Alexander Lorenzo Colonna
( out of 28 reviews )

Alexander Lorenzo Colonna, MD, MSCI, FACS

Languages spoken: English, French

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

University of Utah Hospital

General Surgery, Area E
50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City , UT 84132
801-585-7403
Get Directions

Dr. Colonna specializes in Acute Care Surgery which is composed of Trauma Surgery, Emergency General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. His clinical practice includes the University Hospital SICU and the University Trauma and Emergency Surgery (UTES) service. Dr. Colonna also has a General Surgery Clinic focused on basic general surgical pathology with a special interest in complex abdominal wall hernias. He is originally from South Carolina and completed his General Surgery Residency at East Tennessee State University. He went on to complete Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowships at Wake Forest University. After a brief detour in private practice, Dr. Colonna joined the faculty at the University of Utah in 2012. Dr. Colonna has been Army Reservist since 2003 and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has completed multiple deployments to the Middle East to serve as a trauma surgeon taking care of the combat wounded, most recently to Iraq in 2023-2024 where he served as Trauma Medical Director for Operation Inherent Resolve. He completed his military service and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve in 2025. Dr. Colonna has a focus on medical education, having previously directed the MS-3 and MS-4 surgery clerkships, and is the program director of the SCC/ACS fellowships. His research interests include cost-effectiveness analysis, educational research with a focus on simulation, and acute care surgery/trauma. Dr. Colonna is the inaugural Emergency Surgery Medical Director and is working toward EGS verification by the American College of Surgeons. Finally, he serves has the chair of the Utah State COT.

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
American Board of Surgery (Sub: Surgical Critical Care)

Patient Rating

4.8 /5
( out of 28 reviews )

The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

I found Dr. Collona to be my kind of doctor. Honest, casual yet competent.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

I have never in all of my life felt so condescended and unheard in a doctors appointment. I was shamed regarding a supplement question because supplements arent science while being told I should supplement fiber. Interesting.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Listened to what I said, and addressed my concerns.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

He did an awesome job on my surgery and was a nice guy.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Dr. Colonna was very professional and caring. I left feeling like he was the Doctor to fix my specific problem.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

They made me wait over an hour past my initial appointment, and then did not have any of the information that THEY made the appointment to see me about.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

The Dr. was very kind, patient, a good listener, informative. The Dr. took the time patiently to answer all questions I asked so that by the time I left I was very comfortable with the diagnosis, prognosis, and followup schedule.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

He was direct and easy going

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Same Great care for 20 yrs

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

very good

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

I first spoke with Dr. Megan Wojick (resident) - she was incredibly kind, professional, and a great listener; and she discussed my concerns/questions with compassion. Dr. Colonna (attending) came in next, to discuss additional questions that I had. Both providers were great and I felt that all my questions/concerns were addressed thoroughly. Also really liked the virtual visit format - everything went smoothly and it was great to have a follow-up at home without having to go to the hospital. Many thanks!

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

The dr. seemed in a hurry and not interested at all. At points, it seems as if he was upset at what his colleagues have done before.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Thank you for everything you did for me

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Dr Colonna did not rush to provide treatment based on the obvious, but instead decided upon further tests to make sure of the source of my troubles. He was very thoughtful.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

I would recommend him

University Hospital

I was told I'd meet with the surgeon and it was an assistant who wasn't able to answer my questions because he didn't take part in the sugary. This was my second appointment trying to talk to the surgeon , was told I would, and each time it was someone else.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

This was my first visit, I don't know him. I don't have any complaints. He explained everything to me and I felt better after I left the clinic. The results was good news. Thank you for making my experience a good and successful visit.

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Excellent-- exceeded expectations

UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

seemed like it was just moved along and not really spend time with me

Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Dr. Colonna specializes in Acute Care Surgery which is composed of Trauma Surgery, Emergency General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. His clinical practice includes the University Hospital SICU and the University Trauma and Emergency Surgery (UTES) service. Dr. Colonna also has a General Surgery Clinic focused on basic general surgical pathology with a special interest in complex abdominal wall hernias. He is originally from South Carolina and completed his General Surgery Residency at East Tennessee State University. He went on to complete Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowships at Wake Forest University. After a brief detour in private practice, Dr. Colonna joined the faculty at the University of Utah in 2012. Dr. Colonna has been Army Reservist since 2003 and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has completed multiple deployments to the Middle East to serve as a trauma surgeon taking care of the combat wounded, most recently to Iraq in 2023-2024 where he served as Trauma Medical Director for Operation Inherent Resolve. He completed his military service and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve in 2025. Dr. Colonna has a focus on medical education, having previously directed the MS-3 and MS-4 surgery clerkships, and is the program director of the SCC/ACS fellowships. His research interests include cost-effectiveness analysis, educational research with a focus on simulation, and acute care surgery/trauma. Dr. Colonna is the inaugural Emergency Surgery Medical Director and is working toward EGS verification by the American College of Surgeons. Finally, he serves has the chair of the Utah State COT.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Surgery -Associate Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions General Surgery
Board Certification
American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)
American Board of Surgery (Sub: Surgical Critical Care)

Education history

Undergraduate Major in History; Major in French Literature; Minor in Pre-Med - Emory University B.A.
Professional Medical Medicine - Medical University of South Carolina M.D.
Residency Surgery - East Tennessee State University, Department of Surgery Resident
Chief Resident Surgery - East Tennessee State University, Department of Surgery Chief Resident
Fellowship Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery - Wake Forest University, Department of Surgery Fellow
Graduate Training University of Utah (Master of Science in Clinical Investigation) M.S.C.I

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Colonna AL, Byrge NR, Nelson SD, Nelson RE, Hunter MC, Nirula R (2016). Nonoperative management of adhesive small bowel obstruction: what is the break point? Am J Surg, 212(6), 1214-1221.
  2. Colonna AL, Griffiths TM, Robison DC, Enniss TM, Young JB, McCrum ML, Nunez JM, Nirula R, Hardman R (2019). Cholecystostomy: Are we using it correctly?. American journal of surgery, 217(6), 1010-1015.
  3. Carlock TC, Barrett JR, Kalvelage JP, Young JB, Nunez JM, Colonna AL, Enniss TM, Nirula R, McCrum M (2020). Telephone Follow-Up for Emergency General Surgery Procedures: Safety and Implication for Health Resource Use. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 230(2), 228-236.
  4. Becher RD, Colonna AL, Enniss TM, Weaver AA, Crane DK, Martin RS, Mowery NT, Miller PR, Stitzel JD, Hoth J (2012). An innovative approach to predict the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome in patients with blunt trauma. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, 73(5), 1229-35.
  5. Byrge N, Heilbrun M, Winkler N, Sommers D, Evans H, Cattin LM, Scalea T, Stein DM, Neideen T, Walsh P, Sims CA, Brahmbhatt TS, Galante JM, Phan HH, Malhotra A, Stovall RT, Jurkovich GJ, Coimbra R, Berndtson AE, O'Callaghan TA, Gaspard SF, Schreiber MA, Cook MR, Demetriades D, Rivera O, Velmahos GC, Zhao T, Park PK, Machado-Aranda D, Ahmad S, Lewis J, Hoff WS, Suleiman G, Sperry J, Zolin S, Carrick MM, Mallory GR, Nunez J, Colonna A, Enniss T, Nirula (2018). An AAST-MITC analysis of pancreatic trauma: Staple or sew? Resect or drain?. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, 85(3), 435-443.
  6. Senekjian L, Birkas Y, Buhavac M, Dayal S, Mukherjee K, Nygaard R, Pierce S, Buaza G, Sperry J, Eriksson E, Leon SM, Kopelman T, Spadafore P, Kopatsis A, Moore F, Taylor A, Colonna A, Enniss T, McCrum M, Nunez J, Young J, Nirula (2020). Stop flailing: The impact of bicortically displaced rib fractures on pulmonary outcomes in patients with chest trauma - an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional study. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, 89(4), 658-664.
  7. Bleicher J, Lambert LA, Scaife, CL, Colonna AL, et a (2021). Understanding Current Management of Malignant Bowel Obstructions: A Survey of National Opinions. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery,
  8. Colonna AL, Bellows BK, Enniss TM, Young JB, McCrum M, Nunez JM, Nirula R, Nelson R (2020). Reducing the pain: A cost-effectiveness analysis of transversus abdominis plane block using liposomal bupivacaine for outpatient laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Surgery open science, 2(2), 75-80.
  9. Colonna AL, Bellows BK, Enniss TM, Young JB, McCrum M, Nunez JM, Nirula R, Nelson R (2020). Reducing the pain: A cost-effectiveness analysis of transversus abdominis plane block using liposomal bupivacaine for outpatient laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. 2(2), 75-80.
  10. Colonna AL, Robbins R, Stefanucci J, Creem-Regeh S, Patterson B, Engel BT, Fischer A, Nirula (2022). Trauma bay virtual reality-A game changer for ATLS instruction and assessment. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, 93(3), 353-359.
  11. Bleicher J, Lambert LA, Scaife CL, Colonna (2021). Current management of malignant bowel obstructions: a survey of acute care surgeons and surgical oncologists. Trauma surgery & acute care open, 6(1), e000755.

Book Chapter

  1. Colonna AL, Meredith JW, Mowery, N (2011). Myocardial Contusion.
  2. Colonna A, Meredith J (2011). American College of Surgeons Resouces Document.
  3. Colonna A, Volckmann ES, Young J, Wayne Meredith JA, Neumayer LT, Berger E (2017). General Surgery. 4.
  4. Duletzke, N; Colonna, A (2017). Inguinal and Femoral Hernia- Repair.
  5. Bradley Kuhn, Alexander Colonn (2018). Spine Fracture SCORE Module.
  6. Alexander Colonna, Tyler Pender, Anthony Bacon et a (2021). Preoperative Evaluation and Decision Making. When to Operate and By Which Approach: Tube Cholecystostomy. 174.
  7. Irma Fleming, Joanna Grudziak, Alexander L. Colonn (2023). Surgical Infections of Skin and Soft Tissue Chapter 291. 2, 2733-2739.

Letter

  1. Colonna AL, Enniss TM, Meredith JW, Hildreth A (2010). Celiac artery avulsion and right atrial rupture after blunt multisystem trauma. The American surgeon, 76(7), E83-5.