Spotlight on a Health Care Champion: Colorectal Surgeon Robert Cleary, M.D.

Meet Dr. Robert Cleary, a dedicated and experienced board-certified general, colon and rectal surgeon at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, Colon & Rectal Surgery - Ann Arbor Campus. Dr. Cleary is known for his expertise involving a wide range of colorectal conditions using both traditional and advanced minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy and robotic surgery. In this Q&A, Dr. Cleary explains what drives him to be such a celebrated leader in the Ann Arbor medical community, some of his inspirations behind his work, and much more.

Q:  What initially drew you being a colon and rectal surgeon?

Dr. Cleary: It’s interesting looking back on a career spanning more than four decades and seeing how the dots connected to get me here. Early in my career, I spent a year diving deep into cancer research as part of a PhD program. Following my general surgery residency at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, I practiced as a general surgeon for two years, and an opportunity arose to complete a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. The more I considered it, the more it resonated with me. My interest in better understanding colon and rectal cancer and helping patients fight this terrible disease is what inspired me to pursue this specialty, and it continues to inspire me today.

Q: What kinds of cases and patients do you typically care for?

Dr. Cleary: The majority of patients we see – about 90 percent – are dealing with conditions like colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and various conditions that affect the colon, rectum, and anus. I really focus my practice on these types of cases so I can provide patients the most knowledgeable and experienced care possible.

Q: Who or what has been the biggest inspiration throughout your career?

Dr. Cleary: Professionally, I've been fortunate to work with many wonderful mentors over my 41 years at Trinity Health Ann Arbor. However, without a doubt, my biggest inspirations are my wife and our six children. And now with the addition of two wonderful sons-in-law and two grandchildren, my family continues to inspire me every day to be the best doctor and person I can be.

Q: What are some of the exciting advancements you're seeing right now in colon and rectal surgery?

Dr. Cleary: The progress we've made in the last decade, especially in how we treat rectal cancer more comprehensively with a multidisciplinary treatment team approach, has been remarkable. Because of advances in radiation and chemotherapy, it’s so encouraging to see that we've been able to reduce the number of patients that require rectal surgery for cancer by roughly 50 percent! It's also been rewarding to be part of our "watch and wait" program, which we began in 2017. This is a treatment strategy where patients with rectal cancer who have responded well to chemotherapy and radiation are closely monitored instead of undergoing immediate surgery.

Q: How do you make sure your patients and their families feel truly heard and understood during their treatment journey?

Dr. Cleary: That's so important. Our Oncology Department has dedicated resources to ensure everyone feels supported. We have a fantastic team — medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, genetic counselors, research coordinators, and nurse navigators — all of whom genuinely care about each patient. We focus on providing the highest standard of care, but also on offering the emotional and well-being support that's so crucial during a challenging time.

Q: What's one thing you wish more people knew about you or the work you and your team do?

Dr. Cleary: On a personal note, I love baseball and played at Notre Dame, where I earned my undergraduate degree. Thinking more professionally, I’m fortunate to do what I do now, and I love the impact I get to make in the lives of my patients. I really want people to know that we have a comprehensive cancer center at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, which is aligned with the nationally renowned Mayo Clinic. This alignment allows us to participate in all the same cancer trials, which means we can offer our patients the absolute best and most advanced treatment options available, while keeping their care close to home.

Q: What advice or words of encouragement do you offer individuals and families facing a cancer diagnosis?

Dr. Cleary: For anyone going through cancer, take life one day at a time. Let’s focus on making each day a little better than the last. There are so many treatment options available now, and we've seen such remarkable progress, even for advanced cancers. If someone close to you was recently diagnosed, surround them with love and your unwavering support. It makes a difference. Aside from being a physician, I’m also a dad. I’ve received that difficult phone call about my own daughter. I was so proud and grateful for the way her siblings — my other children — rallied around her. Their support played a huge role in her recovery.

Click here to learn more about Colon and Rectal Surgery with Trinity Health IHA Medical Group.

Looking to schedule a colonoscopy? Start with a Trinity Health Michigan provider.