Venkata Ravindra Kakarla, MD, FACS
Board-Certified, General Surgery
Venkata Ravindra Kakarla, MD, FACS is an experienced board-certified general surgeon with a fellowship training in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He specializes in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery involving abdomen and gastrointestinal tract for benign and malignant conditions.
His surgical background spanned over three continents in academic, rural, and urban settings, and one of the very few to perform more than a thousand robotic surgery procedures. He published several articles in peer reviewed academic journals and presented at numerous societies in the areas of general, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery.
Dr. Kakarla’s goal is to provide exceptional, compassionate, and personable, evidence-based care by utilizing minimally invasive approach and cutting-edge technology. His philosophy of care is to establish an honest and educational partnership with his patient, making them a part of the decision-making process throughout treatment and help them to get back to their normal life quickly.
Dr. Kakarla lives in Duluth with his wife and daughter. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, gardening, woodworking, reading books and learning new things.
Clinical interests
- General surgery
- Minimally invasive robotic surgery
- Anti-reflux surgery
- Hernia surgery
- Bowel surgery
- Hepatobiliary surgery
- Colon and rectal surgery
- Dialysis access
Education and training
- Fellowship, minimally invasive robotic and bariatric surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Residency, General surgery
- New York Presbyterian Queens and New York medical College, New York, NY
- MRCS surgical training
- University hospitals of north Tees and Royal Liverpool University Hospital, United Kingdom
- Bachelor of medicine and surgery (MBBS)
- Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India
Certifications and affiliations
- Fellow, American College of surgeons
- Fellow, Royal College of surgeons
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When I first met Dr. Kakarla he was very reserved, very caring, interested and responsible. He answered all questions and made me feel comfortable about my hiatal hernia surgery. My surgery went great and I recommend him highly to anyone. I also had great care at Northside Hospital. Kenneth Laird
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Dr. KaKarla was absolutely amazing! This was my first surgery and he was kind, knowledgeable and very thorough. Everything from my initial consult to my post-op was perfect! Highly recommend Dr.KaKarla and his team! Thank you for helping me feel better!!
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Dr. Kakarla was wonderful. I had to have an emergency cholecystectomy done and I am so grateful for the skill and professionalism shown by Dr. KaKarla. The office staff has been wonderful as well. Great communication. Dr. Kakarla took great care of me. My outcome could have been very serious due to a very diseased gall bladder but Dr Kakarla handled my case with such expertise. Many thanks .
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My case is complicated. Due to some rare diagnoses, I need someone willing to learn the background and personally check the imaging for answers. Thank God for Dr. Kakarla! After two years, numerous ER and hospital stays, my symptoms had rapidly declined in the past few weeks. This January, I was in the hospital many times related to my stomach. I finally decided to go to a different, further away, hospital system – hoping they would have someone who could help me where the previous hospital lacked. They run their own exams, since they couldn’t access the othe… Read More
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If you are looking for a skilled surgeon, look no further. From my first visit Dr. Kakarla put me at ease. He answered all of my questions completely. On the day of surgery, I knew exactly what to expect. Perfect surgery and recovery. Last but not least, the office staff is phenomenal. Every employee is friendly and helpful. All in all I give this practice a 10!
