Rena Yadlapati, MD

Rena Yadlapati, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who specializes in esophageal diseases. Dr. Yadlapati is medical director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases at UC San Diego Health and treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and related conditions such as voice complaints (laryngopharyngeal reflux), swallowing disorders such as achalasia and esophageal motility disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, and Barrett's esophagus.

Dr. Yadlapati has expertise in interpreting esophageal manometry, reflux monitoring (Bravo testing and pH impedance) and EndoFLIP, and directs the UC San Diego GI motility lab. She performs upper GI endoscopies with dilation, ESO FLIP/pneumatic dilation for achalasia, as well as colonoscopies. She feels that each patient with esophageal complaints is unique, and that their care should be personalized using state-of-the-art technologies and team-based approaches to provide the highest quality of care.

As a professor in the Department of Medicine and program director of the advanced fellowship in esophageal diseases, Dr. Yadlapati trains medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is an active clinical researcher with grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among other agencies. Her research focuses on personalized care approaches for GERD and non-response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Dr. Yadlapati is the lead author of the Chicago Classification version 4.0, the quintessential classification scheme used worldwide to interpret esophageal motility disorders. She is also a co-author of national guidelines for achalasia, GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal physiologic testing. Dr. Yadlapati has published over 150 articles in peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Yadlapati serves on the board of directors of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Institute and formerly on the board of directors of the American Foregut Society. Dr. Yadlapati is an associate editor of Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology. She speaks at the regional, national and international level on personalized therapy for GERD phenotypes, complications of anti-reflux surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic options for laryngopharyngeal reflux, and esophageal motility disorders.

Dr. Yadlapati completed a clinical gastrointestinal fellowship training at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, followed by a two-year research fellowship in esophageal physiology and psychology and a one-year advanced fellowship in esophageal disorders. She completed her residency at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and earned her medical degree from New York Medical College. She also holds a Master of Science in health services and outcomes research from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

In her free time, Dr. Yadlapati enjoys cooking, Pilates, traveling and spending time with her family. She speaks Gujarati fluently.

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For more information, see Gastroenterology and Digestive Health and Esophageal Care.