Jorge Bezerra, M.D.

Jorge Bezerra, M.D.

  • Robert L. Moore Chair in Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics - Gastroenterology
  • Liver Disease
  • Transplant Hepatology

Biography

Jorge A. Bezerra, M.D., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in pediatric gastroenterology and holds the Robert L. Moore Chair in Pediatrics.

Dr. Bezerra earned his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine in Brazil. After a pediatrics residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, he completed clinical and research fellowships in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. There, he would also serve as Director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition; Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Care Center; and Director of the Digestive Health Center.

Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric transplant hepatology, he joined UT Southwestern in 2022.

As department Chair and a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Bezerra provides strategic vision and operational leadership for the pediatric clinical, research, and training programs at UT Southwestern. He also serves as Pediatrician-in-Chief for Children’s Medical Center Dallas, overseeing the quality of pediatric patient care and the integration of clinical and academic activities.

Dr. Bezerra is the principal investigator of multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health that are focused on preclinical and translational research on biliary atresia, the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. His scientific achievements include the discovery of a key immunologic signature in the liver of children with biliary atresia. This discovery led to a test, now transitioning to clinical use, that facilitates diagnosis of biliary atresia and shortens the time to surgical treatment.

A prolific author and lecturer, he has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and scores of book chapters, invited papers, and abstracts. He is a Co-Editor of Liver Disease in Children, 5th Edition, and he serves as a reviewer for numerous scholarly journals.

Dr. Bezerra is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He is also a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and in 2020 served as the seventy-first President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in 2021-2022.

Education & Training
  • Medical School - Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul - Brazil (1978-1984)
  • Residency - University of Arizona Health Sciences Center (1987-1989), Pediatrics
  • Fellowship - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (1990-1993), Pediatric Gastroenterology
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • American Gastroenterological Association
  • American Pediatric Society
  • American Society for Clinical Investigation
  • Association of American Physicians
  • North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
  • Society for Pediatric Research
Honors & Awards
  • Chairman 2021, Board of Scientific Councilors, Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • Honorary Member 2021, Academy of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine, Natal, Brazil
  • The Klatskin Lecturer 2021, Yale University
  • President 2020, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • The Best Doctors in America, 2005, 2008-2021
  • Castle Conolly Top Doctors in America 2018-2021
  • Top Doctor, Pediatrics, 2014-2015, 2017-2021, Cincinnati Magazine
  • Chairman 2017, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 DKUS-P (03)
  • Trustee 2016-2018, Foundation of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • Councilor and Governing Board Member 2016, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • Fellow 2015, American Gastroenterological Association
  • Fellow 2014, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • Award for distinguished scientific accomplishments 2014, 15th Brazilian Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Natal, Brazil
  • Mentorship Achievement Award 2014, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • Associate Editor 2012, Hepatology
  • William and Rebecca Balistreri Chair of Pediatric Hepatology 2009-2022, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • Pediatric Resident Research Award 1989, American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Research 1989, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
  • Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Clinical Service 1989, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
  • Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Teaching 1989, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
  • Best Graduating Student, Merit Medal 1984, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine
Books & Publications
Research
  • Biliary atresia
  • Inherited liver diseases
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Cholestatic liver diseases

Clinical Focus

  • Liver Disease
  • Transplant Hepatology

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