Heidi Nelson

Heidi Nelson led the landmark COST trial (Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy), the pivotal North American randomized controlled trial demonstrating that laparoscopic colectomy is equivalent to open surgery for colon cancer in terms of recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Her research established the oncologic safety and efficacy of laparoscopic colectomy and was instrumental in changing surgical practice standards for colon cancer, enabling widespread adoption of minimally invasive approaches in North America. She has contributed extensively to surgical quality improvement research for colorectal cancer, including defining technical standards, measuring process and outcome quality metrics, and advancing population-based colorectal cancer screening programs. Her leadership in colorectal surgical oncology has spanned clinical trials, quality research, and national policy contributions.