Samuel A. Kocoshis, MD

Biography

As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I specialize in intestinal rehabilitation and intestinal transplantation. I try my best to educate patients and their families about their disorders so that we can partner to find good health for them.

I was inspired to pursue my career by my mentors at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the 1970s. These include Drs. Frederick Blodgett, Elaine Koehler, Walter Hogan and Conrad Soergel.

I am the medical director of the Intestinal Care Center and the Small Bowel Transplantation Program in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. I follow Hippocrates’ credo that wherever the art of medicine is loved, there should be a love of humanity. Being able to help others is my highest calling.

In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics awarded me the Murray Davidson Award. This award recognizes excellence in both clinical care and research, along with a humanitarian outlook toward medicine. In 2014, I won the faculty teaching award bestowed upon me by our gastroenterology fellows at Cincinnati Children’s. I am especially proud of this award because I have always believed that teaching is the noblest of our duties as academicians.

In my research, I am working on the use of glucagon-like polypeptide 2 to improve intestinal function among patients with short bowel syndrome. I’m also looking to identify improved immunosuppressive regimens for children needing intestinal transplantation.

I am an avid downhill skier, and I own a cabin at the foot of Discovery Basin in Montana. Unfortunately, I only have the opportunity to ski about 15 days per year. In the summer, when I visit Montana, you can see me wearing a pair of waders and fly fishing for trout in many of the blue-ribbon trout streams within two hours of my cabin.