Peter Kahrilas MD

Esophagus Disease, Gastrointestinal Functional & Motility Disorders

Gilbert H Marquardt Professor in Medicine

259 E Erie StSte 1600Chicago, IL 60611

Dr. Kahrilas is on Doximity

As a Doximity member, you’ll join more than three million U.S. healthcare professionals—including 85+% of physicians, and 2/3 of all NPs and PAs—in a private, secure network.

Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.

See Dr. Kahrilas' full profile Already have an account?

Summary

Peter Kahrilas, MD, is a gastroenterologist based in Chicago, IL, with subspecialties in esophagus disease and gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders. He completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and the Medical College of Wisconsin, following his residency in internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Kahrilas earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He is a professor emeritus at Northwestern University where he has been since 1986. Dr. Kahrilas has contributed to more than 500 original publications, including works in NEJM, JAMA, Gastroenterology, Gut, and the American Journal of Physiology. He has been elected to both the American Society of Clinical Investigation and The American Association of Physicians. He was the recipient of the Beaumont Award for lifetime achievement in Gastroenterology from the American Gastroenterological Society in 2020 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Foregut Society in 2025.

Education & Training

Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated HospitalsFellowship, Gastroenterology, 1984 - 1986
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern UniversityFellowship, Gastroenterology, 1982 - 1984
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterResidency, Internal Medicine, 1979 - 1982
University of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistryClass of 1979
Yale UniversityB.S., Magna Cum Laude, 1975

The following disclaimer is related to board certifications obtained from ABMS®, denoted by the ABMS® logo.

This information is proprietary data maintained in a copyrighted database owned by the American Board of Medical Specialties®. The display and presence of ABMS Data in no way constitutes any affiliation, association with, or endorsement of any advertising, promotion, or sponsorship by ABMS and its affiliates and subsidiaries, the ABMS Member Boards, or ABMS board certified physicians and medical specialists. Copyright 2026 American Board of Medical Specialties®. All rights reserved.

The user is responsible for ensuring that the profile obtained in this directory is the profile of the physician or medical specialist being sought.

A self-designated specialty, subspecialty, or practice area neither implies nor is equivalent to ABMS board certification or the existence of specialized training by or competence of a physician or medical specialist.

Certifications & Licensure

IL State Medical License 1982 - 2029
FL State Medical License 2018 - 2020
WI State Medical License 1984 - 1987
OH State Medical License 1981 - 1982
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine Gastroenterology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory 2014 Certified EHR Suite, Epic Systems Corporation, 2011, 2013-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory - Core EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2011, 2013-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification Northwestern Meaningful Use Data Warehouse Application for Eligible Providers, Northwestern University, 2011, 2013-2017

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), also known as inability to belch syndrome-a narrative review.
Anders Lehmann, Peter J Kahrilas
Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2026-01-01
Self-Management of Reflux-Like Symptoms: A Patient-Centered Decision-Making Approach.
A Pali S Hungin, Carmelo Scarpignato, Albert J Bredenoord, Mark R Fox, Elsa López-Pintor
Digestive Diseases. 2026-01-01
2 citations
Modeling based insights into mechanical dysfunction in esophageal motility disorders.
Guy Elisha, Sourav Halder, Xinyi Liu, Dustin A Carlson, Peter J Kahrilas
Plos Computational Biology. 2025-12-01

Journal Articles

Normal Functional Luminal Imaging Probe Panometry Findings Associate with Lack of Major Esophageal Motility Disorder on High-Resolution Manometry
Erica N Donnan, Peter J Kahrilas, John E Pandolfino, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cough due to TB and other chronic infections: CHEST Expert Panel Report
Field SK, Escalante P, Fisher DA, Ireland B, Irwin RS; CHEST Expert Cough Panel*. *PJ Kahrilas was a member, Chest, 1/28/2017
Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment for acute cough associated with the common cold: CHEST Expert Panel Report
Malesker MA, Callahan-Lyon P, Ireland B, Irwin RS; CHEST Expert Cough Panel*. *PJ Kahrilas was a member, Chest, 1/22/2017

Books/Book Chapters

Yamada’s Textbook of Gastroenterology
Chapter: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Page 906 - 928Roman S, Pandolfino JE, Kahrilas PJEditors: Podolsky DK, Kalloo AN, Camilleri M, Shanahan F, Fitz JG, Wang TC.Wiley Blackwell, Ltd, West Sussex, United KingdomEdition 6th,2016
Yamada’s Textbook of Gastroenterology
Chapter: Motility disorders of the esophagus
Page 879 - 905Pandolfino JE, Kahrilas PJEditors: Podolsky DK, Kalloo AN, Camilleri M, Shanahan F, Fitz JG, Wang TC.Wiley Blackwell, Ltd, West Sussex, United KingdomEdition 6th,2016
Yamada’s Textbook of Gastroenterology
Chapter: Esophageal motor function
Page 330 - 347Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE, Katzka DAEditors: Podolsky DK, Kalloo AN, Camilleri M, Shanahan F, Fitz JG, Wang TC.Wiley Blackwell, Ltd, West Sussex, United KingdomEdition 6th,2016

Abstracts/Posters

High resolution esophageal pressure topography (EPT) as a clinical and research tool
Kahrilas PJ, Dig Dis Sci, Tokyo, Japan, 1/18/2010
Laparoscopic Collis gastroplasty and Dor fundoplasty for erosive esophagitis, hiatus hernia, short esophagus, and esophageal dysmotility
Joehl RJ, Murayama KM, Balmes R, Hirano I, Kahrilas PJ, American College of Surgeons Annual meeting, Chicago, IL, 1/22/2000

Lectures

New insights in pathogenesis of GERD and its implications on management
Hong Kong, China - 1/26/2017
PPI non-response: what should we do?
Hong Kong, China - 1/26/2017
Achalasia
Tysons Corner, VA - 1/18/2017

Other

Implementing the AGAI Guidelines for GERD: Strategies Based on Supporting Evidence?
Kahrilas PJ, Howden CW, Medscape CME Gastroenterology
http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/724262
1/1/2010
Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults
Kahrilas PJ
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-gastroesophageal-reflux-in
UpToDate, Wolters Kluwer Health - 2012-12-05
Complications of gastroesophageal reflux in adults
Kahrilas PJ
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/complications-of-gastroesophageal-reflux-in-adults
UpToDate, Wolters Kluwer Health - 2011-11-03

Authored Content

Normal Functional Luminal Imaging Probe Panometry Findings Associate with Lack of Major Esophageal Motility Disorder on High-Resolution ManometryMarch 2020

Press Mentions

Changes in the Treatment of Primary Esophageal Motility Disorders Imposed by the New Classification for Esophageal Motility Disorders on High Resolution Manometry (Chicago Classification 4.0)March 27th, 2021
Why Do We Hiccup?December 7th, 2019
#NASPGHAN19 Postgraduate Course (Part 3)October 25th, 2019