The Emerging Role of the Gut Microbiome in Health and Immunity

Dr Rina Sanghavi, MD, MBA, FAAP, NASPGHAN-F is a Pediatric Neurogastroenterologist and a Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center/Children’s Health, Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She practices in the division of pediatric gastroenterology and has special expertise in motility issues including anorectal malformations, constipation, functional GI disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome. She is the Director of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology. She has helped establish the Aerodigestive Clinic, the Chronic Abdominal Pain Program, the Motility and Biofeedback Program and the Center for Anorectal Malformations and Pelvic Disorders at her institution. She holds several administrative and leadership positions including President of the Medical Dental Staff, Chair of the Pediatric Business Strategy Group and Director of the Office of Faculty Engagement. She is also the chair of the Professional Development Committee for the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). 

She is an advocate for Women leaders in medicine, equity, and empathic leadership. She is passionate about marrying the business aspect of a medical practice with efficiency and promoting wellness within clinicians, especially in an academic environment. She has been invited for lectures and talks on neurogastroenterology, nutrition and leadership nationally and internationally. In addition, she has also been recognized with several awards, including the all-important Patient’s Choice Awards, and is recognized as a 5-time winner of ‘Best Doctor in Dallas’ by the Dallas Fort Worth/North Texas Child Magazine and D magazine. 

She lives with her husband of 20 years, and her two teenage children in a suburb of Texas. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, gardening, music, and learning new languages.