Biographical summary
Dr. Andres Acosta is a physician, scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Obesity Medicine and Nutrition. Dr. Acosta holds an MD from Universidad San Francisco De Quito, Ecuador, and a PhD from University of Florida, Gainesville. Currently, he is a Professor of Medicine and Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic,
Rochester, MN. He is the Delaney Family Director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Program at Mayo Clinic and the director of the Precision Medicine for Obesity Program at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Acosta's goal is to treat and ultimately cure obesity, which he considers this century's health epidemic. Dr. Acosta's research focuses on precision medicine for obesity with the aim to identify the right therapy for the right patient, minimizing side effects. His research is supported by the National Institute of Health, many foundations and industry. He is a recognized national and international obesity and cardiometabolic disease expert with many patents, more than 155 peer-reviewed publications, including publications in the Lancet, Cell Metabolism, Gut and Gastroenterology, and many book chapters. His work has been
featured in the New York Times, Time, CNN, NPR, among others. He won the 40-under-40 innovation award at Minneapolis Business Journal 2020 and Tekne Award (Winners exemplify Technology Innovation in Minnesota). He co-founded Phenomix Sciences and launched the first-of-its-kind diagnostic test to predict response to GLP-1s and other obesity/metabolic interventions. This invention was featured by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2024.
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
Interests
- Obesity medicine and nutrition
- Obesity physiology and pharmacology
- Obesity — bariatric endoscopy
- Post-bariatric surgery complications
- Gastrointestinal motility physiology and pharmacology
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2015
FellowGastroenterology, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2015
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - NIH T32 program Post Doctoral Clinical - Research Fellowship
Gastroenterology and HepatologyMayo Clinic
- 2015
Clinical Fellowship - Gastroenterology and HepatologyMayo Clinic
- 2013
Certificate - 14 credit hours in statistics, epidemiology and clinical researchMayo Clinic Department of Development and the Mayo Clinic Center for Translational Science Activities (CTSA)
- 2012
Residency - Internal MedicineUniversity of Florida, Shands/UF Hospital
- 2010
Internship - Internal MedicineUniversity of Florida, Shands/UF Hopsital
- 2009
Ph.D. - Doctorate in Philosophy - Physiology and PharmacologyUniversity of Florida, College of Medicine
- 2006
MD - Magna Cum LaudenUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2002
BS - Bachelor in Health Science - Magna Cum LaudenUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2016
GastroenterologyAmerican Board of Internal Medicine
- 2013
Obesity MedicineAmerican Board of Obesity Medicine
Awards and honors
- 2025
Digestive Disease Week 2025 Shark Tank AwardDigestive Disease Week
- 2024
2024 Best Invention of the YearTime Magazine
- 2024
2024 Mayo Clinic Innovator AwardMayo Clinic Ventures
- 2022
2021 New Investigator AwardDepartment of Medicine
- 2020
40 Under 40 Award - Physician, Scientist, EnterpreneurMinneapolis Business Journal
- 2020
2020 Tekne Award, Healthcare Division (Winners Exemplify Technology Innovation in Minnesota)Minnesota Technology Association
- 2020
Chair, Obesity, Metabolism & Nutrition Section, American Gastroenterological Association American Gastroenterological Association
- 2019
$1Million Challenge Award winner for Minority EntrepreneursMetropolitan Economic Development Association
- 2019
Minnesota Cup 2019, 3rd Place, Healthcare DivisionUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- 2019
Chase Minority-Owned Startup AwardJPMorgan-Chase Bank
- 2018
Gerstner Career Development Award Center for Individualized Medicine
- 2018
Ruppe Career Development Award Mayo Clinic Center for Translational Science Activities
- 2017
Co-Leader AGA Obesity Initiative – POWER: endorsed by 9 medical societiesAmerican Gastroenterological Association
- 2016
ANMS Career Development Award ANMS
- 2016
AGA's Poster Judging Competition WinnerAmerican Gastroenterology Association
- 2015
J. Bargen Research AwardMayo Clinic in Rochester
- 2015
2015 AGA/AGA-GRG Fellow Abstract PrizeAmerican Gastroenterology Association
- 2014
GCR/AGA Fellow Travel Award for Digestive Disease WeekAmerican Gastroenterology Association
- 2014
Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and NutritionAmerican Board of Obesity Medicine
- 2014
Young Investigator Forum AwardAmerican Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
- 2014
Distinguished Clinical Poster AwardThe Obesity Society
- 2014
Distinguished Poster Award for Clinical FellowYouth Investigator Research Symposium, Mayo Clinic
- 2012
Excellence in Teaching AwardDepartment of Medicine, University of Florida
- 2012
Chairman "Leighton E. Cluff" Award (Best Resident in IM)MCF Department of Medicine Residency Program
- 2012
Excellence in Ambulatory Care AwardDepartment of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
- 2011
Elected member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor SocietyAlpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
- 2010
Physician Customer Service AwardShands Hospital, College of Medicine, University of Florida
- 2009
Medical Guild Award; Best Graduate Student of Ph.D ProgramCollege of Medicine, University of Florida
- 2009
"Hot Topic" selected poster presentationEuropean Congress on Obesity
- 2009
Equal Access Clinic Service Award for Student VolunteerPh.D Program, University of Florida
- 2009
Medical Guild AwardPhysiology and Pharmacology, University of Florida & Shands Healthcare
- 2008
Travel Award for Research ExcellenceAmerican Society of Gene Therapy
- 2006
Valedictorian - Best Graduate from Medical SchoolUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2006
Medical Doctorate, graduated with honors, Magna cum laudeUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2006
Best Intern AwardHospital Voz Andes Quito
- 2004
International Scholarship Charite Summer SchoolUniversity of Berlin and Humbolt University
- 2003
Chancellor Academic Excellence ListUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2003
Dean Academic Excellence ListUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2002
Pasteur Excellence Academic ScholarshipUniversidad San Francisco de Quito
- 2000
Training Scholarship in Genetics and Molecular BiologyPontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador
- 1998
National Youth Leadership Forum on MedicineGeorgetown University
Professional memberships
- 2022
Abstract Review Committee, Nutrient-Gene InteractionAmerican Gastroenterological Association
- 2022
Abstract Review Committee, Obesity: Clinical, Life-Style and Pharmacological TherapiesAmerican Gastroenterological Association
- 2022 - present
Chair, Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition SectionAGA Council, American Gastroenterological Association
- 2021 - present
DirectorObesity Interest Group, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine
- 2021 - 2022
Vice Chair, Obesity, Metabolism & Nutrition SectionAGA Council, American Gastroenterological Association
- 2017 - present
MemberMayo Clinic Committees
- 2016 - present
ReviewerWiley Online
- 2014 - present
MemberDepartment of Internal Medicine
- 2013 - present
InterviewerInterview Committee, Gastroenterology Fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- 2013 - present
MemberBariatric Center of Excellence
- 2012 - 2015
FellowDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine
- 2012 - present
MemberEndoscopy Committee
- 2012 - present
Active MemberAmerican Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
- 2012 - present
Active MemberAmerican College of Gastroenterology
- 2012 - present
Active MemberAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)
- 2011 - 2013
Committee MemberThe Obesity Society (NAASO)
- 2011 - 2013
Early Career MembershipThe Obesity Society (NAASO)
- 2011 - present
Active MemberAlpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
- 2009 - 2012
ResidentUniversity of Florida
- 2009 - 2012
ResidentUniversity of Florida
- 2009 - 2012
Active MemberAmerican College of Physicians
- 2009 - present
Active MemberAmerican Medical Association
- 2008 - present
Active MemberThe Obesity Society (NAASO)
- 2007 - 2012
Teaching AssistantUniversity of Florida
- 2007 - present
Active MemberAmerican Physician Scientists Association
- 2006 - 2012
Ph.D. ProgramUniversity of Florida
- 2004 - present
Honorary MemberInternational Federation of Medical Students Association
Publications
Research activities