University of California San Francisco

Biography

Dr. James Ostroff is a gastroenterologist at UCSF Medical Center where he directs the Endoscopy unit and the Gastrointestinal Consultation Service. Ostroff specializes in the endoscopic therapy of obstructive jaundice, benign and malignant pancreatic diseases, endoscopic management of malignant bowel obstructions and endoscopic treatment of complications after surgical esophagectomies and orthotopic liver transplants.

Ostroff earned an undergraduate degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a medical degree at Cornell Medical College. He completed an internship and residency at New York Hospital. He also studied the immunology of liver disease in the laboratory of Dr. Henry Kunkel at Rockefeller University before coming to UCSF where he is a professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics. Over the last 22 years, he has published more than 65 articles, chapters and abstracts on the endoscopic management of gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

His research focuses on endoscopic therapy for the biliary tract and pancreas and post-operative strictures, obscure GI bleeding and endoscopic management of post-operative complications. Ostroff has established one of the largest endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) training programs in North America.

Education

Education

1965-1970 B.S., Chemistry, B.S., Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Troy, New York
1970-1975 Medical Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
1975-1977 M.D., Cornell Medical College

Residencies

7/77-6/78 Medical Intern, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
7/78-6/80 Medical Resident and Assistant, Chief Medical Resident, New York
Hospital-Cornell Medical Center

Fellowships

1/80-7/80 Research Associate in Immunology, Preceptor H.A. Kunkel and
Assistant Physician Rockefeller University Hospital
7/80-6/82 Fellow in Clinical Gastroenterology, University of California , San
Francisco

Board Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine - General
American Board of Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology Subspecialty

Clinical Expertise

Cirrhosis
Liver Transplantation
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Cholangiocarcinoma
Gastroparesis
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)
Chronic Pancreatitis
Acute Pancreatitis
Gallstones
Pancreatic Cancer
Ulcerative Colitis
Crohns Disease
Intestinal Failure
Intestinal Transplantation
Short Bowel Syndrome

Program Affiliations

UCSF Transplant Program

Research Interests

Endoscopic therapy for the biliary tract, and pancreas and post-operative strictures

Obscure GI bleeding

Edoscopic management of post-operative complications