Dr. Steven Vasilev MD Named to Super Doctors 2026 - Southern California

We’re pleased to share a practice update: Dr. Steven Vasilev, MD—Institute Director and lead surgeon at Lotus Endometriosis Institute—has been listed in Super Doctors 2026 — Southern California for the 5th year in a row.

This annual distinction is designed to recognize a highly selective subset of physicians in each region—based on peer recognition, independent research, and structured review. In other words, it’s not a broad “participation” listing; it’s meant to spotlight clinicians who stand out within their specialty and community.

What is Super Doctors?

Super Doctors is a physician recognition program that publishes an annual list intended to identify a small percentage of physicians in each region through a structured selection process. The organization describes its directory as representing the top ~5% of physicians—which is what gives the list its exclusivity: most practicing physicians in a region will never appear on it, even if they are well-trained and experienced.

Importantly, Super Doctors explicitly notes:

Doctors cannot pay to be included on Super Doctors® listings nor are they paid to provide input.

This distinction matters because it helps preserve the list’s credibility as a third‑party recognition rather than a marketing placement.

How the Super Doctors selection process works

Super Doctors describes a multi-step process that is intentionally designed to narrow the field down to a small, high-performing group. In practice, this means physicians are evaluated through multiple lenses—professional reputation, independent research, and peer review—before the final list is produced.

Super Doctors describes the process as including:

• • Peer nominations (physicians nominate physicians)
  • Independent research and evaluation
  • A “Blue Ribbon Panel” review, where highly scored nominees are invited to evaluate candidates within their area of focus

Because the list is refreshed annually, inclusion in a given year reflects that year’s nominations and evaluation steps rather than a lifetime designation. Put simply: the recognition is earned, reviewed, and republished each year, which adds to its weight as a current signal—not a one-time, permanent label.

Why this matters for complex endometriosis care

Endometriosis can often be deceptively complex—particularly in advanced or repeat-surgery cases, and when disease involves sensitive anatomy such as bowel, bladder, ureters, or pelvic nerves. In these scenarios, outcomes are often driven by details that are hard to evaluate from the outside: surgical planning, ability to navigate distorted anatomy, decision-making under uncertainty, and the experience to coordinate care when multiple systems are involved.

Recognition programs like Super Doctors matter most in this context because they reflect peer visibility and professional confidence—a signal that a physician’s work is not only patient-facing, but also respected within the medical community. For many patients, choosing a surgeon is less about “finding someone who treats endometriosis” and more about finding someone with the depth and breadth to handle multi-organ complexity safely, especially when prior procedures have failed. Dr. Vasilev is listed under the category of Gynecologic Oncology, which is called out by SuperDoctors as a sub-specialty that cares for malignancies and the management of complex benign gynecologic conditions. Endometriosis fits squarely in the middle of this category and is Dr. Vasilev's exclusive focus.

At Lotus, Dr. Vasilev’s clinical & research focus includes:

• • Endometriosis excision, with emphasis on advanced cases and repeat surgery
  • Gynecologic oncology, including endometriosis-related malignancy and complex pelvic tumors
  • A minimally invasive approach integrating advanced robotic techniques
  • Holistic care that ensures comprehensive treatment
  • Investigating early diagnosis and development of new molecular therapies for endometriosis

Our team pairs surgical strategy with whole-person support so care is individualized before, during, and after treatment.

A brief note on Dr. Vasilev’s credentials and scope

Patients often ask what makes Lotus different—why patients travel from out-of-state and why physicians refer complex cases here.

Dr. Vasilev’s background includes:

• • Quadruple board certification spanning OB-GYN and Gynecologic Oncology (ABMS), plus Integrative Medicine (ABPS) and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM)
  • Over three decades of MIGS experience in advanced disease
  • A practice dedicated to complex pelvic disease, with an emphasis on endometriosis and related conditions
  • External, specialty-specific vetting (including iCareBetter’s directory for endometriosis excision surgeons)

If you want the full overview of his training, focus, and clinical philosophy, see:

• • Why Choose Lotus
  • Dr. Steven Vasilev (Bio & Background)

What this update means for patients

A listing like Super Doctors does not replace the most important question—is this the right fit for your specific case?—but it can be a meaningful external signal when you’re trying to sort through a crowded landscape of claims.

For patients, the practical impact is this:

• • Independent validation in a high-noise market. Many physicians advertise endometriosis expertise; far fewer receive broad peer recognition for their skills through a structured selection process.
  • Confidence for complex decision-making. When you’re considering advanced surgery, repeat surgery, or multi-organ involvement, you want indicators of clinical judgment, technical depth, and professional standing—not just marketing language.
  • A proxy for referral trust. Peer nominations and panel review reflect the reality that other physicians are willing to publicly associate their professional reputation with the nominee.

Taken together, this recognition aligns with what many patients already discover through their own process: they are often seeking care that requires high-level pelvic surgery experience, careful planning, and a team that can support the full arc of treatment.

If you’re:

• • Seeking an expert evaluation for suspected or confirmed endometriosis
  • Dealing with persistent symptoms after prior surgery
  • Navigating complex disease (deep infiltrating disease, multi-organ involvement, or overlapping diagnoses)

then our team can help you understand options and next steps.

Ready to start?

If you’re considering care at Lotus Endometriosis Institute, you can explore:

• • What an evaluation and surgical planning process may look like
  • How our integrative support is incorporated around surgery
  • How we help patients traveling from within Northern & Southern California, the Central Coast, out-of-state and beyond

Call (424) 255-1340 or reach out through our scheduling/contact page to begin.