Rozina Mithani, M.D.

Meet Dr. Mithani

Gastroenterologist in Dallas

UT Southwestern Medical Center gastroenterologist Rozina Mithani, M.D., treats general gastrointestinal (GI) issues but also focuses on less common and more complex problems of the GI tract, such as Barrett’s esophagus.

Dr. Mithani sees a variety of patients, from those who need routine colon cancer screenings to those who have been dealing with long-term GI issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Much of her practice involves patients who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or symptoms that are similar to it.

Treating Both Old and New Patients

Dr. Mithani welcomes first-time patients as well as those who are referrals from other doctors or who need a second opinion.

“Some of my favorite visits are the first-time patients,” Dr. Mithani says. “We can avoid some of the misconceptions and stigma that patients sometimes come to me with.”

In many cases, the first step is to make an accurate diagnosis or to confirm a diagnosis, particularly when patients think they have gastroesophageal reflux, which can be mistaken for other issues.

Using advanced diagnostic techniques such as pH monitoring and motility studies of the esophagus, Dr. Mithani is able to identify the problem and have a better idea of which treatment approach will work most effectively. She says it’s important to understand how a patient’s symptoms are affecting his or her life and then to discuss the different treatment options available because there can be a range of options.

“Anybody can hand out pills and treat a disease,” Dr. Mithani says. “But I think it's really understanding how it impacts a patient's life that is important.”

For reflux, in particular, Dr. Mithani specializes in medical therapies, including proton pump inhibitors and other medications, but she also educates patients about surgical options if that’s what they prefer or if medical therapies have failed them.

“The goal of my treatment is to get patients to the point where they control their disease instead of letting their disease control them,” Dr. Mithani says. “I want them to feel empowered to be an advocate for their own care.”