Joseph C. Melvin, MD

Dr. Melvin is specialty trained in all surgical aspects of colorectal disease, including colon cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, and complex proctology including rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence. He provides consultative services to patients throughout Utah and surrounding states.

He offers the opportunity for cure of ulcerative colitis with avoidance of permanent ileostomy through the use of minimally invasive J-pouch surgery. Additionally, he is able to offer an S-pouch procedure for some patients who are unable to receive a J-pouch. His interest and expertise in the surgical problems afflicting his patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease developed during his training at the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Melvin specializes in the management of all aspects of the pelvic floor and anorectal disease including rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids, anal pain, anal fissures, infection and abscess, rectal fistula, anal itching, pilonidal disease, anal warts, and anal HPV.

He offers trans-anal and minimally invasive/robotic-assisted trans-abdominal approaches to rectal prolapse repair. He also offers specialized surgical options for fecal incontinence including sacral nerve stimulator implantation. Additionally, he provides diagnostic and surveillance procedures for anal HPV.

Dr. Melvin provides expert surgical management of diverticulitis, including the complications of diverticular abscess, and diverticular fistula communication to the bladder or vagina. Surgical management includes goals of minimizing the need for a colostomy and the use of minimally invasive access which often affords a smaller wound incision, quicker return to normal activities, and less post-operative pain.

As a proctologist he offers the complete range of treatments for hemorrhoids, including in-office procedures using painless, nonsurgical options. These include hemorrhoid banding, medical and diet management. Surgical options include traditional hemorrhoidectomy which can sometimes be performed in combination with screening colonoscopy. He understands the importance of minimizing post-operative pain, while also limiting narcotic use and utilizing a multi-modal strategy to pain control.

Dr. Melvin is married and has two daughters. He and his family enjoy the outdoors and love to take advantage of all the Wasatch Mountain range has to offer including camping, hiking, skiing and snowboarding.

Expertise:

Dr. Melvin has a broad focus on management of colon & rectal diseases. Beginning with colon and rectal cancer and the goal of cancer cure, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery where beneficial for colorectal surgical disease.

Clinical Interests:

• All aspects of colon and rectal surgery
• Robotic and laparoscopic surgery
• Screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic colonoscopy
• Specialized treatments for fecal incontinence such as sacral nerve stimulator implantation
• Colon, Rectal, and Anal Cancer
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
• Diverticulitis
• Benign diseases of the anus and rectum, including ailments such as:

  • Rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, fistulas, fissures, and abscesses

Society Memberships and Activities:

• Member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery
• Member of the American College of Surgeons
• Faculty for St. Marks Hospital Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Multidisciplinary Program.  All of our doctors participate with other local physicians from three hospitals in specialties including gastroenterology, radiology, and pathology so that they can make multidisciplinary decisions for patients with complex cases of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

  • All of our doctors participate with other local physicians from three hospitals in specialties including gastroenterology, radiology, and pathology so that they can make multidisciplinary decisions for patients with complex cases of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Multidisciplinary cancer care.  All of our doctors participate with other local physicians from two hospitals in specialties including medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology so that they can make multidisciplinary treatment recommendations for patients with complex cases of colorectal cancer.

  • All of our doctors participate with other local physicians from two hospitals in specialties including medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology so that they can make multidisciplinary treatment recommendations for patients with complex cases of colorectal cancer.