Academic Advanced Endoscopist Crucial in Managing Challenging Cases

UH Clinical Update | June 2026

Gastroenterologist Devika Gandhi, MD, has been practicing at University Hospitals for less than a year. But in that short time, she has distinguished herself by drawing on her advanced training and expertise to care for patients with complex and sometimes unexpected conditions, earning praise from her colleagues for collaboration.

Devika Gandhi, MD

One recent case, for example, involved a patient transferred to UH who had a perforated rectal cancer, with infection in the pelvis and mesorectum.

“In order to drain the infection and have good source control, our service requested a consultation and internal drain placement, which is a procedure that requires expertise,” says colorectal surgeon Emily Steinhagen, MD, Director and Clerkship Program and Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at UH Cleveland Medical Center. “Dr. Gandhi went above and beyond to arrange this procedure promptly, communicated exceptionally with our team and the patient and offered an extremely high level of care to help this patient recover from the infection and get to his chemotherapy treatments as soon as possible.”

“The solution to this perforation and infection was not a common one, nor an easy one, and required expertise, creativity and a true commitment to putting the patient first and doing what was right to provide them with the best care,” Dr. Steinhagen adds.

Another case was of a man with Crohn’s disease who had a small bowel stricture believed to be fibrotic.

“He was completely obstructed and it seemed like surgery might be the next step. But because he had multiple previous surgeries, it was not a straightforward decision,” Dr. Steinhagen says. “Dr. Gandhi again went out of her way to bring this patient to the endoscopy suite, even though we were not fully sure the stricture would be able to be reached through endoscopy. She was planning a stricture dilation but then recognized that it was inflammatory rather than fibrotic and would likely respond to medication. She then changed the plan and helped us coordinate for him to get the optimal medical treatment. This spared him an intervention in endoscopy and another surgery, really changing the course of this man's disease, treatment and potentially long-term outcome.”

Dr. Gandhi says she’s grateful to work on challenging cases like this, even when the plan isn’t immediately clear.

“The things we do for these patients aren't really well-described,” she says. “There are not guidelines on it, so we must work in a multidisciplinary way to figure out what's best for the patient who’s in front of us.”

UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, recently recognized Dr. Gandhi’s stellar approach to care with a “Dinner with the Doc” honor.

Dr. Gandhi grew up in Ohio, completing the six-year BS/MD program at the University of Akron and NEOMED. She completed internal medicine residency training at Indiana University School of Medicine, gastroenterology fellowship training at Loma Linda University Medical Center and advanced GI endoscopy fellowship training at Emory University Hospital.

“I trained all around the country, but I am glad to be coming back to Ohio now,” she says.

And now in her work here at UH, she says she still draws on one of the lessons from the first day of medical school.

“On the first day, they had us write down on a note card, ‘The patient is why I'm here,’” she recalls. “I use that approach with every patient, making sure that they feel heard, and making sure that that they know we recognize their individuality and specific values. We're always taking care of the whole patient, as opposed to just treating them like a number.”

To nominate a physician for this honor, download the Cliff Appreciates Nomination Form. The next deadline is August 7.