Carla N. Holcomb
( out of 170 reviews )

Carla N. Holcomb, MD, MSPH, FACS

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Sugar House Health Center

1280 E. Stringham Avenue
Salt Lake City , UT 84106
801-581-2000
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Carla Holcomb, MD, MSPH, is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction. She has extensive experience in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, with a clinical focus on helping patients overcome conditions that limit quality of life such as obesity, reflux disease, and hernias.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Holcomb’s surgical practice includes advanced care in:

  • Bariatric Surgery and Bariatric Revisions

  • Anti-Reflux Surgery (GERD)

  • Hiatal Hernia Repair

  • Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair

  • Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery

Education and Training

Dr. Holcomb earned her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During residency, she also obtained a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and served as a research fellow studying cardiovascular disease outcomes in surgical patients.

She then completed a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at The Ohio State University, specializing in bariatric and foregut surgery. Following fellowship, Dr. Holcomb joined the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she spent six years developing a high-volume robotic surgery practice.

Research and Academic Interests

Dr. Holcomb is an active researcher and national surgical leader. Her academic interests include:

  • Cardiac risk and outcomes in surgery

  • Bariatric surgery outcomes

  • Surgical simulation in hiatal hernia surgery

She has published extensively in these areas and plays an active role in national surgical leadership organizations, particularly in foregut surgery and surgical education.

Patient Care Philosophy

Dr. Holcomb describes herself as a “quality of life surgeon,” dedicated to helping patients regain their health, mobility, and confidence. Many of her patients suffer from conditions such as excess weight, reflux disease, or abdominal wall hernias. She finds deep fulfillment in providing surgical solutions that allow patients to live life to the fullest.

Personal Interests

Outside of surgery, Dr. Holcomb enjoys the slow burn of a mountain hike, spending time with friends and family, and sharing laughter with those around her.

Specialties

Patient Rating

Patients describe Dr. Holcomb as caring, professional, and knowledgeable, and note that she explains diagnoses and next steps clearly. Many say she listens attentively, puts them at ease about surgery and recovery, and addresses questions thoroughly. Reviewers also praise the clinic staff and smooth visit experience from check-in to checkout.

Generated via Patient Reviews

4.9 /5
( out of 170 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.

Carla Holcomb, MD, MSPH, is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction. She has extensive experience in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, with a clinical focus on helping patients overcome conditions that limit quality of life such as obesity, reflux disease, and hernias.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Holcomb’s surgical practice includes advanced care in:

  • Bariatric Surgery and Bariatric Revisions

  • Anti-Reflux Surgery (GERD)

  • Hiatal Hernia Repair

  • Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair

  • Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery

Education and Training

Dr. Holcomb earned her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During residency, she also obtained a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and served as a research fellow studying cardiovascular disease outcomes in surgical patients.

She then completed a Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at The Ohio State University, specializing in bariatric and foregut surgery. Following fellowship, Dr. Holcomb joined the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she spent six years developing a high-volume robotic surgery practice.

Research and Academic Interests

Dr. Holcomb is an active researcher and national surgical leader. Her academic interests include:

  • Cardiac risk and outcomes in surgery

  • Bariatric surgery outcomes

  • Surgical simulation in hiatal hernia surgery

She has published extensively in these areas and plays an active role in national surgical leadership organizations, particularly in foregut surgery and surgical education.

Patient Care Philosophy

Dr. Holcomb describes herself as a “quality of life surgeon,” dedicated to helping patients regain their health, mobility, and confidence. Many of her patients suffer from conditions such as excess weight, reflux disease, or abdominal wall hernias. She finds deep fulfillment in providing surgical solutions that allow patients to live life to the fullest.

Personal Interests

Outside of surgery, Dr. Holcomb enjoys the slow burn of a mountain hike, spending time with friends and family, and sharing laughter with those around her.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Surgery -Associate Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions General Surgery

Education history

Fellowship Minimally Invasive Surgery,­ Bariatric and Foregut Distinction - Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Fellow
Graduate Training Public Health - University of Alabama School of Public Health M.S.
Postdoctoral Fellowship National Research Award in Health Services Outcomes and Effectiveness Research - University of Alabama at Birmingham Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Residency General Surgery - University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Resident
Professional Medical Medicine - University of Oklahoma College of Medicine M.D.
Undergraduate Zoology, with special distinction - University of Oklahoma B.S.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Desir A, Marques C, Farah E, R Hegde S, Holcomb C, Scott DJ, Sankaranarayanan G (2024). Validity and reliability evidence support task-specific metrics for laparoscopic fundoplication. Surg Endosc, 38(4), 2219-2230.
  2. Switzer NJ, Holcomb C, Jalilvand AD, Mcnally M, Power A, Belle P, Perry KA (2019). Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication improves disease-specific quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional gastroesophageal outflow obstruction. Surg Endosc, 34(6), 2608-2612.
  3. Holcomb CN, Switzer NJ, Jalilvand A, Belle P, McNally M, Perry K (2019). Impact of psychiatric disorders on patient satisfaction after Nissen Fundoplication. Surg Endosc, 34(4), 1829-1834.
  4. Holcomb CN, Goss LE, Almehmi A, Grams JM, Corey BL (2017). Bariatric surgery is associated with renal function improvement. Surg Endosc, 32(1), 276-281.
  5. Hollis RH, Holcomb CN, Valle JA, Smith BP, DeRussy AJ, Graham LA, Richman JS, Itani KM, Maddox TM, Hawn MT (2016). Coronary angiography and failure to rescue after postoperative myocardial infarction in patients with coronary stents undergoing noncardiac surgery. Am J Surg, 212(5), 814-822.e1.
  6. Levitan EB, Graham LA, Valle JA, Richman JS, Hollis R, Holcomb CN, Maddox TM, Hawn MT (2016). Pre-operative echocardiography among patients with coronary artery disease in the United States Veterans Affairs healthcare system: A retrospective cohort study. BMC Cardiovasc Disord, 16(1), 173.
  7. Holcomb CN, Hollis RH, Graham LA, Richman JS, Valle JA, Itani KM, Maddox TM, Hawn MT (2016). Association of Coronary Stent Indication With Postoperative Outcomes Following Noncardiac Surgery. JAMA Surg, 151(5), 462-9.
  8. Hollis RH, Singletary BA, McMurtrie JT, Graham LA, Richman JS, Holcomb CN, Itani KM, Maddox TM, Hawn MT (2015). Blood Transfusion and 30-Day Mortality in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Anemia Following Noncardiac Surgery. JAMA Surg, 151(2), 139-45.
  9. Killian JT Jr, Holcomb CN, Graham LA, Richman JS, Hawn MT (2015). Delays in Surgery for Patients With Coronary Stents Placed After Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer. JAMA Surg, 151(1), 86-8.
  10. Holcomb CN, DeRussy A, Richman JS, Hawn MT (2015). Association Between Inpatient Surveillance and Venous Thromboembolism Rates After Hospital Discharge. JAMA Surg, 150(6), 520-7.
  11. Holcomb CN, Graham LA, Richman JS, Rhyne RR, Itani KM, Maddox TM, Hawn MT (2014). The incremental risk of noncardiac surgery on adverse cardiac events following coronary stenting. J Am Coll Cardiol, 64(25), 2730-9.
  12. Holcomb CN, Hawn MT (2014). Occult gastrointestinal bleeding. JAMA Surg, 149(12), 1335-6.

Review

  1. Hazen JK, Scott DJ, Holcomb CN (2022). The effect of bedside assistant technical performance on outcomes in robotic surgery. [Review]. J Robot Surg, 17(3), 711-718.

Editorial

  1. Holcomb CN, Shoultz TH (2026). The general surgery match in the step 1 pass/fail era: Leveling the playing field or moving the goalpost? Am J Surg, 116818.