Erik De Jonghe M.D., M.P.H.

Doctors don’t have all the answers, so we need to listen and try to find the answers. Empathy is the most important thing… always be respectful of the patient. The motto that I keep as a standard is respect and empathy.

Erik De Jonghe, M.D., M.P.H., decided to become a doctor because he liked the combination of using technical skills, science, and helping people. He began his career in the field of public health, working in the organizational aspects of tuberculosis control and the AIDS epidemic, and traveled extensively.

He began work in gastroenterology while he was doing post-graduate research on Infectious Diseases and H. pylori. He found the field of gastroenterology to be fascinating. He has enjoyed his work for the past 20+ years.

Dr. De Jonghe enjoys sharing what he has learned in Public Health with the gastroenterology residents he teaches at the University of Nevada Reno , and he still follows health policy issues quite actively.

Although he specializes is general outpatient and hospital-based gastroenterology, Dr. De Jonghe keeps up to date with the various GI subspecialties. He is passionate about teaching how to use lifestyle modification and diet to combat obesity. As many scientific studies have shown, there is a strong relationship between obesity and certain chronic gastrointestinal problems, such as reflux .

Proper nutrition and an active lifestyle can improve and even prevent many gastrointestinal and liver disorders. When he’s not practicing medicine, Dr. De Jonghe enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and pursuing outdoor activities such as swimming, running, hiking, and skiing.

Education, Memberships and Affiliations

• Doctor of Medicine, University of Leuven, Belgium
• Master’s in Public Health, Harvard University, MA
• Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Rochester, NY
• Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
• American Board of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology certification, 1999
• Member, American College of Gastroenterology