Rhonda Souza, MD

Professor
Internal Medicine
Graduate Program: Biomedical Engineering

Contact Information

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

rhonda.souza@utsouthwestern.edu

Biography

Dr. Souza obtained her BA from Cornell University (1987) and her MD from Howard University College of Medicine (1991). After completing her residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Boston (1991-1994), she completed three years of postdoctoral training in gastroenterology at the University of Maryland (1994-1997).

Dr. Souza has a particular interest in gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications including Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Currently the laboratory is investigating in vitro and in vivo the molecular mechanisms by which acid and bile exposure lead to the development and neoplastic progression of Barrett’s esophagus.

Education

Graduate SchoolHoward University (1991)
UndergraduateCornell University (1987)

Research Interests

Barrett's esophagus
Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Molecular mechanisms of gastrointestinal cancer

Publications

GERD is associated with short telomeres in the squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus.

Souza RF, Lunsford T, Ramirez RD, Zhang X, Lee EL, Shen Y, Owen C, Shay JW, Morales CM, Spechler SJ. , American Journal of Physiology , 2007; (293):G19-G24

Acid has anti-proliferative effects in non-neoplastic Barrett?s epithelial cells.

Feagins LA, Zhang H, Hormi-Carver K, Quinones MH, Thomas D, Zhang X, Terada LS, Spechler SJ, Ramirez RD, Souza RF , American Journal of Gastroenterology , 2007; (102):10-20

In non-dysplastic Barrett?s Epithelial (BAR-T) cells, acid exerts early anti-proliferative effects through activation of the Chk2 pathway.

Zhang HY, Zhang X, Hormi-Carver K, Feagins LA, Spechler SJ, Souza RF. , Cancer Research , 2007; (In press)

Characterization of a telomerase-immortalized, non-neoplastic, human Barrett’s cell line (BAR-T).

Jaiswal KR, Morales CP, Feagins LA, Gandia KG, Zhang X, Zhang HY, Hormi-Carver, K, Shen Y, Elder F, Ramirez RD, Sarosi GA, Jr., Spechler SJ, Souza RF. , Diseases of the Esophagus , 2007; (20):256-264

All trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) induces apoptosis via p38 and caspase pathways in metaplastic Barrett?s cells.

Hormi-Carver K, Feagins LA, Spechler SJ, Souza RF. , American Journal of Physiology , 2006; (290):G335-G342

Honors/Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha

Medical Honor Society

Nominating Committee for the EGD Section

American Gastroenterology Association

REGAL Award

Research Excellence in GI and Liver

Steering Committee of the GRG

American Gastroenterology Association

Young Investigator Award-Basic Research

Gastroenterology Research Group, American Gastroenterology Association

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American Association for Cancer Research

American College of Gastroenterology

American Gastroenterological Association

American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy