Richard Peek, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis and host-microbial interactions. He has served as the Mina Wallace Professor of Medicine, Cancer Biology and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology as well as Director of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center since 2004.
The GI division is comprised of 80 physician-scientists, clinician educators and research-track investigators, and has tripled in size under his leadership. The division receives approximately $8 million per year in NIH direct funds and has a total research portfolio of over $11 million per year.
Dr. Peek was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2003, the Association of American Physicians in 2013, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow) in 2021, and was a charter member of the NIH Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology Study Section. He served as Chair of the Esophageal, Gastric and Duodenal Section of the AGA Council from 2007-2011, Chair of the AGA Council from 2012-2015, was co-editor-in-chief of Gastroenterology from 2016-2022, and was a recent member of the NIH NIDDK Advisory Council.
Dr. Peek is devoted to the training of Clinician-Educators and Physician-Scientists. He directs the NIH-funded DDRC and the Vanderbilt Gastroenterology Training Program (NIH T32) that consolidates Adult and Pediatric GI postdoctoral research training at Vanderbilt, and has a vigorous role in mentoring students, residents, fellows and junior faculty.