Anai N. Kothari

Dr. Anai N. Kothari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She holds joint appointments as Assistant Professor in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) of SE Wisconsin and the Data Science Institute. Dr. Kothari is an active member of the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, the Center for Advancing Population Science (CAPS), and serves as Co-Director of the Geospatial, Epidemiology, and Outcomes (GEO) Shared Resource within the Cancer Center.

Dr. Kothari's research program focuses on the innovative application of artificial intelligence and data science to surgical oncology. Her work bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI technologies and practical clinical applications in cancer surgery. She has developed novel approaches for surgical case length prediction using large language models, created the PRISM system for patient records interpretation and clinical trial matching, and pioneered methods for personalized federated learning in healthcare settings. Her research also addresses critical issues of health equity and disparities in cancer care, with a particular focus on how social determinants of health impact surgical outcomes.

Dr. Kothari's publication record demonstrates consistent productivity with over 125 publications spanning surgical outcomes research, AI applications in surgery, cancer disparities, and surgical education. Her recent work (2023-2025) shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated AI applications in surgical oncology, with multiple high-impact publications in JAMA Surgery, Annals of Surgical Oncology, and other leading journals. She has successfully secured funding from diverse sources including the American Cancer Society, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, and industry partnerships.

• 2021 ACGME David C. Leach Award
• 2022-2023 MCW T. Michael Bolger Standing Ovation Award
• 2023 SAAS Visiting Professorship
• 2024 MCP Lee Biblo MD Excellence in Professionalism
• Multiple MCW Outstanding Medical Student Teacher awards

As Associate Program Director for the Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Dr. Kothari plays a pivotal role in surgical education and mentorship. Her leadership extends to national organizations including the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons, American Medical Informatics Association, and Association for Academic Surgery, where she contributes to shaping the future of surgical education and AI implementation in clinical practice. Her GEO Shared Resource serves as a hub for data-driven approaches to understanding and addressing disparities in cancer care across Wisconsin and beyond.