Mark Gerich, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine-Gastroenterology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, McGill University Faculty of Medicine (2004)
Graduate School
  • MBA, McGill University (2004)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, Cornell University (NY) (1996)
Residency
  • University of California (Davis) Health System Program, Internal Medicine (2007)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado, Gastroenterology (2011)
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Program, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (2012)
Languages
English
Department
Medicine-Gastroenterology

Professional Titles

  • Clinical Director, University of Colorado Crohn's & Colitis Center

Research Interests

My research activities are focused on investigating the causes and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Publications

  • Gerich ME and Loftus EV (2013). Extraintestinal Manifestations of IBD: Hepatobiliary Disease. In Clinical Challenges and Complications of IBD. MD Regueiro and J Swoger (Eds.). SLACK Inc., Thoracore, NJ.
  • Yoon JL, Gerich ME, Targan SR, Ippoliti AF, Vasiliauskas EA. Long-Term Outcomes of Thalidomide in Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Disease. ACG 2012, Las Vegas, #P945.
  • Gerich ME, Fleshner P, Panikkath D, Yoon JL, Winter R, Ocampo L, Al’Jiboury H, Kwon S, Haritunians T, Berel D, Dubinsky M, Targan SR, Melmed GY, McGovern DP. Genotype and Post-Operative Immunosuppression Impact Surgical Recurrence in Crohn’s Disease. DDW 2013, Orlando; #Mo1299.
  • Gerich ME, Pardi DS, Bruining DH, Kammer PP, Becker BD, Tremaine WT. Tacrolimus salvage in anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody treatment-refractory Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013 May;19(6):1107-11. PubMed PMID: 23518805
  • Collins CB, Aherne CM, Ehrentraut SF, Gerich ME, McNamee EN, McManus MC, Lebsack MD, Jedlicka P, Azam T, de Zoeten EF, Dinarello CA, Rivera-Nieves J. Alpha-1-antitrypsin therapy ameliorates acute colitis and chronic murine ileitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013 Aug;19(9):1964-73. PubMed PMID: 23835442
  • Gerich ME, Yoon JL, Targan SR, Ippoliti AF, Vasiliauskas EA. Long-term outcomes of thalidomide in refractory Crohn's disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Mar;41(5):429-37. PubMed PMID: 25511905
  • Gerich ME, McGovern DP. Towards personalized care in IBD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24345887
  • Gerich ME, Isfort RW, Brimhall B, Siegel CA. Medical marijuana for digestive disorders: high time to prescribe?. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Feb;110(2):208-14. PubMed PMID: 25199471
  • Gerich ME and Loftus EV (2013). Extraintestinal Manifestations of IBD: Hepatobiliary Disease. In Clinical Challenges and Complications of IBD. MD Regueiro and J Swoger (Eds.). SLACK Inc., Thoracore, NJ.
  • Gerich ME, McGovern DP. Towards personalized care in IBD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 May;11(5):287-99. PubMed PMID: 24345887
  • Gerich ME, Isfort RW, Brimhall B, Siegel CA. Medical marijuana for digestive disorders: high time to prescribe?. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Feb;110(2):208-14. PubMed PMID: 25199471
  • Kao DJ and Gerich ME. Crohn’s Disease: Diagnosis and Management. Hospital Physician Gastroenterology Board Review Manual 2013;14(4): 1-16.
  • Gerich ME, Yoon JL, Targan SR, Ippoliti AF, Vasiliauskas EA. Long-term outcomes of thalidomide in refractory Crohn's disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Mar;41(5):429-37. PubMed PMID: 25511905
  • Isfort RW, Collins CB, Gerich ME. Response to Utomo et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Aug;110(8):1245-6. PubMed PMID: 26263368
  • Chapman BC, Moore HB, Overbey DM, Morton AP, Harnke B, Gerich ME, Vogel JD. Fecal microbiota transplant in patients with Clostridium difficile infection: A systematic review. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2016 Oct;81(4):756-64. PubMed PMID: 27648772
  • Isfort RW, Gerich ME. High Hope for Medical Marijuana in Digestive Disorders. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Feb;111(2):159-60. PubMed PMID: 26832655
  • Neudecker V, Haneklaus M, Jensen O, Khailova L, Masterson JC, Tye H, Biette K, Jedlicka P, Brodsky KS, Gerich ME, Mack M, Robertson AAB, Cooper MA, Furuta GT, Dinarello CA, O'Neill LA, Eltzschig HK, Masters SL, McNamee EN. Myeloid-derived miR-223 regulates intestinal inflammation via repression of the NLRP3 inflammasome. J Exp Med. 2017 Jun 5;214(6):1737-1752. PubMed PMID: 28487310
  • Lanis JM, Alexeev EE, Curtis VF, Kitzenberg DA, Kao DJ, Battista KD, Gerich ME, Glover LE, Kominsky DJ, Colgan SP. Tryptophan metabolite activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates IL-10 receptor expression on intestinal epithelia. Mucosal Immunol. 2017 Sep;10(5):1133-1144. PubMed PMID: 28098246
  • Leinwand KL, Gerich ME, Hoffenberg EJ, Collins CB. Manipulation of the Endocannabinoid System in Colitis: A Comprehensive Review. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017 Feb;23(2):192-199. PubMed PMID: 28079617
  • Lawson PJ, Moore HB, Moore EE, Gerich ME, Stettler GR, Banerjee A, Schulick RD, Nydam TL. Microfluidics contrasted to thrombelastography: perplexities in defining hypercoagulability. J Surg Res. 2018 Nov;231:54-61. PubMed PMID: 30278969
  • Regner EH, Ohri N, Stahly A, Gerich ME, Fennimore BP, Ir D, Jubair WK, Görg C, Siebert J, Robertson CE, Caplan L, Frank DN, Kuhn KA. Functional intraepithelial lymphocyte changes in inflammatory bowel disease and spondyloarthritis have disease specific correlations with intestinal microbiota. Arthritis Res Ther. 2018 Jul 20;20(1):149. PubMed PMID: 30029674
  • Alexeev EE, Lanis JM, Kao DJ, Campbell EL, Kelly CJ, Battista KD, Gerich ME, Jenkins BR, Walk ST, Kominsky DJ, Colgan SP. Microbiota-Derived Indole Metabolites Promote Human and Murine Intestinal Homeostasis through Regulation of Interleukin-10 Receptor. Am J Pathol. 2018 May;188(5):1183-1194. PubMed PMID: 29454749
  • Cartwright IM, Curtis VF, Lanis JM, Alexeev EE, Welch N, Goldberg MS, Schaefer REM, Gao RY, Chun C, Fennimore B, Onyiah JC, Gerich ME, Dempsey PJ, Colgan SP. Adaptation to inflammatory acidity through neutrophil-derived adenosine regulation of SLC26A3. Mucosal Immunol. 2019 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31792360
  • Scott FI, Hans AK, Gerich ME, Fennimore B, Mamtani R, Vajravelu RK, Lewis JD. Identification of the Most Effective Position for Ustekinumab in Treatment Algorithms for Crohn's Disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32801006
  • Hall CHT, Lee JS, Murphy EM, Gerich ME, Dran R, Glover LE, Abdulla ZI, Skelton MR, Colgan SP. Creatine Transporter, Reduced in Colon Tissues From Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Regulates Energy Balance in Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Epithelial Integrity, and Barrier Function. Gastroenterology. 2020 Sep;159(3):984-998.e1. PubMed PMID: 32433978
  • Olli KE, Rapp C, O'Connell L, Collins CB, McNamee EN, Jensen O, Jedlicka P, Allison KC, Goldberg MS, Gerich ME, Frank DN, Ir D, Robertson CE, Evans CM, Aherne CM. Muc5ac Expression Protects the Colonic Barrier in Experimental Colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2020 Aug 20;26(9):1353-1367. PubMed PMID: 32385500
  • deZoeten EF, Battista KD, Colson SB, Lovell MA, Kessler BE, Isfort RW, Fennimore BP, Onyiah JC, Kao DJ, Yeckes A, Keely S, Murray M, Hoffenberg EJ, Colgan SP, Gerich ME. Markers of Hypoxia Correlate with Histologic and Endoscopic Severity of Colitis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Hypoxia (Auckl). 2020;8:1-12. PubMed PMID: 32104717
  • Scott FI, Luo M, Shah Y, Lasch K, Vajravelu RK, Mamtani R, Fennimore B, Gerich ME, Lewis JD. Identification of the Most Cost-effective Position of Vedolizumab Among the Available Biologic Drugs for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. J Crohns Colitis. 2020 Jun 19;14(5):575-587. PubMed PMID: 31901085
  • Cartwright IM, Curtis VF, Lanis JM, Alexeev EE, Welch N, Goldberg MS, Schaefer REM, Gao RY, Chun C, Fennimore B, Onyiah JC, Gerich ME, Dempsey PJ, Colgan SP. Adaptation to inflammatory acidity through neutrophil-derived adenosine regulation of SLC26A3. Mucosal Immunol. 2020 Mar;13(2):230-244. PubMed PMID: 31792360
  • Melmed GY, Oliver B, Hou JK, Lum D, Singh S, Crate D, Almario C, Bray H, Bresee C, Gerich M, Gerner D, Heagy E, Holthoff M, Hudesman D, McCutcheon Adams K, Mattar MC, Metwally M, Nelson E, Ostrov A, Rubin DT, Scott F, Samir S, van Deen W, Younes Z, Oberai R, Weaver A, Siegel CA. Quality of Care Program Reduces Unplanned Health Care Utilization in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34797226
  • Almario CV, Kogan L, van Deen WK, Scott FI, Singh S, Hou JK, Lum D, Aguilar H, Betteridge J, Flynn A, Gerich M, Kaufman L, Mattar MC, Mize C, Ostrov A, Shah SA, Younes Z, Weaver SA, Heller C, Siegel CA, Melmed GY. Health Economic Impact of a Multicenter Quality-of-Care Initiative for Reducing Unplanned Healthcare Utilization Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021 Nov 3. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34730561
  • Lefferts AR, Regner EH, Stahly A, O'Rourke B, Gerich ME, Fennimore BP, Scott FI, Freeman AE, Jones K, Kuhn KA. Circulating mature granzyme B T cells distinguish Crohn's disease-associated axial spondyloarthritis from axial spondyloarthritis and Crohn's disease. Arthritis Res Ther. 2021 May 22;23(1):147. PubMed PMID: 34022940
  • Cartwright IM, Dowdell AS, Lanis JM, Brink KR, Mu A, Kostelecky RE, Schaefer REM, Welch N, Onyiah JC, Hall CHT, Gerich ME, Tabor JJ, Colgan SP. Mucosal acidosis elicits a unique molecular signature in epithelia and intestinal tissue mediated by GPR31-induced CREB phosphorylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 May 18;118(20). PubMed PMID: 33972436
  • Berlinberg AJ, Regner EH, Stahly A, Brar A, Reisz JA, Gerich ME, Fennimore BP, Scott FI, Freeman AE, Kuhn KA. Multi 'Omics Analysis of Intestinal Tissue in Ankylosing Spondylitis Identifies Alterations in the Tryptophan Metabolism Pathway. Front Immunol. 2021;12:587119. PubMed PMID: 33746944
  • Scott FI, Hans AK, Gerich ME, Fennimore B, Mamtani R, Vajravelu RK, Lewis JD. Identification of the Most Effective Position for Ustekinumab in Treatment Algorithms for Crohn's Disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Oct;19(10):2082-2092.e10. PubMed PMID: 32801006
  • Cohen BL, Fleshner P, Kane SV, Herfarth HH, Palekar N, Farraye FA, Leighton JA, Katz JA, Cohen RD, Gerich ME, Cross RK, Higgins PDR, Tinsley A, Glover S, Siegel CA, Bohl JL, Iskandar H, Ji J, Hu L, Sands BE. Prospective Cohort Study to Investigate the Safety of Preoperative Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Exposure in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Undergoing Intra-abdominal Surgery. Gastroenterology. 2022 Jul;163(1):204-221. PubMed PMID: 35413359
  • Berlinberg AJ, Brar A, Stahly A, Gerich ME, Fennimore BP, Scott FI, Kuhn KA. A Novel Approach toward Less Invasive Multiomics Gut Analyses: a Pilot Study. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Apr 27;10(2):e0244621. PubMed PMID: 35343759
  • Constant BD, de Zoeten EF, Stahl MG, Vajravelu RK, Lewis JD, Fennimore B, Gerich ME, Scott FI. Delays Related to Prior Authorization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pediatrics. 2022 Mar 1;149(3). PubMed PMID: 35190811
  • Palmer WH, Leaton LA, Campos Codo A, Crute B, Roest J, Zhu S, Petersen J, Tobin RP, Hume PS, Stone M, van Bokhoven A, Gerich ME, McCarter MD, Zhu Y, Janssen WJ, Vivian JP, Trowsdale J, Getahun A, Rossjohn J, Cambier J, Loh L, Norman PJ. Polymorphic KIR3DL3 expression modulates tissue-resident and innate-like T cells. Sci Immunol. 2023 Jun 30;8(84):eade5343. PubMed PMID: 37390222

Professional Memberships

  • American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), Member
  • Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Member
  • American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), Member
  • American College of Physicians (ACP), Member
  • American Medical Association (AMA), Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Digestive Health Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
5th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2777

UCHealth Crohn’s and Colitis Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
6th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2777

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Internal Medicine, Board Certification (2007)
  • Gastroenterology, Board Certification
  • Fellowship in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Specialized Training (2012)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Digestive System - Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis
  • Digestive System
  • Digestive System - Colonoscopy
Clinical Interests
My main clinical interest is the medical and endoscopic management of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.

Care Philosophy
I strive to provide the best care for my patients. I believe in treating the person as a whole, taking every aspect of a patient’s body and health into consideration during diagnosis and treatment.

Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and pursuing outdoor activities like alpine and backcountry skiing, backpacking, and fly fishing.