Ozarks Healthcare Adds Board-Certified General Surgeon Dr. Sneha Teressa to Surgery Team 

Ozarks Healthcare is pleased to welcome Sneha Teressa, MD, to its General Surgery team, expanding access to advanced surgical care for patients.

Teressa is a board-certified general surgeon with advanced fellowship training in surgical critical care. She brings extensive experience in minimally invasive, robotic, and emergency surgery, along with a passion for delivering compassionate, patient-centered care in rural communities.

Teressa earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) before completing a Master of Science in General Surgery. She completed her General Surgery residency at BronxCare Health System in New York. She then completed a Surgical Critical Care fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.

During her residency and fellowship, Teressa performed more than 200 major surgical procedures, including robotic and laparoscopic appendectomies, gallbladder removal, hernia repair, bowel surgery, thyroid surgery, breast surgery, and emergency exploratory operations. She also received extensive training using the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system and completed advanced rotations in transplant, hepatobiliary, trauma, thoracic, and bariatric surgery at nationally recognized institutions, including Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Westchester Medical Center.

"I've always been drawn to surgery because of the ability to quickly identify a problem and help patients feel better," Teressa said. "Whether it's treating appendicitis, gallbladder disease, hernias, or other surgical conditions, it's incredibly rewarding to see patients recover and return to their daily lives."

Teressa said she intentionally sought opportunities to practice in a rural community where she could make a meaningful difference.

"I always wanted to practice in a small community hospital where I could serve patients who may have limited access to specialized care," she said. "When I visited Ozarks Healthcare, I immediately felt welcomed. The people, the community, and the culture made me feel like this was a place where my family and I could truly belong."

She provides comprehensive general surgery services, including treatment for appendicitis, gallbladder disease, hernias, thyroid disorders, breast conditions, and other common surgical needs. She also plans to continue expanding her expertise in breast surgery, with a focus on increasing awareness and improving care for women diagnosed with breast conditions.

"My goal is to provide excellent surgical care while building lasting relationships with my patients," Teressa said. "The most important part of caring for someone is listening. Every patient has a unique story, and I want to understand their concerns before developing a treatment plan together."

Teressa is also excited to collaborate with the experienced physicians at Ozarks Healthcare.

"From my first conversations with [general surgeons] Dr. Le and Dr. Benalcazar, I knew I would be joining a supportive team," she said. "Their willingness to mentor, collaborate, and share their experience made me confident that Ozarks Healthcare was the right place to begin this next chapter of my career."

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Teressa to Ozarks Healthcare," Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. "She brings outstanding surgical training, advanced experience in minimally invasive and robotic techniques, and a genuine passion for serving rural communities. Her expertise with the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system further strengthens our ability to provide patients with leading-edge surgical options close to home. Her commitment to compassionate, high-quality care makes her an excellent addition to our surgical team and our region."

Outside of the operating room, Teressa enjoys spending time with her husband and their three daughters. Together, they enjoy traveling, and she also spends her free time gardening and cooking.

Teressa is accepting new patients at Ozarks Healthcare General Surgery. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 417-256-1774 or visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Sneha Teressa, MD, Ozarks Healthcare General Surgery