Adarsh M. Thaker, MD

Dr. Thaker is an interventional endoscopist with particular interest in bariatric and metabolic endoscopy as well as other minimally invasive advanced endoscopic procedures. He is co-leading the bariatric endoscopy program at UCLA, which is now among the busiest endoscopic weight loss centers on the west coast. Dr. Thaker performs endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) for weight loss as well as gastric revision procedures, such as transoral outlet reduction (TORe) and sleeve revision, for patients who have regained weight after prior gastric surgery. He believes in innovation and is the endoscopic principal investigator on three clinical trials to treat type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. These are groundbreaking procedures that eliminate unhealthy tissue in the duodenum to reset the metabolic system (Revitalize-1 Trial and Remain-1 trial for Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing [DMR] as well as the ReCET trial). He was the first provider in California to perform the DMR procedure.

In addition, Dr. Thaker has specialized training in other advanced therapies, including endoscopic suturing, fistula and leak closure, endoscopic resection of large polyps, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), stent placement, treatment of Barrett's Esophagus, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoluminal surgery, and other procedures.

Dr. Thaker is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. Dr. Thaker's research has focused on weight loss and metabolic therapies, Barrett's Esophagus, eliminating endoscope-related infections to improve patient safety, helping to develop and implement the use of the world's first available disposable duodenoscope. He has multiple published multiple research studies, literature reviews, editorials, and chapters on these topics.

Dr. Thaker served on the national committee for the American Gastroenterological Association's (AGA) Center for GI Innovation and Technology (CGIT), which supports innovation and the development of new technologies for use in gastroenterology, hepatology, nutrition and obesity management. He wass also co-chair of the AGAs educational program on Innovations in Duodenoscopes. He completed his undergraduate training in chemical engineering at UCLA before attending medical school at New York Medical College. He completed his internal medicine residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston, followed by gastroenterology fellowship and advanced endoscopy fellowship training at UCLA. In additional to performing advanced procedures at UCLA Health campuses in Westwood and Santa Monica, Dr. Thaker performs select procedures in the UCLA North Hollywood procedure unit.