Dana Hayden, MD

Dana Hayden, MD, is a UW Health colorectal (colon and rectal) surgeon and co-director of the UW Health Digestive Health Center. She’s also a professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Dr. Hayden diagnoses and treats noncancerous and cancerous digestive disorders. She assesses rectal pain, bleeding and other symptoms, and performs colonoscopies to check for cancer and other abnormalities.

Dr. Hayden treats colon polyps (abnormal growths), colon cancer, hemorrhoids and other conditions. Her specialties include inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. She also treats complex or advanced cancers and offers expert care for sarcopenia, a muscle-wasting disorder associated with cancer.

Understanding the sensitive nature of many colorectal disorders, Dr. Hayden listens to individual challenges, concerns and treatment goals. She puts people at ease as she develops care plans to help them achieve those goals.

In addition to patient care, Dr. Hayden researches sarcopenia therapies that prepare patients for colorectal surgery and improve post-operative results.

Outside of work, Dr. Hayden enjoys hiking, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Colorectal surgery can make people feel great after treatment for painful or bothersome conditions. That's super gratifying.