Aaron L. Hecht, M.D., Ph.D.

Aaron Hecht, M.D., Ph.D., is a Gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system disorders. Dr. Hecht cares for people with conditions such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Celiac Disease, Microscopic Colitis, and Gastrointestinal Bleeding. He performs procedures including upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy to help patients achieve accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.

Dr. Hecht places great importance on individualized, compassionate care, aligning with his guiding principle: "The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease." — Sir William Osler.

Research & Professional Highlights

Dr. Hecht is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He serves as Senior Associate Consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic Rochester and holds an appointment as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and completed residency and fellowship training through the Physician Scientist Pathway at the University of Pennsylvania. His research explores how diet and the gut microbiome interact to impact gastrointestinal health and disease, with the goal of developing targeted dietary and microbial therapies. Dr. Hecht has received numerous honors, including research awards from the American Gastroenterological Association and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.

Research & Leadership

Dr. Hecht's laboratory investigates how diet reshapes the metabolism and behavior of the gut microbiome, and how these changes can transform normally tolerated bacteria into drivers of inflammation, intestinal barrier failure, and systemic infection. As director of the Diet and Microbial Metabolism Laboratory, he studies how dietary nutrients, antibiotics, alcohol, liver injury, and other therapies influence microbial colonization, evolution and host defenses, with particular attention to the underexplored environment of the small intestine. His long-term goal is to identify actionable mechanisms and predictive biomarkers of infection risk and to develop diet- and microbiome-informed strategies that prevent and treat gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Hecht also holds national leadership roles within the American Gastroenterological Association, serving on the Institute Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education Scientific Advisory Board and as institute councilor for the Microbiome & Microbial Therapy Section. His research and professional contributions have been recognized with an NIH K08 award, AGA Research Scholar Award, the American Society for Clinical Investigation Emerging-Generation Award and a Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Research Fellowship Award. He is also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Personal Note

Outside of his clinical and research work, Dr. Hecht enjoys traveling and hiking with his wife.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Hecht provides comprehensive care for people with digestive health concerns, with expertise in:

• Upper Endoscopy: Evaluation and diagnosis of esophageal, gastric, and duodenal disorders
• Colonoscopy: Detection, prevention, and monitoring for colon polyps, diseases, and bleeding sources
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: Targeted assessment of the lower colon and rectum
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Comprehensive evaluation and management to relieve symptoms and prevent complications
• Chronic Gastrointestinal Conditions: Care for individuals with diarrhea, constipation, and other functional bowel disorders
• Celiac Disease and Microscopic Colitis: Specialized diagnostic and management strategies for inflammatory and autoimmune gastrointestinal disorders