Dawn Sears, M.D.

Dawn Sears, M.D., is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. She provides clinical service at the North Texas Veterans Administration (VA-North Texas) in Gastroenterology and Hepatology where she treats veterans, educates, and serves as an executive coach for colleagues and trainees.

Dr. Sears holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Women's University. She earned her medical degree at Texas A&M University Health Science Center in College Station. She then completed internal medicine residency training along with a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple. She remained in Temple through the merger with Baylor as it formed Baylor Scott & White and was a leader in multiple capacities including serving as Associate Program Director and Program Director of the GI fellowship.

Growing up with a father in the Navy and multiple family members on active military duty resulted in her upmost respect for strong veteran healthcare. She expanded the fellowship, developed numerous specializations and established a robust liver clinic where all the APPs and Fellows learned together. She then led the division as chief for several years including overseeing a six suite endoscopy remodel and leading through the COVID crisis. After leaving Baylor Scott & White Health, she served as interim chief of the Central Texas Veterans Administration where she began the expansion of their gastroenterology services in the region.

Board Certified in gastroenterology and hepatology, Dr. Sears joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2024. Her research focuses on disease prevention and the intersectionality of gastroenterology and hepatology. Her innovative study on combining colonoscopy with Hepatitis C screening resulted in proposed national legislative changes to the CARES Act. 

Dr. Sears has authored journal publications covering a variety of research and educational topics in gastroenterology and hepatology. She is a certified executive coach and has received numerous grants and awards for her work with physicians. She was a regular trainer for Biggest Loser, and ran the Executive MBA (Mind Body and Activity) for high level leaders with limited time for personal wellbeing.

Dr. Sears is a highly ranked sought-after nationally and internationally speaker, with more than 100 invited lectures and presentations on basic liver and gastroenterology topics, annual updates for hospital and Internal medicine societies, and most recently anti-burnout, negotiations, leadership, elevator pitch and gender specific physician issues. She has coordinated multiple conferences in hepatology and women’s leadership, and serves as executive Coach for Scrubs & Heels (Women in Gastroenterology) and is a recurrent speaker at American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterology Association.

When not at work, Dr. Sears loves living within walking distance of White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum. She attributes these resources in helping her pass her second GI re-certification. She is a mom of three, including two with complex medical conditions.