Rate My Professor Richard Gearry

Professor Richard B. Gearry serves as the Academic Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and holds the position of Professor of Medicine within the Faculty of Medicine. Concurrently, he is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Christchurch Hospital. Gearry obtained his MB ChB and PhD degrees from the University of Otago and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). His academic career at the University of Otago includes promotion to full professorship in 2015, following earlier recognition as an Associate Professor.

Gearry's research specializations lie in luminal gastroenterology, encompassing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colorectal cancer. He leads the Gastrointestinal Unit for Translational Studies (GUTS) in the Department of Medicine and has secured major funding, including a US$1.39 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust in 2025 for Crohn's disease research aimed at developing accurate diagnostics. His contributions extend to global IBD epidemiology studies, highlighting disparities in care and trends in incidence. Gearry has authored over 450 publications, with more than 30,000 citations, influencing clinical guidelines such as those from the World Gastroenterology Organization. He received the University of Otago Research Award in 2016 and was honored in the Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research. Additionally, he shared the Best Consultant Teacher award in 2019. Gearry holds roles as Medical Director of the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation and Medical Advisor for Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand, contributing to clinical management platforms like Crohn's Colitis Care and public health initiatives on nutrition and gut health.