Venodhar Julapalli, MD

"I come from a family of physicians, which influenced me to become a physician myself. Growing up, my parents taught me the value of education, a work ethic, looking out for others, and perhaps most of all curiosity. Throughout my life I’ve been a very curious seeker of truths, which has led me to seek knowledge and continually question the knowledge I find. I came to Houston in 1988. I attended Westfield High School in Spring, Texas, and was valedictorian of the Class of 1992. I entered Stanford University as a National Merit Scholar. I graduated in less than three years with a B.S. with Distinction in Biological Sciences and earned membership to Phi Beta Kappa. I was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha during medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. I then completed internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. I published several papers during my fellowship training and presented at the Plenary Session of the 2004 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Meeting. In establishing Integral Gastroenterology Center, P.A., in Spring in 2005, I’ve come full-circle. I am a clinician at heart and also enjoy teaching gastroenterology trainees and medical students as a Clinical Instructor at Baylor College of Medicine. I am a member of the Texas Medical Association and Harris County Medical Society. When I’m not spending time with you, I enjoy being with my family, reading everything from finance to philosophy, writing about renewing the promise of medicine, and watching my beloved New Orleans Saints."

"I take a very holistic approach to gastroenterology, and medicine in general. I stand at the intersection of traditional and non-traditional health care. I learned the traditional very well at the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. But none of that traditional learning meant much when I started suffering from reflux myself. My own struggles with reflux have taught me more about gastrointestinal imbalances than any textbook or training ever could. How does this translate to my practice? It means that treating you isn't just about high-tech procedures and imaging studies, but also about trust and empathy. It's not just about acute care medicine, but also about what I call "root care medicine." It's not just about relieving symptoms with medications, but also about helping you uncover what's driving the symptoms in the first place. And hopefully not needing medications indefinitely for them. I believe a patient's gastrointestinal imbalances are treated best with an approach that takes biological, psychological, cultural, and spiritual perspectives into account, as appropriate to the problems at hand. An approach that is certainly evidence-informed – but also not evidence-enslaved. Because there is no one-size-fits-all in medicine. Every person is unique. What works best for me, or the population, may not work best for you. My experience has taught me the power of integrating the art and science of medicine. It's what allows me to think both inside and outside the box in teaching you to overcome your own digestive challenges. And my greatest satisfaction is when I can say to you that you don't need me anymore."