Jorge Bezerra, M.D.

Jorge A. Bezerra, M.D., joined UT Southwestern as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics in October 2022. He is also Pediatrician-in-Chief at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. 

A pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Bezerra earned his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine in Brazil. After a pediatrics residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, he completed clinical and research fellowships in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at CCHMC.

Dr. Bezerra is the principal investigator of multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health focused on preclinical and translational research on biliary atresia, the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. 

His scientific achievements include the discovery of a key immunologic signature in the liver of children with biliary atresia. Using predictive analytics, the Bezerra lab identified matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) as a diagnostic biomarker of biliary atresia. The discovery led to a test now transitioning to clinical use to facilitate diagnostic algorithms and shorten the time to surgical treatment.

Dr. Bezerra is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He is also a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and served as the 71st President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in 2020. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Medical School

Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul - Brazil (1984)

Residency

University of Arizona Health Sciences Center (1989), Pediatrics

Fellowship

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (1993), Pediatric Gastroenterology

• Biliary Atresia
• Cholestatic Liver Diseases
• Inherited Liver Diseases
• Viral Hepatitis

 Featured Books

Transplantation of the liver. In Transplantation for cholestatic liver disease

Bezerra JA, Balistreri W (1996). Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co

Metabolic diseases in children. In Liver Diseases

D?Agata I, Bezerra JA. (2001). Brazil, Editora Atheneu

Metabolic liver disease. In Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia em Pediatria: Diagnostico e Tratamento

Bezerra JA (2003). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Medsi

Neonatal cholestasis. In Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia em Pediatria.

Bezerra JA (2003). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Medsi

Endoscopia Pediatrica (Pediatric Endoscopy). In Gastrointestinal evaluation in immunodeficient children

Guthery S, Bezerra JA (2004). Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, Guanabara Koogan

Biliary atresia. In Textbook of Pediatric Gatrointestinal Disease: 4th Edition, Volume 2

Campbell K, Bezerra JA. (2004). Lewiston, NY, BC Decker

Diagnosis and management of acute diarrhea in children. In Current Opinion in Pediatrics

Bezerra JA, Cohen MB (1991). United States, Wolters Kluwer

Cirrhosis. In Current Pediatric Therapy

Bezerra JA, Balistreri W (1993). Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co

Progress in pediatric hepatology. In Current Opinion in Gastroenterology

Bezerra JA, Balistreri WF (1996). United States, Wolters Kluwer

Cell transplantation into transgenic mice. In Falk Symposium

Bezerra JA (2002). Springer Dordrecht

Biliary atresia. In National Organization of Rare Disorders: A guide to rare disorders

Bezerra JA (2002). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

• Chairman
  Board of Scientific Councilors, Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2021)
• Honorary Member
  Academy of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine, Natal, Brazil (2021)
• The Klatskin Lecturer
  Yale University (2021)
• President
  American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2020)
• Castle Conolly Top Doctors in America
  (2018-2021)
• Chairman
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 DKUS-P (03) (2017)
• Councilor and Governing Board Member
  American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2016)
• Trustee
  Foundation of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2016-2018)
• Fellow
  American Gastroenterological Association (2015)
• Award for distinguished scientific accomplishments
  15th Brazilian Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Natal, Brazil (2014)
• Fellow
  American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (2014)
• Mentorship Achievement Award
  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2014)
• Associate Editor
  Hepatology (2012)
• William and Rebecca Balistreri Chair of Pediatric Hepatology
  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2009-2022)
• The Best Doctors in America
  2005 (2008-2021)
• Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Clinical Service
  Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ (1989)
• Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Research
  Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ (1989)
• Graduating Resident Award for Excellence in Teaching
  Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ (1989)
• Pediatric Resident Research Award
  American Academy of Pediatrics (1989)
• Best Graduating Student, Merit Medal
  Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine (1984)
• Top Doctor, Pediatrics
  2014-2015, 2017-2021, Cincinnati Magazine

• American Association for Advancement of Science (2000)
• American Association for Studies of Liver Diseases (1994)
• American Association for Studies of Liver Diseases, Fellow (2014)
• American Association of Physicians (2015)
• American Gastroenterological Association (1994)
• American Gastroenterological Association, Fellow (2015)
• American Pediatric Society (2005)
• American Physiological Society (2003)
• American Society for Clinical Investigation (2005)
• North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (1994)
• Society for Pediatric Research (2000)