for advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the United States: the Cleveland Clinic and the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. During these years, he participated and completed numerous scientific studies. In May 2007, Dr. Kessler was appointed Professor of Surgery at the University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.

Dr. Kessler joined the Cleveland Clinic, Department of Colorectal Surgery as Section Head, Minimally Invasive Surgery in April 2013. Dr. Kessler is active in many other professional groups, including the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, International Society of Digestive Surgery, International Society of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons, International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, & Oncologists, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Kessler’s specialty interests include laparoscopic and robotic surgery, colon and rectal carcinoma, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, J-pouch creation, re-do pouches, familial adenomatous polyposis, pelvic surgery, bowel fistula surgery, and intestinal endometriosis.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2013

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Mount Sinai Medical Center
Colorectal Surgery
New York, NY USA
1999

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Colorectal Surgery
Cleveland, OH USA
1998

Medical Education - Medical School University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Erlangen,
1984

Specialty Interests

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, familial adenomatous polyposis, pelvic surgery, intestinal endometriosis

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Hermann Kessler, MD, PhD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 12/8/2022, Dr. Kessler has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

141 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.5 out of 5
Explains 4.4
Listens 4.5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.6
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.5

12 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2023

Dr Kessler is a man of few words but Dr DeHaan was able to answer my questions and was great as well!

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2023

Have had an excellent experience at CC and unfortunately have a few people that have recommended when needed to head to Dr Kessler or anyone in the colorectal department.

Reviewed on Jan 31, 2023

Excellent provider. Very smart and experienced

Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023

Dr. Kessler is a brilliant GI surgeon. We exceeds being very good. Dr. Kessler is wonderful.

Reviewed on Jan 17, 2023

All physicians were courteous, pleasant, encouraging and worked well together to best meet my needs.

Reviewed on Dec 30, 2022

Dr Kessler was awesome thank you

Reviewed on Dec 9, 2022

Carrying Informative Professional Handsome 3 doctors. Love Them

Reviewed on Nov 18, 2022

The doctors examination was terrible, he pressed so hard on the tail bone while examining rectally, I was really in severe pain for a week since that day, he really tortured me, besides, he had a junior Dr with him who Examined same way right after without getting my permission , I am not a field experiment for them to practice on me, without my consent,it was really a terrible experience, also. Dr kessler's findings were all wrong and against all Dr's findings that I saw so far, he should not be practicing medical.

Reviewed on Nov 18, 2022

I will never recommend Dr Kessler to anybody, he is too aggressive, harmful and without knowledge on how to Exam, he made me suffer of pain with tears during Exam and for the a week after Exam including back pain after he pressed very hard on the tail bone, and allowing the PA doing something without my consent, I was not a field experiment to nobody, they had me laid on my side which I didn't see what was going on behind me,btill after the fact, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS, DISGUSTING, UNPROFESSIONAL, his findings were wrong and against all other Dr's findings that I ever saw,

Reviewed on Oct 14, 2022

Dr Kessler is an excellent surgeon - he gave me my life back 6 years ago and I've been healthy ever since. I appreciate him so much.

Reviewed on Oct 7, 2022

Dr Kessler and his staff are top notch.

Reviewed on Aug 5, 2022

I was hugely impressed by Dr. Kessler and his team. Dr. Kessler made me feel relaxed and comfortable, answered my questions thoughtfully and provided his recommendation clearly. The team took extra time and extended my appointment to do an unscheduled scope, even though it was late on a beautiful summer Friday afternoon. I will feel confident having Dr. Kessler preform my surgery.

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