Thomas John Savides, MD

Thomas J. Savides, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist. He is a nationally recognized expert in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and therapeutic endoscopy (ERCP, double balloon enteroscopy). He founded and is the director of UC San Diego Health's EUS program, which is now one of the premier programs in the U.S. for diagnosis and staging of GI, pancreatic, and lung cancer. He is a community referral specialist for advanced pancreatico-biliary endoscopic procedures (ERCP), GI oncology, Barrett's esophagus, GI bleeding, and difficult polyp removal.

Dr. Savides is the chief experience officer at UC San Diego Health. He is responsible for the strategy, leadership and implementation of the plan to improve the total health care experience of patients, families, providers and staff. His other leadership positions include the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Board of Governors (2007-2010), vice chair of strategic affairs in the Department of Medicine, and clinical services chief in the Division of Gastroenterology at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

He has authored more than 175 publications, including original research articles, invited reviews, and book chapters. He is the editor of two textbooks on endoscopic ultrasound. His research interests include EUS for pancreatic and lung cancer, endoscopic treatments of gastrointestinal bleeding, and colon cancer prevention.

Dr. Savides completed a fellowship in gastroenterology and a residency in internal medicine at UCLA Medical Center. He earned his medical degree from UC San Diego School of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

For several years, Dr. Savides has been named a top doctor in San Diego Magazine's " Physicians of Exceptional Excellence" annual survey performed in collaboration with the San Diego County Medical Society, as well as U.S. News & World Report's "Top Doctors" in Gastroenterology in the United States. He is a two-time recipient of UC San Diego Health's Attending Physician of the Year Award, and also received UC San Diego Health Sciences' Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical Care. In 2018, Dr. Savides was named one of the nation's 30 chief experience officers to know by Becker's Hospital Review.

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For more information, see Gastroenterology.