Laurence R Sands, MD, MBA
Colon and Rectal Surgical OncologyColon and Rectal Surgery
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Young Adults (ages 19-26)
- Adults
- Geriatrics (ages 70+)
Languages
- English
- Hebrew
About Laurence R Sands
Clinical Area
Research Profile
https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center/research/faculty/laurence-sands-md
About the Provider
Dr. Laurence R, Sands is Chair and Professor of Clinical Surgery for the DeWitt Daughtry Department of Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. He is also the first holder of the Laurence R. Sands MD Endowed Research Chair in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
He received his Medical Doctor degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL in 1990. He then did his general surgery residency at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA from 1990 until 1995. He then went on to do his colon and rectal training at the Cleveland Clinic Florida and completed this program in 1996. In 2009 he completed his MBA in Healthcare Policy and Management at the University of Miami. He has worked at the University of Miami since July 1997. He is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. In addition, he has served as President of the South Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and as a Governor of the Chapter. He has written a textbook on anorectal disease, numerous book chapters, and peer reviewed articles and currently serves as a reviewer for several major medical journals. Most recently, he has established the Laurence R. Sands, MD Endowed Research Chair at the University of Miami, this being the first chair within the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery. His academic interests include rectal cancer surgery, surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and robotic surgery. He has also been appointed Vice Chair of Medical Student Education within the Daughtry Family Department of Surgery at the Miller School of Medicine, a reflection of his great interest in teaching the disciplines of general and colon and rectal surgery to fellows, residents, and medical students for which he has won numerous teaching awards within the school.
Video
Expertise
Education
- Master's Program: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2009
- Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Colon & Rectal Surgery, 1996
- Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center, General Surgery, 1995
- Internship: Albert Einstein Medical Center, Rotating, 1991
- Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 1990
Board Certifications
- Colon and Rectal Surgery: American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Surgery (General Surgery): American Board of Surgery
Insurance
- Aetna - WC
- Aetna Affiliates/Signature Adm. (ASA)
- Aetna Behavioral Health
- Aetna Elect Choice (EPO)
- Aetna-FL Healthy Kids
- Aetna-HMO
- Aetna-Medicaid HMO
- Aetna-Medicare HMO
- Aetna-Medicare PPO
- Aetna-POS
- Aetna-PPO
- Aetna-UM Employee-HMO 1
- Aetna-UM Employee-HMO 2
- Aetna-UM Employee-POS HRA
- Aetna/Coventry - Institutes of Excellence (IOE)
- Amerigroup-FL Healthy Kids
- Amerigroup-Medicaid HMO
- Argus Vision
- AvMed Choice
- AvMed-HMO/POS
- AvMed-MDC and JHS Groups
- AvMed-Medicare HMO
- AXIS
- BCBS Blue Options-Network Blue-PPO
- BCBS BlueCare-HealthOptions HMO
- BCBS BlueChoice PPC-PPO
- BCBS Miami Dade Blue-PPO
- BCBS of FL - except "SELECT" Plans
- BCBS of FL (Commercial plans exclude HIX Select)
- BCBS Traditional-PHS-PPO
- Beacon Health (FKA ValueOption)
- Beech Street-PPO
- Broward Health Medical Center
- CarePlus-Medicare HMO
- Catholic Hospice
- CCP-CMS Title XIX (Medicaid Enrolled in South Florida)
- CCP-CMS Title XXI (Non-Medicaid Enrolled in South Florida)
- CCP-MMA (Broward County residents)
- Charlotte County Sheriff's Office-PPO
- Cigna Affiliates
- Cigna Behavioral Health
- Cigna Dental-HMO and PPO
- Cigna Life Source (Intracorp is part of Cigna Lifesource)
- Cigna Shared Administration
- Cigna-EPO
- Cigna-HMO
- Cigna-MDCPS Jackson Sr. High
- Cigna-POS
- Cigna-PPO
- Clear Health Alliance-SNP Medicaid HMO
- CompCare (Comprehensive Behavioral Care)
- Concordia Behavioral Health
- CorVel - WC
- Coventry First Health - WC
- Coventry Health Care of FL (HIP)-HMO/POS
- Coventry Health Care of FL (HIP)-PPO
- Coventry Health Plan of FL (Foundation)-HMO
- Coventry Health Plan of FL (Foundation)-POS
- Coventry National-PPO
- Coventry Summit-Medicare HMO
- Coventry Vista-Medicare HMO
- Coventry-First Health-PPO
- Delta Dental-PPO
- DentaQuest (ADI)
- DIKLA
- Dimension - WC
- Dimension Plus-PPO
- EHN - PPO
- EQUIAN (fka Health Systems International)
- Europe Assistance/Global Corporate Solutions
- eyeQuest
- FCCI - WC
- Florida Healthcare Plan (Affiliate of BCBSFL)
- Florida PACE (FPC)
- Freedom Health-Medicaid HMO
- Freedom Health-Medicare HMO
- Gallagher Bassett - WC (MDCPS & FCSRMC)
- Global Excel Mgt PPO
- Global Health Claims Services
- Great West (Cigna)-HMO/POS
- Guardian Life PPO
- HAA Preferred Partners
- Health First Health-HMO/POS
- Health First Health-Medicare HMO
- Health First Health-PPO
- Health Net Veterans Choice HMO
- Heritage Summit Healthcare - WC
- Humana - HUMx
- Humana Behavioral Health (fka LifeSynch)
- Humana Dental/CompBenefits/OHS
- Humana National Transplant
- Humana-EPO
- Humana-HMO
- Humana-Medicaid HMO
- Humana-Medicare HMO
- Humana-PPO
- Humana-Premier
- iCare Health Solutions
- Interlink Health Services
- International Kids Fund (IKF)
- League Medical Concepts-Federal Inmates
- Life Trac
- Magellan Behavioral Health
- Magellan Complete Care-SNP Medicaid HMO
- MDAbroad
- Medica-Medicare HMO
- Medical Development In't (MDI)-Federal Inmates
- Medicus
- Metlife Dental-PPO
- MHNet Behavioral Network
- Molina
- Molina - Market Place
- Molina-Medicaid HMO
- Molina-Medicare HMO
- Morgan White International
- MultiPlan-PPO
- Naphcare (Federal Prisoners)
- National Healthcare Solutions Inc.
- Neighborhood HealthPlan-HMO/POS
- Neighborhood HealthPlan-PPO
- North Broward Hospital District-PPO
- Olympus Managed Healthcare
- Optum
- Positive Healthcare-SNP Medicaid HMO
- Positive Healthcare-SNP Medicare HMO
- Prestige Health Choice-Medicaid HMO
- Prime Health Services - WC
- Quality Health Management
- Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses-PPO
- Rockport Healthcare Group - WC
- Royal Caribbean Cruises-PPO
- Sanus Health Corporation
- Simply Healthcare-Medicaid HMO
- Solstice Dental-HMO and PPO
- Start Healthcare Network
- Sunshine
- Sunshine - AMBETTER
- Sunshine-Healthy Kids HMO
- Sunshine-Medicaid HMO
- Sunshine-Medicare HMO
- Tricare South Prime-HMO
- Tricare South Standard-PPO
- United Behavioral Health (UBH)
- UnitedHealthcare Affiliates
- UnitedHealthcare-Healthy Kids HMO
- UnitedHealthcare-HMO/POS
- UnitedHealthcare-Medicaid HMO
- UnitedHealthcare-Medicare Nursing Home Plan
- UnitedHealthcare-PPO
- University of Miami Athletic Dept-PPO
- VUMI
- Wellcare/Staywell-Healthy Kids HMO
- Wellcare/Staywell-Medicaid HMO
- Wexford Health-State Inmates
- Worldwide Managed Care
Ratings & Reviews
4.9 out of 5
226 ratings, 49 reviewsUHealth is committed to being transparent with our patients and community. To achieve this, we include positive and negative comments from the care provider section of the medical practice survey. All ratings and comments are submitted by patients who have experienced outpatient care with our providers. Comments are carefully reviewed to ensure that each one accurately reflects the patient's perception of the care they received.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/13/2026
I had a good 1 on 1 conversation with Dr. Sands. He was thorough in his review of my latest CTScan pulling up the images and discussing potential outcomes and risks of surgery at this time.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/7/2026
Dr. Sands is the epitome of a great physician. His knowledge, courtesy , professionalism & expertise is an unparalleled.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Doctor Sands and his staff are outstanding!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/3/2026
Dr Sands is great, took care of me and listened to me. I am completely happy with with the visit with him.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/28/2026
Dr Sands is a respectful and skillful specialist trustworthy also his team
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/22/2026
Dr. Sands is the best. Professional, courteous, kind, cares about the well-being of his patients.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/13/2026
Great care and respect
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/16/2026
So happy I am under Dr Sands care
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/13/2025
He was reassuring and helpful with tips . I am likely to send a message because I do have a couple of questions that I thought of that I forgot to ask
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/25/2025
Trustworthy
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/11/2025
He was fantastic
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/18/2025
Warm personal manner plus blessed with a terrific sense of humor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/17/2025
I have no words.He’s literally the best.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/20/2025
Everything was great, would highly recommend!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/16/2025
All went well
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/2/2025
Excellent doctor and staff. I live over 3 hours north and wouldn't go to anyone else.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2025
Keep up the good work
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/28/2025
Orlando, Juju best nurses Im so thankful to Dr Sands
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/16/2025
I love Dr Sands!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/1/2025
I appreciated the most how clearly Dr Sands explained everything and offered me a solution. I left the appointment feeling confident in the next steps.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/27/2025
Extremely happy
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/27/2025
Dr. Sands is the epitome of top notch ! He is caring, professional, extremely knowledgeable & 100 per cent focused on patient care. The best !
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/22/2025
For me the waiting time to be seen was great.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/3/2025
Dr Sands is caring, knowledgeable & get the job done Easy to communicate with also
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/16/2025
Don’t change a thing. Great experience
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/6/2025
Treated with care and respect. Warm and friendly
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/27/2025
The doctor listened to my concerns and addressed them.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/12/2025
This doctor made me feel more than comfortable in a scary situation. He made sure all options were explained in a way that I could understand.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/12/2025
Very good
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/29/2025
Very compassionate and brilliant
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/21/2025
He was vert informational and provided a wonderful experience.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/27/2024
Dr Sands was excellent! He diagnosed the problem right away and gave me options for treatment.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/12/2024
Excellent Dr Sands
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/9/2024
Dr. Sands is just great!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2024
Excellent care!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/11/2024
I am a medical professional. My standards are hard to meet. Dr. Sands was exceptional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/21/2024
Dr. Sands is the best, very knowledgeable, carrying and efficient regarding my health!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/16/2024
Awesome!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/23/2024
Amazing experience, Dr. Sands explained everything, most importantly listened to my concerns
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/15/2024
Dr.Sands is a phenomenal doctor. He is professional, knowledgeable & caring. Always feel well cared for with him.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/9/2024
The doctor was exceptional; very kind and reassuring yet clearly an exceptional doctor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/29/2024
Excellent attitude and supr informative Dr. Was A real professional with great humor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/24/2024
Excellent experience
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/8/2024
Dr. Sands is one of the rare doctors who makes decisions collaboratively with his patients - he's the best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/10/2024
Excellent care provided by Dr Sands before and after surgery.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/20/2024
Dr Sands was engaged and thorough. Relatable also.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2024
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/29/2024
The doctor is personable, listens patiently to questions, and shows wisdom in his explanations.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2024
Dr Sands was so informative and great bed side manner. I would absolutely recommend him.