Luis A. Balart, MD, is a gastroenterologist and chief of the section of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Dr. Balart served in the Medical Corps of the United States Naval Reserve for nearly 20 years, and he has had an active presence in the American College of Gastroenterology. He previously served as president of ACG from 1999 to 2000 and also served as an ACG governor for Louisiana. He has also been active in the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, serving as chair of several committees.
Dr. Balart's research includes the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and B, and he has been involved in many related trials, including the most recent trials for interferon-free treatments. He has also been active in the investigation of new treatment alternatives for hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding and thrombocytopenia.
In 2012, Best Doctors named Dr. Balart a "best doctor of gastroenterology" in the state of Louisiana. Best Doctors is a company that has built a database of professionals that are highly regarded by their peers.
Dr. Balart earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and completed his residency at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Philadelphia. He also completed two fellowships — the first in gastroenterology from Ochsner Medical Institutions in Jefferson, La., and the second in hepatology from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.