Grace H . Elta

Dr. Elta is a highly acclaimed, sought-after gastroenterologist who has served for more than 10 years as the medical director of the University of Michigan’s medical procedures unit (MPU) and associate chief of clinical programs. Under Dr. Elta’s leadership, the MPU is considered by many as a model for all endoscopy units in the nation today, largely due to her vision for providing care that is seamless, thoughtful and comprehensive. In recognition of her enormous contribution to clinical gastroenterology at the University of Michigan, she was awarded the Dean’s Outstanding Clinician Award in 2010.

Dr. Elta has achieved local and national recognition for her patient care and clinical research activities, particularly in the area of pancreatic and biliary disease and inflammatory bowel disease. She is consistently selected for “Best Doctors in America,” as well as Hour Detroit's “Best Doctors." Dr. Elta has published 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, with the most recent article appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2012. She has also developed many of the current guidelines in regards to both training and determination of competence in the pancreaticobiliary arena.

Along with her skills as an outstanding clinician and investigator, Dr. Elta has been an outstanding educator and mentor, passionate about sharing her expertise with learners from students to expert colleagues. Over the past twenty years, she has given more than 200 lectures to all of the major medical societies at the university, nationally and internationally. Dr. Elta has been awarded the House Officer Teaching Award, Golden Enema Award and Excellence in Teaching Award, the latter two awards given by University of Michigan fellows for her constant professional support and dedication to teaching.

In additional to the countless committees she has served on at the university, Dr. Elta has had a profound impact at the national level. She has been an active member of the AGA for more than 20 years, and in 2012 was honored with the AGA Council Section Research Mentor Award. She has also held noteworthy positions at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, where she served as its president from 2007 to 2008.

Dr. Elta received her undergraduate and medical education at the University of Michigan, where she also completed her medical internship. She went on to Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, for her medical residency and GI fellowship prior to returning to Ann Arbor in 1982 when she joined the University of Michigan’s GI faculty. She has remained at the University of Michigan for her entire career.