Dr. Akash Goel

Dr. Akash Goel

Gastroenterology

New York

Internal Medicine

Gastroenterology

For Dr. Akash Goel, medicine and food have deep roots in his family history. The son of a farmer from rural India who moved to the United States to become a gastroenterologist, Dr. Goel was motivated by his father’s story and by his own upbringing in rural Illinois, where he saw industrial agriculture up close from an early age.

“I was driven by how dysfunctional the food system was and how food is a top driver of chronic disease,” Dr. Goel says. “I felt inspired by the fact that I could hopefully improve health outcomes on a patient basis as well as on a population basis by working at the intersection of clinical medicine and food and nutrition.”

So he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a gastroenterologist and developed an approach that centers the philosophy of food as medicine, combining evidence-based internal medicine and gastroenterology with integrative and empathic care. He helps patients manage gastrointestinal issues, metabolic health concerns, and disorders related to the gut-brain axis.

Dr. Goel earned a BA in biochemistry from Harvard University before receiving his MD from the University of Michigan Medical School. He then completed his residency in internal medicine at Columbia University/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System.

During his fellowship, Dr. Goel worked with the University of Miami’s Crohn’s and Colitis Center, one of the largest such groups in the country, where he developed in an interest in the role of food, environmental toxins, and the gut microbiome in digestive health.

Dr. Goel went on to become a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. There, he treated people for a wide range of GI issues in both hospital and outpatient settings, often focusing on diet and lifestyle. Dr. Goel appreciated the investigative process of uncovering various conditions and helping his patients develop plans to address them.

“I love connecting with people, learning about their individual stories, and learning about what’s working and what’s not working,” says Dr. Goel. “I have a humanistic style of medicine that’s slow and intimate. I work with people to find what will make them feel their best.”

After treating COVID-19 patients in New York City during the first year of the pandemic, Dr. Goel took a sabbatical and returned to his hometown to work alongside his father in a community gastroenterology practice, an experience he describes as “an absolute privilege.” In central Illinois, Dr. Goel and his father have cared for patients whose limited access to health care means they have needs far beyond those addressed in a typical GI practice. “My dad’s approach to medicine is almost spiritual,” he says. Dr. Goel enjoys the opportunity to bring this compassion to his own patients and says the lessons he has learned from his father can apply to people of all backgrounds.

“I want patients to know they don’t have to carry the burden of a health problem on their own. We’ll be working on this as a team,” Dr. Goel says.

Dr. Goel is delighted when he can use his knowledge about food and medicine to help patients take a preventive approach to their health. He uses leading-edge technology and the latest evidence in his treatment plans, while also drawing on holistic methods. When his patients disconnect from technology and spend more time in nature, he often sees significant changes in their health. “Sometimes people reevaluate what’s driving their stress and illness, and it can be really empowering,” he says.

Dr. Goel is just as passionate about enhancing the public’s understanding of the connections between food, lifestyle, the environment, and health. He has written about health and human rights for many publications, including the Washington Post, the Financial Times, CNN, TIME, and more. In addition to his passion for writing, Dr. Goel plays guitar and enjoys biking, practicing yoga, and spending time in nature.

Credentials

Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Gastroenterologist

Associated Gastroenterology Consultants in Illinois

Awards

United Nations Department of Public Information Award 2015

Cannes Lion 2014, 2015

Affiliations

Member

American Gastroenterological Association

Member

American College of Gastroenterology

Term Member

Council on Foreign Relations

Advisory Board Member

Health Hospitality Partners

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