Bhavana Bhagya Rao, MD

Dr. Bhavana Bhagya Rao holds a dual appointment as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and the Department of Medical Education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she was part of the Scholar’s Track and earned a certificate in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. She went on to complete a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Cleveland Clinic, where she also served as Chief Fellow. Thereafter she completed an advanced fellowship in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Upon joining Mount Sinai, Dr. Rao was appointed Director of the Fellows’ IBD Clinic at the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. She has since assumed additional leadership roles including Associate Program Director for the GI/Hepatology Fellowship, Director of the Gastroenterology Clerkships, and Faculty Advisor for multiple trainee GI interest groups. Previously, she served as Clinical Instructor at the Case Western Reserve Lerner College of Medicine and continues her global medical education work at the Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana.

Dr. Rao’s academic work centers on advancing medical education, particularly through innovative tools and trainee engagement. One such project is the AGA-funded interactive simulation platform www.gi-sim.com, which is designed to enhance gastroenterology training through experiential learning.

Dr. Rao has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in medical education, mentorship, and leadership. She served as a member of the ACG International Relations Committee between 2018-2024 and from 2021 to 2024, she served as Co-chair of the ACG International Training Grant Subcommittee. In 2024, she was appointed to both the ACG Educational Affairs Committee and the ACG Universe Editorial Board. In 2025, she was named to the AGA Academy of Educators Board, further solidifying her role in national educational leadership.

At Mount Sinai, Dr. Rao has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to teaching and mentorship. She received the Outpatient Fellow Preceptor Award in both 2021 and 2022 and was named Teacher of the Year by the Division of Gastroenterology in 2024. In 2022, she was inducted as a Faculty Member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and as a Fellow Educator in the Institute of Medical Education at Mount Sinai—honors that underscore her impact on learner development and innovation in medical education.