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Echavarria

Contact

210-567-4611

echavarriaj@uthscsa.edu

For administrative calls, please contact:

Departments & Divisions

Clinical

Provider profile

Juan F Echavarria, M.D.

Associate Professor/Clinical

Currently not seeking mentees

Subspecialties: Internal Medicine Gastroenterology

As an academic clinician-educator, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise in gastroenterology and medical education to my role as Program Director for the GI fellowship at UTHSA. After earning my medical degree in my native Colombia, I completed advanced training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at UT Health San Antonio. I have since played a leadership role in the Gastroenterology Division, overseeing both the GI Fellowship Program and GI education. My clinical interests are broad, but I have a special focus on managing complex colon polyps, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and most recently Artificial Intelligence. At University Health System at University Hospital and the Robert B. Green Campus, I am proud to care for an underserved and predominantly Hispanic population. My fluency in Spanish enables me to communicate effectively with patients, ensuring that they receive high-quality care regardless of any language barriers. With my experience and dedication, I am committed to advancing medical education and providing excellent patient care.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2008 - MS - Master in Science, Immunology - Universidad del valle, Cali, Colombia
    • 2005 - MD - Medicine - CES - Universidad CES, Medellin Colombia

    Training

    • 2014 - Fellowship - Gastroenterology - UT Health San Antonio
    • 2011 - Residency - Internal Medicine - University of Texas Health San Antonio

    Highlights

    2024, 2022: Clinician Educator Award
    2020-Current: Top Gastroenterologist San Antonio - San Antonio Magazine
    2022: Fellow, American Gastroenterology Association
    2019: Fellow, American College of Gastroenterology
    2015, 2018: Mentor of the Year
    2017: ACG SCOPY award
    2016: Professor of the year
    2009: Outstanding Internal Medicine Intern
    2009: First Place Research Poster Competition 2009: Southwest Texas ACP

    Appointments

    • 2014 - Assistant Professor of Medicine - University of Texas Health San Antonio
    • 2018-2024 - Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director - University of Texas Health San Antonio
    • 2019 - IBD clinic Codirector - University Hospital
    • 2021 - Associate Professor of Medicine - University of Texas Health San Antonio

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2014 - current, Digestive Health & Nutrition module, Long School of Medicine, UTHSA
    • 2017 - current, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, University of Texas Health San Antonio
    • 2018 - current, Radiology conference GI fellowship, University of Texas Health San Antonio
    • 2020 - current, Focus Conference 1st year fellow, Brooke Army Medical Center
    • 2024, ASGE 1st yr Fellow Course, ASGE

  • Research & Grants

    Research interest:
    - Inflammatory bowel disease
    Crohns and Colitis foundation grant: Reprogramming B cells to maintain homeostasis and prevent inflammation in the gut

    - Colon polyps and endoscopic resection

    Endoscopic Mucosal Resection - I have special training in Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) for the evaluation and management of complex colo-rectal polyps. I completed the "EMR Star Program" sponsored by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

  • Service

    Department

    Basic endoscopic procedures - I perform basic diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, including upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy, as well as other specialized procedures include luminal stent placement, luminal balloon dilation, pneumatic esophageal dilation for achalasia, Savary dilation, and control of bleeding (both arterial and variceal, by multiple modalities).
    Endoscopic Mucosal Resection - I have special training in Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) for the evaluation and management of complex colo-rectal polyps. I completed the "EMR Star Program" sponsored by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
    Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic – Management of complex IBD patientst.

    School

    Clinical Competence Committee – Internal Member Medicine Residency, UT Health San Antonio
    Periodic Program Review Committee 2017

    Institutional

    UH Ambulatory Policy Committee
    UH pharmacy and Therapeutics GI sub-committee
    GME advisory committee
    UT-HIP PPI Expert Panel Committee 

    Service to the Profession

    10/23/2022 – American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2022: Expert poster reviewer Sunday, 530-630pm IBD posters A0405-A0415

    Community

    8/10/2024 – Crohn's and Colitis foundation: Featured Speaker, Morning of Community, Education & Networking for Hispanic/Latino IBD Patients & Caregivers
    9/12/2022 – UTSA Pre-medical Society talk: "Life in Medicine from a Gastroenterologist perspective"

  • Publications

  • Clinical

    My clinic focus is patient with gastrointestinal disorders with a focus on Inflammatory Bowel disease, including patients with Crohn's disease and Ulceratiove colitis. I also focus on endoscopic management of colonic complex polyps by polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection. 

    Provider profile

    Board Certifications

    • 2014 - ABIM - Gastroenterology and Hepatology
    • 2011 - ABIM - Internal Medicine