William R. G. Perry, M.B., Ch.B., M.P.H.

William R. G. Perry, M.B., Ch.B., F.R.A.C.S., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S., is a colon and rectal surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery, and Vice Chair of Practice in the Department of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also serves as Director of the International Colon & Rectal Surgery Fellowship. He is widely recognized for his expertise in robotic pelvic and oncologic surgery, combining advanced technical precision with a strong commitment to patient-centered care. His approach is highly collaborative, ensuring that each person benefits from a multidisciplinary team focused on achieving the best possible outcomes.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Perry's work focuses on complex pelvic surgery, both functional and oncological. He emphasizes multidisciplinary care and has a particular interest in improving outcomes for people with challenging re-operative colorectal and pelvic conditions. His clinical focus includes:

• Complex pelvic surgery: Management of advanced pelvic conditions requiring close coordination across colorectal, urologic, gynecologic, and reconstructive teams.
• Robotic pelvic and oncologic surgery: Advanced minimally invasive and robotic approaches focused on precision, recovery, and long-term function.
• Pelvic floor disorders: Comprehensive evaluation and surgical treatment of functional and structural pelvic floor conditions.
• Presacral tumors: Specialized care for rare, technically demanding tumors located deep within the pelvis.
• Recurrent rectal cancer: Surgical care for individuals facing recurrence, including reoperative pelvic surgery and complex reconstruction.
• Perineal hernia and pelvic floor reconstruction: Reconstructive solutions following cancer treatment or prior pelvic surgery.
• LADDs procedure: Surgical management of intestinal malrotation and related complications using advanced operative techniques.

Research and Education

Dr. Perry's research program integrates artificial intelligence, implementation science, and clinical outcomes research to advance the safe and effective translation of innovation into surgical practice. He leads and collaborates on projects spanning real-world data, consensus methodology, and digital health, with a growing focus on the implementation of AI tools in clinical workflows. Through his work with the Surgical AI2 lab at Mayo Clinic, he contributes to initiatives in disease prediction, computer vision, generative AI, and operating room optimization.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Perry was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University, where he trained in health policy and patient safety. He subsequently served as an external consultant to the World Health Organization, contributing to global initiatives in surgical safety, childbirth safety, and access to care across diverse healthcare settings.

Dr. Perry completed Fellowship training at Mayo Clinic and Oxford University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and a member of the Mayo Clinic Academy of Educational Excellence. His career is defined by a commitment to combining clinical innovation, rigorous evaluation, and scalable implementation to improve surgical care globally.