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Once again, UCLA GI & GI surgery has been recognized as being among the best in the nation, ranking #4 by U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Hospitals survey. This also makes us the top-ranked GI & GI surgery hospital for a public university in the country. We thank you all, our physicians, allied health care professionals, nurses and staff, for your continued exemplary and personalized care. Gastroenterology & GI surgery rankings

UCLA Health also placed #1 in both California and Los Angeles in a broad assessment of excellence in hospital-based patient care. U.S. News & World Report placed UCLA Health on its national honor roll yet again, as it has each year since the rankings debuted in 1990. The honor roll – which no longer includes an ordinal list – is a distinction reserved for only 20 hospitals or systems among nearly 5,000 evaluated across 15 medical specialties and 20 common procedures and conditions. America's Best Hospitals: The 2024-2025 Honor Roll and Overview

UCLA receives $25 million from Shirley and Walter Wang to establish new integrative digestive health center

The UCLA Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health, named in recognition of the longtime donors, will be one of the few holistic programs of its kind in the nation, providing whole-person care for patients to help them live healthier. “We decided to make this gift because we saw the difference that proper medical treatment for people living with a digestive disorder could make in their quality of life,” said Shirley Wang, a UCLA alumna and former chair of The UCLA Foundation board. “Where better to receive that treatment than UCLA, a leader in the field?” Walter Wang said the couple “saw how common-sense strategies — lifestyle and dietary advice and psychological support — can transform how people with these conditions live and once again enjoy life. Our objective became building access to truly life-changing, effective care.” Read full story in UCLA Newsroom  |  View the Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health services

How fiber supports overall health and lowers risk of colorectal cancer

The role of fiber in our diets goes beyond keeping our digestion on track. UCLA Health experts say a high-fiber diet supports heart health, regulates blood sugar, promotes weight management and plays a significant role in cancer prevention. Research shows that fiber can help lower the risk of colorectal cancer by promoting gut health, supporting healthy bacteria and reducing the time harmful substances stay in the digestive tract. Christina Fasulo, RDN, CNSC, senior dietitian at the UCLA Health GI Nutrition Program, breaks down some benefits of fiber and offers tips on how you can add more to your diet.

What to know about colorectal cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 107,320 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2025. Dr. Fola May, UCLA gastroenterologist, addresses frequently asked questions about colorectal cancer, including prevention, diagnosis and when to get screened in. Learn more in the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center story

Fecal transplant used to treat patients failing to improve with other cancer treatments

Jonathan P. Jacobs, MD, PhD, co-director of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, described the overall results as remarkable, given that all these patients had advanced cancer and mere months to live. "These early reports of patients who were previously immunotherapy-resistant but experienced clinical response after receiving FMT [fecal transplants] and immunotherapy retreatment are very exciting,” said Dr. Jacobs, who wasn’t involved with the trial. “They demonstrate that gut microbiota is contributing to immunotherapy resistance in at least some patients, and provide hope that by changing the microbiome, some will respond.” Read NBC News story

Chronic stress and obesity combine to accelerate pancreatic cancer development and growth, study finds

A new study led by UCLA investigators suggests that chronic stress and an unhealthy diet may combine to fuel the early development of pancreatic cancer, shedding light on how lifestyle factors contribute to one of the deadliest malignancies. The findings suggest that stress hormones and obesity-related hormones activate key cancer-promoting pathways, potentially accelerating the onset of pancreatic cancer. One possible solution, researchers suggest, is to explore the use of existing medications to reduce this risk. Since β-adrenergic receptors play a crucial role in stress-related cancer growth, commonly used beta-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure, could be repurposed to help mitigate these effects. Enrique Rozengurt, DVM, PhD, distinguished professor of medicine, was a senior author on this study published in Molecular Cancer Research. Read article in UCLA Health News & Insights

Happy gut, happy life: How your digestive tract impacts your mood

The gut is an incredibly complex organ with millions of nerves, not to mention significant portions of your immune and hormone systems, all dedicated to transforming food into the vital nutrients you need. Beyond diet, stress management and self-care are also crucial to the health of both your gut and mind. Emeran A. Mayer, MD, director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Stress and Resilience, discusses the mind-gut connection in this Oprah Daily article

UCLA digestive diseases faculty named Super Doctors, Rising Stars, Super Doctors Hall of Fame and Super Doctors Legacy Members Hall of Fame

The selection process for Super Doctors is a rigorous, multi-step process designed to identify health care providers who have a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties. The selection process for Rising Stars and for Super Doctors is the same; to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, candidates must be active and fully-licensed to practice for approximately 10 years or less. While approximately 5 percent of the doctors within the respective state or region are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. Super Doctors Hall of Fame recognizes physicians with 10-14 years as a Super Doctor, while Super Doctors Legacy Member Hall of Fame recognizes those with 15 or more years as a Super Doctor.

  • Rising Stars - Vivy T. Cusumano, MD; Danny Issa, MD; Jennifer M. Kolb, MD, MS; Lisa Lin, MD, MS; Mona Rezapour, MD, MHS; Akshay Shetty, MD; Adarsh M. Thaker, MD; Beshoy T. Yanny, MD
  • Super Doctors - Simon W. Beaven, MD, PhD; Lynn S. Connolly, MD, MSCR; Terri Getzug, MD; Wendy Ho, MD, MPH; Stephen Kim, MD; V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS; Jenny S. Sauk, MD
  • Super Doctors Hall of Fame - Eric Esrailian, MD, MPH; Steven-Huy B. Han, MD
  • Super Doctors Legacy Member Hall of Fame - Lin Chang, MD; Sammy Saab, MD, MPH; Kirsten Tillisch, MD; Tran T. Tran, MD

Janelle Smith, MS, RDN, CEDS, comments on gluten avoidance in National Geographic

Gluten-free eating has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade, fueled by claims that cutting gluten leads to better health. But while some people must cut gluten from their diet for medical reasons, millions of others have embraced the diet without a clear need. Despite its bad reputation, gluten isn’t inherently unhealthy. In fact, wheat — a key source of gluten — is full of good-for-you nutrients. “Personally and professionally, I think it’s a side effect of food marketing,” said Janelle, a GI dietitian who herself has celiac disease. Unlike a “heart-healthy” label, “gluten-free” doesn’t mean healthier — it simply marks the absence of an allergen. Read Is Gluten Really That Bad for You? Here’s What Happens When You Stop Eating It

The fear after the fire: How toxic is L.A.’s air?

Now that the wildfires have been contained, a more insidious and enduring threat looms over Los Angeles, posed by the invisible, potentially lethal toxins the flames unleashed. Every breath, it is feared, could contain the particulate residue of lithium EV batteries, asbestos tiles, lead, benzene and other volatile compounds contained in paint, plastics, electronics and furniture. In The Hollywood Reporter, experts — including Nancee Jaffe, MD, RDN, GI dietitian — discuss fine particle pollution, controlling air quality, skin care regimens, diet and supplements, and keeping your pets safe.

Your gut microbes may impact your ability to handle stress

Increasing evidence linking stress with depression and anxiety spurred the UCLA researchers to explore the biological basis of buoyancy beyond psychological and social factors. According to Arpana Church, PhD, co-director of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center and the senior author of the study, "Resilient individuals are good at regulating emotions with great cognitive functioning and flexibility. They are also less neurotic, more mindful, grateful and at the gut-microbiome level have reduced inflammation and better gut barrier integrity. When you have inflammation, it's like a systemic thing — found in pretty much all disorders." She adds that more integrated research and clinical studies with human subjects that could lead to treatments are needed. Such research may also help identify biomarkers in the microbiome that can help tailor decisions on how to use existing mental health therapies. Read full article in Next Avenue

What should I eat while taking antibiotics?

Since penicillin was discovered in 1928, antibiotics have transformed once-life-threatening infections into treatable conditions. But in the process of wiping out the “bad” bacteria, they can decimate the “good” ones too. Fortunately, for most people, adverse effects on the gut microbiome are temporary, said Tien S. Dong, MD, PhD, assistant clinical professor of medicine. If you are generally in good health, “you’ll likely recover on your own”, he said. Still, you can take actions to encourage that recovery. And while much of the research in this area is limited and in its early phases, it does suggest the most important action is paying attention to your diet. Read full article in The Straits Times. Additional coverage in Red Hot

Telehealth pathway for IBD surgery expanded access to care in small study

Gaurav Syal, MD, MS, provided expert commentary on a recent study conducting pre-op and post-op visits via telemedicine. "Many patients with complex IBD are best managed by gastroenterologists and surgeons who specialize in IBD. However, most patients who live in the community unfortunately don't have easy access to such specialists," Dr. Syal says. "It is well established that lack of access to appropriate medical/surgical care leads to poor health outcomes across disease states. Hence, expanding the access to specialty services can not only reduce the burden of travel on patients, but also improve outcomes in IBD. In fact, the use of telemedicine in IBD care that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic has been well received by patients and providers alike." Read more in MedPage Today

How to treat IBS at home

About 10% to 15% of adults in the U.S. have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea and constipation. It’s typically diagnosed in early adulthood, but plenty of older adults deal with IBS symptoms. Mona Rezapour, MD, health sciences assistant clinical professor of medicine, provides expert commentary in Consumer Reports on effective strategies for managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Additional coverage on Digitpatrox

10 gut myths

A New York Times article asked leading authorities for the truth about probiotics, elimination diets, leaky gut and more. Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil, associate professor of medicine, discussed bowel movement consistency, and Kate Mintz, MSN, RDN, discussed diagnosing food sensitivities.