Dr. Steven Vasilev MD Named to Super Doctors 2026 - Southern California
An independent, peer-influenced recognition highlighting a highly selective group of Southern California physicians.
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.
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Our specialists are here to help you understand your condition and explore your treatment options.
Schedule a VisitWhy 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:
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.
References
iCareBetter - Dr. Steven Vasilev MD Profile / MBA FACOG FACS FACN ABIHM ABOIM
Super Doctors - Physician Directory, Doctor Listings, Medical Resources :: Super Doctors
Quick Answers
How do I document endometriosis for work accommodations?
Documenting endometriosis for work accommodations starts with creating a clear paper trail that connects your diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) to specific functional limits at work. Keep a simple symptom log for at least 4–8 weeks: date, symptom (pelvic pain, fatigue, bowel/bladder pain, heavy bleeding), severity, duration, triggers, and exactly what work tasks were affected (missed shifts, reduced standing tolerance, inability to sit, concentration issues, frequent bathroom breaks). Save objective documentation too—operative and pathology reports if you’ve had surgery, imaging reports when available, ER/urgent care notes, medication or treatment history, and any workplace attendance or performance impacts that occurred during flares.
For an accommodation request, what usually helps most is a concise clinician letter that focuses on work restrictions rather than extensive medical detail—e.g., need for flexible scheduling during flares, ability to work from home at times, breaks for pain management/restroom access, limits on prolonged standing/sitting, or intermittent leave when symptoms are unpredictable. If you’re pursuing disability benefits, the same principle applies: decision-makers look for consistent records over time showing that symptoms significantly interfere with your ability to perform job duties, since endometriosis isn’t automatically classified as a disability.
Our team can help you organize the records that best support your case and, when appropriate, provide medical documentation that reflects the reality of your symptoms and functional limitations. If you’d like, reach out to schedule a consultation so we can review what you already have and identify what additional documentation would be most useful for workplace accommodations.
How do I explain endometriosis to my employer?
It often helps to keep your explanation simple and work-focused: endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus and can cause significant pelvic pain, fatigue, and GI or bladder symptoms. Symptoms can flare unpredictably and aren’t always limited to your period, which is why you may need flexibility at certain times. You don’t need to share intimate details—just the functional impact (for example: pain, fatigue, and medical appointments can affect attendance, sitting/standing tolerance, or concentration).
If you’re requesting support, be specific about what would help you do your job well, such as intermittent time off for flares, the ability to work from home when symptoms spike, scheduled breaks, or flexibility around medical visits and potential procedures. Many patients find it useful to frame this as a long-term health condition with variable days rather than a one-time illness, and to document patterns of symptoms and missed work so your needs are clear.
If you’d like, our team can help you describe your condition and anticipated care in a medically accurate way that supports workplace accommodations, especially if symptoms are affecting your ability to function consistently. You can also explore our educational resources on endometriosis and work impacts, and reach out to schedule a consultation if you’re looking for a clearer plan for diagnosis and treatment.
Is MCAS connected to endometriosis?
Yes—there appears to be an evolving connection, but it’s not as simple as “endometriosis equals MCAS.” What current research supports most strongly is that mast cells (the immune cells involved in allergic-type reactions) are often increased and more activated in and around endometriosis lesions, where they tend to cluster near nerves and blood vessels. When mast cells release mediators like histamine and other inflammatory signals, they can irritate pain-sensing nerves, promote nerve growth, and help sustain inflammation—one plausible reason endometriosis pain can feel burning, stabbing, widespread, or unusually persistent.
MCAS, though, is a systemic syndrome—meaning it can cause multi-system flares (for example flushing/itching, GI upset, shortness of breath, dizziness or fast heart rate) and may be triggered by stress, hormones, foods, or environmental exposures. Some people with endometriosis also have MCAS-like symptoms, and in those cases mast-cell biology may be amplifying pelvic pain and lowering the threshold for flares across the body. If this overlap sounds familiar, our team can help you sort out what’s likely being driven by endometriosis lesions themselves (including whether excision surgery may be part of your plan) versus broader mast-cell–type sensitivity that may need coordinated perioperative and long-term management.
Who is this website for?
This website is for people seeking clear, trustworthy guidance about endometriosis, related gynecologic cancers, and other complex pelvic conditions. We created it to help you better understand symptoms, testing, and treatment pathways so you can make informed decisions about your care.
While many readers come here because they’re considering treatment with our team, this information can also support anyone researching next steps or trying to make sense of a new (or long-delayed) diagnosis. If you’d like individualized guidance, you’re welcome to reach out to schedule a consultation so we can review your history and goals together.
What makes Lotus different from a surgery-only endometriosis practice?
At Lotus, we’re not a surgery-only model. Our care is built around advanced excision surgery plus board-certified integrative medicine, coordinated as one plan rather than separate, disconnected steps.
That means we support you across the full peri-operative timeline—preparing your body before surgery, guiding recovery after surgery, and helping address the broader drivers of symptoms that can persist even when endometriosis has been removed. Our goal isn’t just to operate; it’s to help you heal as a whole person, and we tailor that plan to your history, symptoms, and long-term needs.