Stefano Guandalini MD

Dr. Guandalini is the founder and medical director of The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. In 1971, Dr. Guandalini received his medical degree from the University of Messina, Italy, where he graduated with high honors. After his pediatric residency at the University of Messina, he completed his fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the prestigious University of Naples, where he became an assistant professor. He spent 2 years (1977-1979) as a research associate in the Department of Medicine at The University of Chicago, where he did active bench research on the pathophysiology of diarrheal disease. Shortly after he returned to Italy, he received a promotion to associate professor and then became a full professor at the University of Naples in 1988. From 1990 to 1995, Dr. Guandalini served as the Chairman of Pediatrics at the University of Catanzaro.

Dr. Guandalini’s scientific and professional career has focused on diarrheal diseases of children, with a major emphasis on celiac disease. In 1990, he coordinated a national effort in Italy resulting in the publication of the largest series of patients ever published, which resulted in the revision of the 20-year-old European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines for diagnosing celiac disease. These new guidelines are currently used worldwide for both pediatric and adult celiac disease patients.

Dr. Guandalini joined The University of Chicago Department of Pediatrics in 1996, where he serves as section chief of the Department of Pediatrics Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.

Dr. Guandalini was president of ESPGHAN from 1998 to 2001 and was selected from a worldwide pool of candidates as the first president of the Federation of International Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Dr. Guandalini was born in Rome and spent his childhood in Messina, Italy, where his mother’s family originated. His father’s family is from the northern Italian town of Modena.