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Sofia Verstraete

MD

Pediatric gastroenterologist
Co-director, Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, San Francisco

Dr. Sofia Verstraete is a gastroenterologist specializing in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease — in children. She performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including colonoscopies and other endoscopies, and cares for hospitalized patients as well as those visiting the clinic. Her special interests include IBD that develops at an early age, the ways in which rare conditions of chronic immunodeficiency relate to IBD, liver disease in patients with IBD and how to safely transition IBD patients to other providers' care.

Verstraete is a strong advocate for diversity. As a native Spanish speaker, she can evaluate treat patients who speak only Spanish, bringing particular value to medically complex cases where language and cultural barriers pose challenges. She is co-director of the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital's Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program and leads its clinical, research and quality improvement teams. She is passionate about improving remission rates among IBD patients at UCSF by offering a support group, hosting educational events, connecting patients with resources and creating subspecialty clinics to address the needs of patients who have other conditions along with IBD.

One focus of Verstraete's current research is how medical professionals classify IBD in pediatric patients. Her research also investigates how ethnicity impacts the condition's characteristics. In addition, she is active in clinical trials of cutting-edge medications for pediatric IBD.

After earning her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Verstraete completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Miami Health System. She then completed a master of advanced studies degree in epidemiology and biostatistics as well as a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at UCSF.

Verstraete belongs to the American Academy of Pediatrics; North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; Crohn's & Colitis Foundation; and American Gastroenterological Association. She is a John A. Watson Faculty Scholar at UCSF, an honor that has allowed her to dedicate time to research and caring for underserved populations. She also manages the educational programs that give UCSF medical students and residents an opportunity to expand their knowledge of pediatric gastroenterology.

  • Education

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, MD, 2008

  • Residencies

    University of Miami Health System, Pediatrics, 2012

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, 2016

  • Board Certifications

    Pediatric Gastroenterology, American Board of Pediatrics

    Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

  • Academic Title

    Assistant Professor

  • Languages

    Spanish

Where I see patients (4)

    Decorative Caduceus

    A Master Protocol (AMAZ): A Study of Mirikizumab (LY3074828) in Pediatric Participants With Ulc...

    Clinical Remission based on the MMS

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    Clinical, Imaging, and Endoscopic Outcomes of Children Newly Diagnosed With Crohn's Disease

    The achievement of complete healing (CH) 52 weeks after initiation of anti-TNF therapy guided by ROADMAB™ (therapeutic drug monitoring) as evidenced by a composite of all of the following four features below: Endoscopic healing (E...

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    A Study of Mirikizumab (LY3074828) in Pediatric Participants With Crohn's Disease

    Clinical response based on PCDAI, and endoscopic response based on SES-CD.

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    A Study of Mirikizumab (LY3074828) in Pediatric Participants With Moderately to Severely or Act...

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    A Study of Vedolizumab in Children and Teenagers With Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis (UC...

    Clinical remission based on the modified Mayo score is defined as stool frequency subscore 0 to 1 and a decrease of 1 or more from Baseline; rectal bleeding subscore of 0; and, endoscopy subscore 0 to 1 (modified so that a score o...

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    A Study of Vedolizumab in Children and Teenagers With Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease (CD)

    Clinical remission is defined by PCDAI score ≤10. The PCDAI was specifically designed for use in children. The PCDAI includes a child-specific item: the height velocity variable as well as three laboratory parameters: hematocrit (...

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    Decorative Caduceus

    Personalized AZithromycin/metronidAZole Therapy in Pediatric Crohn's Disease (CD)

    Subjects without need for re-induction for clinical flare (new course of nutritional therapy, need to restart steroids), steroid dependence, biologic (e.g. anti-TNF) use, and/or intestinal surgery

    Recruiting

    More about this study
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