Dr. Braden Kuo Named Chief of Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia

Dr. Braden Kuo, a leading neurogastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal motility and the relationship between the brain, nervous system and digestive system, has been appointed chief of the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"I am honored to lead the world-renowned digestive and liver diseases team at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to build even more exceptional clinical and research programs, particularly in the evolving field of neurogastroenterology," said Dr. Kuo. "I look forward to expanding our services to reach more patients in need of our high-quality care and collaborating across the NewYork-Presbyterian enterprise to further strengthen our division."

"Dr. Kuo is an exceptional physician-scientist and leader in digestive health," said Dr. Ali Gharavi, physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and chair of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. "We look forward to his leadership in providing the highest quality care for patients with digestive and liver diseases, advancing research and clinical innovations, and mentoring the next generation of physicians who will promote digestive health."

Dr. Kuo's research in neurogastroenterology focuses on gastrointestinal motility, or how food moves through the gastrointestinal tract; gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach fails to empty properly; chronic nausea; and other disorders impacting gastric function in adult and pediatric patients. His investigations, which include the study of a state-of-the-art wireless capsule to diagnose motility issues, have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he has directed an internationally acclaimed research laboratory focused on understanding the brain activity of gut sensations. Dr. Kuo succeeds Dr. Timothy C. Wang, who led the division for more than 20 years and now serves as vice chair for academic programs for the Department of Medicine at Columbia.

Dr. Kuo received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before arriving at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he began his gastroenterology fellowship and spent the last 28 years. There, he served as director of the GI Motility Laboratory and later as director of the Center for Neurointestinal Health. He also completed formal training in clinical research, earning a Master of Science from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and subspecialty training in neurogastroenterology and motility at Mayo Clinic.