Stuart Spechler, MD

Professor
Endowed Title: Berta M. and Dr. Cecil O. Patterson Chair in Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine

Contact Information

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390

stuart.spechler@utsouthwestern.edu

Biography

Dr. Spechler obtained his B.A. degree from Boston University (1971) and his M.D. degree from Boston University School of Medicine (1974). He completed his residency in internal medicine (1974-1977) and his fellowship in gastroenterology (1977-1979) at the Boston VA Medical Center. Upon completing his fellowship, Dr. Spechler joined the staff of the Boston VA Medical Center where he served as Associate Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology until 1990. From 1990 through 1997, Dr. Spechler was the Director of the Center for Swallowing Disorders at the Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Spechler has been a member of the faculty of the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas since 1997. Dr. Spechler is widely renowned as an expert in diseases of the esophagus. He has a special interest in gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus. Dr. Spechler has an active program of clinical research that focuses on diseases of the esophagus. He chairs the VA Cooperative Study on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. He is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association's Committee on GI Research. His current research protocols include an NCI-sponsored study of chemoprophylaxis for Barrett's esophagus, a study of photodynamic therapy for Barrett's esophagus, and a study on the role of NSAIDs in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Education

Graduate SchoolBoston University, Medicine (1974)
UndergraduateBoston University, Science (1972)

Research Interests

Barrett’s esophagus
Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Publications

Intestinal metaplasia at the gastroesophageal junction

Spechler SJ , Gastroenterology , 2004; (126):567-575

Acid increases proliferation via ERK and p38 MAPK-mediated increases in cyclooxygenase-2 in Barrett’s adenocarcinoma cells

Souza RF, Shewmake K, Pearson S, Sarosi GA Jr, Feagins LA, Ramirez RD, Terada LS, Spechler SJ , Am J Physiol , 2004; (287):G743-G748

Re-examination of the cost-effectiveness of surgical versus medical therapy in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: the value of long-term data collection

Arguedas MR, Heudebert GR, Klapow JC, Centor RM, Eloubeidi MA, Wilcox CM, Spechler SJ , Am J Gastroenterol , 2004; (99):1023-1028

Characterisation of telomerase immortalised normal human oesophageal squamous cells

Morales CP, Gandia KG, Ramirez RD, Wright WE, Shay JW, Spechler SJ , Gut , 2003; (52):327-333

A 59 year-old woman with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett esophagus

Spechler SJ , JAMA , 2003; (289):466-475

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American College of Gastroenterology

American Gastroenterological Association