About Me
Working in the field of colorectal surgery allows me to see patients with a wide range of surgical problems, many of which are sensitive in nature, and make a lasting impact on their lives. The care I provide might give a patient a possible cure for their cancer, help them manage complications of Crohn’s disease or aid them in relief from bowel incontinence. All of these improvements give my patients a quality of life that may have been out of reach before receiving treatment.
I treat my patients the way I would want my family to be treated. I use evidence-based therapies so my patients receive care based on the most up-to-date guidelines. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center gives me the opportunity to provide the highest quality of care to patients from diverse backgrounds, often with complex medical and surgical conditions. For these conditions, I often provide care to patients as part of a multidisciplinary team, which opens the door for active care coordination and communication between providers.
I perform minimally invasive colon and rectal surgeries, including robotic surgery, when it’s appropriate for my patients. I’m proud to be one of the earliest adopters of robotic surgery for colorectal patients at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. I’m also the only colorectal surgeon at the medical center who performs sacral nerve stimulator implantation for bowel incontinence, which is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe symptoms.
I have been fortunate to learn from excellent mentors in academic surgery during my training and since entering practice. They have fostered in me a love for the practice of medicine and helped me to become a skilled surgeon and educator. Because of their influence, I’m inspired to mentor students interested in a surgical career.
I enjoy teaching, both in clinical environments and in virtual and in-person classroom settings, and get to interact with medical students and residents through several different roles at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. I lead the pelvic floor program in colon and rectal surgery in addition to holding a number of leadership positions in surgical education. I’m an associate program director for the Ohio State General Surgery Residency, and I direct a summer career exploration program for students interested in a general surgery career. I’m also the unit director for the medical students’ required clerkships in surgery, in which I supervise and administer surgery training for more than 200 students per year at Ohio State and our participating community hospitals. This gives me an opportunity to mentor individual students applying to residency programs in surgical specialties. Through my educational leadership roles and mentorship of trainees, I help to shape the quality of care for the next generation of physicians.
My research in surgical education has most recently focused on how to structure coaching activities for residents and students to best improve performance. On the clinical side, I’m involved in research for colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and pelvic floor disorders related to GI function and GI surgeries.
In my free time, I enjoy gardening, hiking and playing games with my family.
Highlights
- Rated in the top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction, 2016-2019
- First provider to open a pelvic floor clinic for colorectal surgery at Ohio State
- A leader in surgical education at Ohio State
Procedures and Conditions I Treat
- Anal Gland Cancer
- Rectal Fistula
- Rectocele
- Fecal Incontinence
- Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
- Robotics
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
- General Surgery
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Colon Cancers
- Appendix Cancer
- Anal Cancers
- Colorectal Surgery
- Diverticulitis, Colonic
- Colitis, Ulcerative
- Colonic Diseases
- Ultrasound, High-Intensity Focused, Transrectal
- Rectal Cancers
- Rectal Diseases
- Crohn Disease
- Sigmoid Cancer
- Colorectal Cancers
- Adenomatous Polyposis Coli
- Cecal Diseases
- Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Chilaiditi Syndrome
- Colitis, Ischemic
- Gardner Syndrome
- Megacolon
- Megacolon, Toxic
- Rectal Prolapse
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Hirschsprung Disease
Locations Where I Practice
410 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
1800 Zollinger Road
Columbus, OH 43221
Please note: Not all physicians schedule patients at each listed location. Please call the “Schedule an appointment” number shown above for scheduling assistance.
Education and Training
Education History
Medical School
Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
MD
8/1/2001 - 5/5/2006
Residency
Barnes-Jewish Hospital / Washington University, St. Louis, MO
7/1/2006 - 6/30/2008
Residency
Barnes-Jewish Hospital / Washington University, St. Louis, MO
7/1/2011 - 6/30/2014
Fellowship
University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, KY
7/1/2014 - 6/30/2015
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
10/8/2014
American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery
9/12/2016
American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery
9/17/2016
Academic Information
My Department
Surgery
My Division
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Reviews
The overall patient satisfaction rating is an average of all patient responses to the six doctor communication related questions shown below from the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. For additional information about the patient satisfaction survey, please visit our Patient Satisfaction Survey page.
The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their view and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
238 Patient Satisfaction Reviews
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Overall
4.9 out of 5
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Explains Things Clearly
4.9 out of 5
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Listens Carefully
4.9 out of 5
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Gives Understandable Instructions
4.9 out of 5
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Knows My Medical History
4.7 out of 5
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Shows Respect
4.9 out of 5
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Time Spent Together
4.9 out of 5
Consulting and Related Relationships
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the University requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their University responsibilities.
As of 11/01/2020, Dr. Traugott has reported no relationships with companies or entities.
very helpful explained all that I have going on & why I have it
She was very thorough & took her time answering all of my questions. She never made me feel rushed.
She explained everything very thoroughly and answered all my questions and any concerns I had.
acceptable
the physician is really understanding & explains things completely, she makes an uncomfortable situation as comfortable as possible, she treats you with respect & compassion & as though she really cares for you
Excellent doctor
Dr. Amber is my husband's physician and now mine for my particular problem. She is the only physician whom I trust for this problem. She knows her field and has the expertise. She is the best physician! She truly cares for the whole person! One is comfortable in her presence. I have the upmost trust in her and her staff. Those students working with her are truly blessed and fortunate! As a graduate of OSU School of Nursing, I am proud that she is employed by OSU!
good
I felt listened to more than I ever have by a colorectal specialist.
She very nice and understanding her family & husband is very lucky to have her like I'm so blessed to have my husband to care for me to get me taken care of.