Jorge A. Bezerra

Jorge A. Bezerra, M.D., is Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. He holds the Robert L. Moore Chair in Pediatrics. Dr. Bezerra specializes in pediatric gastroenterology, with a focus on biliary atresia and liver diseases in children. He earned his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte School of Medicine in Brazil, followed by residency at the University of Arizona and fellowships in pediatric gastroenterology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC).

His research centers on translational studies of biliary atresia, including immune mechanisms, biomarker discovery (e.g., MMP-7), and the role of the microbiome in disease pathogenesis. He leads NIH-funded grants and directs the Bezerra Lab, which utilizes organoid models and genomic approaches. Dr. Bezerra is an elected member of prestigious societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians.

Professional roles include Chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the NIDDK Intramural Research Program and former President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. His work emphasizes improving diagnostics, therapeutics, and outcomes for children with chronic liver diseases.