Irvin M Modlin, MD, DSc, FRCS (Eng & Ed), FCS (SA)
Biographical Info
Dr Modlin is currently Professor of Gastroenterological Surgery at Yale University, School of Medicine and director of the GI Pathobiology Research Group. Dr. Modlin was born in Cape Town, South Africa and educated (sic) in Cape Town, Dublin, Leeds and London. He received a M.B, Ch B. magna summa cum laude and the Gold Medals for Surgery by both the South African College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1975. He trained in gastrointestinal surgery, advanced endoscopy and endocrine surgery at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hosp, University of London (1975-1977) before joining the faculty at UCLA and the Center for Ulcer Research Education (1977-1979). In 1980 he joined the faculty at SUNY, New York and in 1984 was appointed Vice Chairman of the department of Surgery at Yale and Chief of Surgery at the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center. In 1989, the University of Cape Town awarded Dr. Modlin a Ph.D. in molecular physiology.
In 1990 he received a Fulbright scholarship (1989-1990) and in 1991 the University of Gothenburg in Sweden awarded him a M.D. (Hon. Causa). In 2005 he received a DSc. in gastroenterology for his work in the field of neuroendocrine biology. He has delivered the I.N. Marks lecture (Johannesburg, 1994), the Jena Polya Memorial Lecture (Budapest, 1995), the Arris and Gale lecture (London, 1995) and the Theodor Kocher Oration (Bern, 1996). In 1997, he was appointed Huntarian Professor by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and in 1998 received a fellowship. In 1999, he delivered the Bayliss and Starling Lecture at Queen’s University, Belfast and in 2000 the Centenary Oration at the Japanese Surgical Society. In 2002, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh appointed him a James IV Professor and in 2005 he received the Mikulicz medal of the Polish surgical society. He has received the Yale surgical teaching award on numerous occasions.
Dr Modlin’s current clinical interests are in neuro endocrine tumor disease therapy and esophagitis and his research focuses on the molecular basis of enterochromaffin cell function, neoplastic transformation and the mathematical modeling and identification of genetic signatures of metastasis. In 2007 he chaired the NCI Summit Conference on Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease in Washington DC and in 2008 the Neuroendocrine Tumor Pathology Consensus Summit. His investigative studies have been funded by the US Federal government and the National institutes of Health for more than two decades. Dr Modlin has been the distinguished guest and state of the art lecturer in over a hundred universities and medical schools in more than thirty countries. He has authored ~ 450 peer reviewed scientific and clinical papers and written ~16 books on subjects including Neuro endocrine tumor disease, Acid peptic disease, pancreatic maladies, laparoscopic surgery, GI endoscopy, the evolution of therapy, the history of medicine, the medical evolution of cities (Vienna, Rome, Birmingham, New Orleans, Washington, etc) and Dutch art. Currently his activities focus on therapeutic consensus development, the identification of viable advances in translational research as well as biotechnology interface assessment and application.
International Activity
- (2003)
Presentation- Current Status of GERD management, German Endoscopic society - (2003)
Presentation- “The Molecular Basis of the ECL cell,” Per Dubb Oration - (2003)
Perr Dubb Oration - (2003)
Presentation- “From the Macula to the Mucosa,” Royal Society of Medicine - (2002)
Examiner, University of Oman, Deparment Surgery - (2002)
James IV Oration, “Molecular strategies and 111In-labeled somatostatin analogs in defining the management of neuroendocrine tumor disease: A new paradigm for surgical management” - (2002)
Invited speaker, “Cancer of Esophagus and Gastric Cardia: From Gene to Cure” - (2002)
Keynote address, Indian Hepatobiliary Society - (2002)
Invited speaker, “Stem cells and mucosal dynamics: Regulation, repair and neoplasia,” Japanese Society of Ulcer Research - (2002)
James the IV Oration - (2002)
Invited speaker, “Amsterdam and Netherlands Gastroenterology: a historical perspective,” The Future of Gastro-Entero-Hepato Pancreatology is Bright - (2002)
Invited speaker, “Perspectives and reflections on integrated digestive surgery,” The Future of Gastro-Entero-Hepato-Pancreatology is Bright - (2002)
Keynote address, Indian Hepatobiliary Society, “Surgery of chronic pancreatitis” - (2001)
Invited Speaker, International Pancreatic Meeting, “The surgery of chronic pancreatitis—A chronicle of confusion and despair?” - (2001)
Invited Speaker International Pancreatic Meeting - (2001)
Invited Speaker International Pancreatic Meeting - (2001)
Gastric Carcinoid Molecular Biology, Nordic Endocrine Society Meeting - (2000)
Presentation- “The Evolution of Chronic Pancreatitis,” International Chronic Pancreatitis Symposium - (2000)
Presentation- “Beyond Wittgenst," The Eastern Surgical Society: - (2000)
Invited Speaker: “From k-Ras to Kagoshima,” 100-year Anniversary of the Japanese Surgical Society - (2000)
Keynote address: Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Society - (2000)
Presentation- “From the Pump to the Helix,” International Helicobacter pylori Meeting - (2000)
Presentation- “The Molecular and Historic Basis of Barrett’s Esophagus," International Esophageal Meeting, - (1999)
Hunterian Professorship - (1999)
Invited Speaker, British Society of Surgery, “Carcinoid Biology and Surgery” - (1999)
Invited Speaker, The Dutch Gastro Society, “The Golden Age of Dutch Medicine” - (1998)
Royal College of Surgeons of England - (1996)
Invited Speaker, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Back to Surgery? - (1996)
Invited Speaker, Consensus Workshop for Surgical Treatment of Neuroendocrine Gastroenteropancreatic Tumors - (1996)
Invited Speaker, The Theodor Kocher Memorial Lecture - (1996)
Invited Speaker, Molecular Biology of Wound Healing, Japanese Gatroenterology Society - (1996)
Invited Speaker, Strategies of GERD management - (1995)
Co-Organizer/Session Chairman, International Meeting, Current Research in Gastrointestinal Disease: The African Perspective - (1995)
Invited Speaker, International Workshop on New Trends in the management of Pancreatic Disease, The Managment of Acute Pancreatitis- Who Are We Kidding? - (1995)
Invited Speaker, Polya Memorial Lecture - (1995)
Invited Speaker, The Arris and Gale Lecture, "The Pathophysiology of the Fundic Enterochromaffin- like (ECL) Cell and Gastric Carcinoid Tumors" - (1995)
Session Chairman, International Meeting, Five Years of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Reappraisal - (1994)
Invited Speaker, British Society of Gastroenterology Prout Club Meeting - (1994)
Prout Club, London - (1994)
Invited Speaker, Carcinoid Tumors - International Symposium on Pathology, Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects and Therapy - (1994)
Invited Speaker, Reunion Annuelle Du GRESZE - Experimental models of ECLomas - (1994)
Invited Speaker, International Meeting, Pancreatic Diseases, New Horizons - Chronic Pancreatitis: Pre-cancerous disease? - (1994)
Invited Speaker, SAGES Congress - Solly Marks lecture: The new gastric creed of the third milennium - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Visiting Professor - (1993)
Invited Speaker, Molecular Mechanisms of Mucosal Healing - (1993)
Invited Speaker, Molecular and Cell Biological Aspects of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Disease - (1993)
Invited Speaker, Tissue Repair-Wound Healing Mechanisms, Therapeutic Implications - (1992)
Medical and Surgical Management of Carcinoid Tumors - (1992)
Israel Gastroenterology Association - (1992)
Athenaeum Club, London - (1992)
Royal Club, Current Perspectives in Acute Pancreatitis - (1991)
European Acid Suppression Workshop - (1990)
Chairman, Surgical Section of the Advisory Board, International Gastro-Surgical Club - (1990)
Oncogene Amplification in Gastric ECLoma Tumors - (1990)
Falk Symposium, TGF a Secretory Regulation of Parietal Cells - (1990)
World Conference on Gastroenterology, Pathophysiology of Acute Pancreatitis - (1990)
Swedish Endocrine Society - (1990)
Pancreatitis Symposium, Subcellular Activation of Pancreatic Enzyme - (1990)
Experimental Ulcer Conference - (1989 - 1989)
Presentation- Pathophysiology of Bleeding in Portal Hypertension - (1989)
Pathobiology of the Endocrine Stomach - (1989)
Surgical Management of Pancreatitis - (1989)
The ECL Quincunx - (1989 - 1989)
Mechanisms of ECL Cell Neoplasia - (1989)
Pathogenesis of Pancreatitis - (1989)
From Prout to the Proton Pump - (1989 - 1989)
Surgery of Peptic Ulceration - (1989)
Pathobiology of Acute Pancreatitis - (1989)
Mechanisms of Intracellular Zymogen Activation - (1988)
The Adoration of the Vagi - (1988)
Nordic Endocrine Society, Cholecystokinin Receptor Antagonists - (1987)
International Gastro-Surgical Club - (1985 - 2003)
Examiner, Royal College of Surgeons - (1982)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Evidence for a Non-Gastrin pH Dependent Mechanism of Bombesin Stimulated Gastric Acid Secretion - (1982)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Evidence for a Non-Gastrin pH Dependent Mechanism of Bombesin Stimulated Gastric Acid Secretion - (1981)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: The Release of Pancreatic Polypeptide by Xenopsin - (1980)
International Association of Endocrine Surgeons - (1980)
Royal Society of Medicine of England - (1980)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Intestinal Phase of PP Release - (1980)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Cholinomimetric Modulation of PP Release - (1980)
International Society of Surgery - (1980)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Release of Substance P by a Meal - (1978)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Effect of Motilin on Gastric Emptying - (1978)
World Gut Hormone Symposium: Atropine Resistant CCK Like Peptide Release - (1977)
VIP, British Society of Gastroenterology, A New Component of the Autonomic Nervous System - (1977)
British Surgical Research Society: Mechanisms of Motilin Release - (1977)
British Regional Hospital Pharmaceutical Course, Adrenal Surgery - (1977)
European Surgical Research Society: Motilin Release in the Pig - (1977)
Royal Postgraduate Medical School surgical Course: Aspects of Colonic Angiodysplasia - (1976)
University of London Surgical Endocrinology Symposium: Phaechromocytoma Management. - (1976)
British Postgraduate Medical Federation Gastroenterology Course: Multi Hormone Secreting Gut Tumors - (1976)
British Endocrine Society.: VIP Release in Intestinal Ischemia - (1976)
Postgraduate Gastroenterology Teaching Course, St. Charles Hospital - (1976)
University of London MSc Course in Clinical Biochemistry: APUDomas of the Gut - (1976)
International Gut Hormone Symposium: VIP Pharmacokinetics - (1976)
Royal Society of Medicine: Haemorrhage in Reduplications of the Duodenum - (1976)
British Society of Gastroenterology: VIP and Diarrhea - (1975)
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh - (1975)
South African College of Surgeons
ECL Cell Symposium
Presentation- “Gastric Carcinoid Molecular Biology,” Nordic Endocrine Society Meeting
Visiting Professor
External Surgical Assessor
Education & Training
- M.D.
- University of Capetown, South Africa(1968)
- Intern
- Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Intern
- Military Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Senior House Officer
- St. James Hospital, London, England, Accident Unit
- Registrar
- Groote Schuur Hospital, Trauma Unit
- Resident
- Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, Surgery
- Chief Surgical Officer
- Hammersmith Hospital, London, England
- Senior Surgical Registrar
- Hammersmith Hospital, London, England
- Visiting Scientist
- University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Ulcer Research and Education (CURE), Los Angeles, CA, Gastroenterology
- Fellow
- University of London, Gastroenterology/Endocrine
Honors & Recognition
- Master of Arts, Honoris Causa
Yale University, New Haven, CT (1987) - Doctor of Medicine, Honoris Causa
Goteborg, Sweden (1991) - Grand Global Award” for craftsmanship
A History of Gastroenterology at the Millennium (2001) - University of Cape Town Entrance Scholarship
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1963) - University Medal For Physiology
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1964) - University Medal For Medicine
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1966) - University Medal For Chemical Pathology
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1967) - South African Society of Anaesthetists Medal
South African Society of Anaesthetists (1967) - Urology Prize
(1967) - Aaron Behrman Scholarship For The Best Student of The Year
(1967) - Dowie Dunn Memorial Prize For Paediatrics
(1968) - University Medal For Surgery
University of Cape Town, Cape Town (1968) - Stabler Prize The Best Graduating Student In Surgery
(1968) - Valedictorian
University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa (1963-1968) - University Gold Medal-Most Distinguished Graduate In Medicine
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1968) - The University of Cape Town Post-graduate Scholarship In Medicine
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1968) - Degree Cum Laude and With Distinction In The Final Professional Examination
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (1968) - F.R.C.S. (Edinburgh) G.B. Ong Gold Medal - Most Distinguished Candidate
(1975) - F.C.S. (South Africa) Gold Medal - Most Distinguished Candidate
(1975) - South African Medical Research Council Overseas Scholarship
(1976) - Wellcome Foundation Travelling Scholarship to Lausanne
Wellcome Foundation (1977) - Wellcome Foundation Travelling Scholarship to London
Wellcome Foundation (1978) - E. Storer Teaching Award
Yale University, New Haven, CT (1985) - Harvard Medical School Eisenberg Memorial Lecture
Brigham Hospital, Boston, MA (1988) - Fulbright Scholarship
(1989) - Surgical Resident, Teaching Award
Yale University, New Haven, CT (1992) - State-of-the-Art Lecturer
British Society of Gastroenterology (1993) - I. N. Marks Memorial Lecture
South African Gastroenterology Society (1994) - Polya Memorial Lecture
Semmelweis University (1994) - England-Arris and Gale Lecturer
Royal College of Surgeons (1995) - Theodor Kocher Memorial Lecture
Swiss Surgical Society (1996) - State-of-the-Art Lecturer
Japanese Society of Gastrointestinal Surgery (1997) - Fulton Society Lecture
(1997) - Prout Society Lecture
(1997) - Hunterian Professorship
Royal College of Surgeons of England (1998) - The Beaumont Lecture
(1999) - John Callum Memorial Oration
(1999)
