Ross C D Buerlein, MD
Gastroenterology
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Bio & Overview
Ross C. Buerlein, MD, is a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist with highly specialized expertise in a wide range of treatments and conditions affecting the digestive system. These include:
- Endoscopic therapy of bile duct obstruction (stones, strictures, cancer)
- Radiofrequency ablation and photodynamic therapy for biliary and pancreatic tumors
- Pancreatobiliary stenting
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Endoscopic mucosal resection for removal of large colon polyps
- Colonoscopy
- Upper endoscopy
- Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatitis (acute and chronic)
- Diagnosis and management of pancreatic cysts
- Diagnosis and management of pseudocysts and walled-off pancreatic necrosis
- Endoscopic mucosal resection of large/complex gastric and duodenal polyps
Dr. Buerlein was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, where he attended St. Christopher’s School. After earning a bachelor’s degree at James Madison University, he worked in a research laboratory at the National Institutes of Health. He earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School. After completing his 3-year residency in internal medicine at UVA, he was selected as a chief resident. He remained at UVA for his 3-year fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology and stayed for an additional year of sub-specialized training in advanced/interventional endoscopy.
In addition to his work in gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy, Dr. Buerlein founded and continues to lead the UVA Community Outreach Clinic, which offers free primary care and basic psychiatric services to patients experiencing homelessness in the Charlottesville community.
My wife and I are blessed with three children, and I love spending time with them,” he says. “We enjoy the many outdoor activities Charlottesville has to offer, and I particularly enjoy fly fishing, hunting and playing golf."
Academic Information
- Department
- Medicine
- Academic Role
- Assistant Professor
- Division
- Gastroenterology
- Research Interests
- Cholangiocarcinoma (diagnostic optimization and endoscopic management of this rare and deadly cancer) Pancreatic cancer Endoscopic removal of large colon polyps Pancreatic cysts Pancreatitis
- Gender
- Male
- Languages
- English
- Age Groups Seen
- Adults (21-65)
Older Adults (65+)
- Primary Education
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Residency
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Certification
- American Board of Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology), American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Highlights
Meet Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist Ross Buerlein, MD
Ross Buerlein: My name is Ross Buerlein, and I'm a doctor at the University of Virginia. I do interventional or advanced endoscopy in the division of gastroenterology. We often deal with patients who have issues in their bile ducts or their pancreas duct so it can be things like gallstones that have dropped into their bile duct and have become blocked. We have patients who have pancreatitis. We help diagnose and manage patients with pancreatic cancer, and we remove large colon polyps that otherwise might require surgery to fix. I very much enjoy helping, sit down with patients and helping them understand the nuances of the procedure, be on their team and help them understand if that's a procedure that's right for them. Interventional endoscopy for me is a perfect blend of internal medicine, where you have the opportunity to take a step back and see the patient as a whole, but also the procedural aspects where you can review radiological images and do the procedures where you can diagnose and fix a problem for a patient. At the University of Virginia, we're very fortunate to have state-of-the-art endoscopy facilities, radiology facilities, and a really world renowned team. But you're not just seeing me. You're seeing an entire team of experts who will work tirelessly for your case.
Awards
- 2024 Outstanding Patient Experience Award for Fiscal year
- 2024 Department of Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2024 Endoscopy Educator of the Year Award
- 2023 Outstanding Patient Experience Award for Fiscal year
- 2020 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
- 2016 Admitting Resident of the Year Award
- 2016 Dunn Award (UVA award for exemplary patient care)
- 2013 Gold Humanism Honor Society
Reviews
109 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
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