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Arik Alper, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (GI)
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Contact Info

Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology

333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208064

New Haven, CT 06520

United States

About

Titles

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (GI)

Biography

I was born in Israel and grew up in Israel and USA. I studied medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I was deeply inspired by the research at that University, that set me on path to a career as a physician/scientist doing translational and basic science research. My clinical, research and educational activities center around gastrointestinal microbiology. Yale has provided me with a rich environment to expand my research on the impact of gut microbes on medical therapy. I believe that identification of patients gut microbial profile would play a significant role in tailoring individual's medical therapy.

Appointments

Education & Training

Resident
Tel Aviv Medical Center (2010)
MD
Hadassah Medical School (2004)

Research

Overview

1) Feeding disorders in children - including initiation of medical therapy for those disorders, developing keys for recognition of nutritional deficiencies and studying implication of specific enteral feeds and patients health.

2) Pediatric aero-digestive disorders

3) Gut microbiome - specifically studying the interaction between medical therapy and gut microbiome. Also interested in small bowel gut microbes activity, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and the impact of nutrition on gut microbes composition.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Feeding and Eating Disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Pediatrics

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Arik Alper's published research.

Publications

2022

2014

2009

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

  • activity

    North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

  • activity

    North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

  • activity

    Probiotics – clinical guide

  • activity

    Yale University

Clinical Care

Overview

Your gut—and more specifically what you eat—is directly connected to your overall health, says Arik Alper, MD. A pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Alper specializes in feeding disorders and aerodigestive problems (combined airway and digestive problems).

“I don’t only treat the gut, but gut problems that are often connected to it. Gut microbes rule the world and are now linked to various medical conditions such as behavioral and liver problems,” explains Dr. Alper, who researches the topic. “I believe that there is a clear gut-brain axis and that your gut microbes affect various clinical conditions. Manipulation of the gut microbiome could be a great treatment to many medical problems, and the research in this field is promising.”

When meeting new patients, Dr. Alper says his first priority is to thank them for choosing him to be part of their team. “I promise to do my best to find out what's causing their problem and do anything possible to make them feel better,” he says. “In our Pediatric Aerodigestive Program, patients meet with me, a feeding therapist, nutritionist, pulmonologist and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. We then meet to discuss each patient and come up with a plan. This holistic approach fits with my belief that a broad point of view is needed to solve a patient’s problem.”

Medical treatment, Dr. Alper says, is not the only option for feeding and aerodigestive disorders. “After discussing a diagnosis with a family, I usually discuss three to four treatment options, including diet changes, natural remedies, probiotics and medical treatment,” he says. “Often, simple diet modifications can solve the problem. I like to tailor treatment according to the family's personal lifestyle and beliefs.”

Dr. Alper is also an assistant professor of pediatric gastroenterology at Yale School of Medicine.

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Fact Sheets

Yale Medicine News

Get In Touch

Contacts

Appointment Number
Mailing Address

Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology

333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208064

New Haven, CT 06520

United States

Locations

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