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Avlin Imaeda, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)
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Additional Titles

Medical Director, North Haven Endoscopy Center

Contact Info

Yale School of Medicine

Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), PO Box 208019

New Haven, CT 06520-8019

United States

About

Titles

Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

Medical Director, North Haven Endoscopy Center

Biography

As of August 2022 I am joining Yale's Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program. Previously I have practiced general gastroenterology at VACT for 15 years with a strong endoscopic focus including colon cancer screening and prevention, small bowel deep enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy and treatment of dysplastic Barretts esophagus with radiofrequency ablation and hybrid argon plasma coagulation. I was Yale's Digestive Diseases fellowship program director from 2012 through 2021 during which time my academic interest was largely focused on education and general GI clinical topics such as GI bleeding from small bowel angiodysplasias.

I am very excited to continue my interest in preventative medicine by focusing on the extremely important area of metabolic health and weight loss. I will offer medication management, lifestyle intervention and endoscopic options for weight loss and weight regain following bariatric surgical procedures. I will also work closely with Bariatric Surgery Service to refer appropriate patients and care for patients who have had bariatric surgery. I look forward to working closely with colleagues from Digestive Diseases, Bariatric Surgery, Endocrinology and Cardiology. My academic interests are shifting along with my clinical focus and will likely focus on areas of clinical management of weight loss and effects of weight loss and lifestyle interventions on management of GI diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, diarrhea and constipation.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellowship
Yale University School of Medicine (2007)
Chief Resident
Yale University (2004)
Residency
Yale University School of Medicine (2003)
MD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2000)
PhD
Yale University (1996)
BS
Worcester Polytech Institute (1990)

Research

Overview

1) Localization of angioectasias within the small bowel using capsule endoscopy.

2) Outcomes of treating small bowel angioectasias with double balloon enteroscopy, push enteroscopy vs long-acting octreotide.

3) Use of a part-task endoscopic simulator in training of Gastroenterology Fellows

4) Impact of high resolution white light endoscopy and newer iterations of Olympus endoscopes on detection rates of sessile serrated adenomas.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Digestive System Diseases; Education, Medical; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Patient Simulation; Quality Improvement

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Avlin Imaeda's published research.

Publications

2020

2016

2015

2014

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Advisory Committee for GI Program Directors During COVID19

  • activity

    YNHH Cervis

  • activity

    Internal Medicine

  • activity

    American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)

  • activity

    Association of Specialty Professors

Clinical Care

Overview

Avlin Imaeda, MD, PhD, is a gastroenterologist in the Metabolic Health & Weight Loss Program. Dr. Imaeda offers medication management, lifestyle intervention, and endoscopic procedures for weight loss and other gastroenterology (GI) concerns.

Before her career as a physician, Dr. Imaeda was a researcher focused on immunology. “I loved research, but it was a lot of highs and lows. Sometimes, things went great, and other times things simply didn’t work. As a physician, I get instant gratification working with patients,” she says. “And gastroenterology was a natural fit because of my background in immunology, which affects the gut, and because I like doing procedures.”

After 15 years working at the VA Connecticut in West Haven doing general GI care, Dr. Imaeda joined the Metabolic Health & Weight Loss team to follow her interest in preventive medicine.

“Working in GI, I found that many patients have symptoms and issues related to poor eating habits and weight gain. Obesity rates continue to be high in the US and increasing throughout the entire world, and this causes or worsens almost all health problems,” she says. “Patients can improve their overall health by increasing activity and eating healthier diets, but most are still not successful at losing weight.”

Working in the weight-loss field right now is rewarding, she adds. “We have wonderful medications in addition to surgical and endoscopic options that are extraordinarily effective,” Dr. Imaeda says. “It’s great to offer patients options that help them improve their health and lose weight.”

Dr. Imaeda works closely with bariatric surgeons to refer appropriate patients for surgery; she also works with those who have had bariatric surgery, managing further weight loss or weight regain as well as other GI problems, including gastroesophageal reflux, diarrhea, and constipation. She provides consultation on patients referred from colleagues from primary care, digestive diseases, endocrinology, cardiology, orthopedics, sleep medicine, and oncology.

“I enjoy sitting down with patients and hearing their stories; it’s wonderful to see their weight loss success,” she says. “We have learned a lot about weight gain and how difficult it is for people to lose weight. I make a point to explain that to my patients, many of whom come in feeling guilt that they have somehow failed. I offer them empathy.”

Additionally, Dr. Imaeda says she explains the physiologic mechanisms that our bodies use to counteract weight loss, and how our food environment, with obesogenic processed foods, stimulate our brain’s reward systems and make people want to eat more, while providing less satiety.

Clinical Specialties

Digestive Diseases

Fact Sheets

Board Certifications

  • Gastroenterology

    Certification Organization
    AB of Internal Medicine
    Original Certification Date
    2007
  • Internal Medicine

    Certification Organization
    AB of Internal Medicine
    Latest Certification Date
    2014
    Original Certification Date
    2004

Yale Medicine News

Get In Touch

Contacts

Appointment Number
Office Fax Number
Mailing Address

Yale School of Medicine

Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), PO Box 208019

New Haven, CT 06520-8019

United States

Administrative Support

Locations

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