Andres Acosta

Andres J. Acosta, M.D., Ph.D., is a consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Acosta joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 2016 and holds the academic rank of assistant professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Dr. Acosta earned his B.S. in health science and his M.D. at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador, graduating with magna cum laude honors for both degrees. He earned his Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology at the University of Florida, College of Medicine in Gainesville and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at University of Florida Shands/UF Hospital. He continued his training at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, where he completed both a clinical fellowship and a postdoctoral research fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Dr. Acosta main career goal is to understand and cure obesity. His research focuses on gastrointestinal physiology to understand the complexity of food intake regulation and obesity. His laboratory utilizes a combination of genetics, physiology, pharmacology, proteomics, metabolomics, and gastrointestinal and brain imaging to understand food intake regulation and to modulate them for the treatment of obesity. He is principal investigator and co-investigator on research funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In collaboration with his mentor, Michael Camilleri, M.D., Dr. Acosta is using cutting-edge techniques to develop a unique and novel approach to “personalized obesity management” based on combination of physiology, genetics and metabolic markers. He has given numerous presentations on his research both nationally and internationally and is a prolific author of journal articles, abstracts and other written publications.

In the truth example of translational medicine and with support of the Center of Individualized Medicine, Dr. Acosta started a “personalized obesity management” clinic to help patients struggling with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. In the clinic, he is using the cutting-edge techniques develoedp in his laboratory to find the “right intervention for the right patient”. His novel approach resulted in greater weight loss (2x) with less complications to his patients.

Throughout his training and career, Dr. Acosta has received many awards and honors, including the J. Arnold Bargen Research Award, the Ruppe Career Development Award, and the Gerstner Career Development Award, all conferred at Mayo Clinic, as well as the ANMS Career Development Award, conferred by the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society.

In addition to his clinical and research activities, Dr. Acosta is active in education and provides mentorship to medical students and clinical fellows, among others. He is also an active member of professional organizations, such as the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and The Obesity Society.