Elana M. Bern

Elana M. Bern is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and serves as Co-Director of the Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Program. She is also an Attending Physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, practicing at locations in Lexington and Waltham, Massachusetts. Her roles combine clinical expertise with academic research, focusing on pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional health.

Education:

• Undergraduate: McGill University (Montreal, Canada), 1982
• Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA), 1987
• Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, MA), MPH 1994

Research Interests:
Dr. Bern specializes in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Her research also examines eating disorders, particularly ARFID, with a focus on neural mechanisms, caregiver-patient dynamics, and healthcare utilization patterns. She emphasizes clinical pathways to improve standardized care for inpatients.

Publications:
Her recent work explores topics like neural responses to food cues, caregiver-youth agreement in surveys, and pediatric hospital resource allocation. These studies highlight her dual commitment to advancing clinical practices and understanding the psychological dimensions of gastrointestinal and eating disorders.

Awards:
No scientific awards explicitly listed in the text.

Advising & Grants:
No formal advisees (students) or grants are mentioned. Her contributions focus on clinical care and collaborative research initiatives.

Labs & Teams:
She leads the ARFID Program and collaborates with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Harvard Medical School, as well as the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. These teams aim to improve outcomes for children with complex gastrointestinal and nutritional conditions.