Laurie Keefer, PhD
Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry & Biomedical Sciences
Clinical Health and GI Psychologist • Psychogastroenterology Leader • Director of Psychobehavioral Research • Behavioral Intervention Scientist • Entrepreneur & Executive
Laurie Keefer, PhD is a Clinical Health Psychologist and Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry & Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. With more than 25 years of experience, she is internationally recognized for advancing integrated behavioral care in gastroenterology through her research, clinical work and mentorship.
Dr. Keefer is the inventor of the GRITT® Method for inflammatory bowel diseases and Co-Founded Trellus Health, pioneering scalable, precision behavioral medicine to improve outcomes for people living with gastrointestinal disorders.
She now serves as CEO of The Rome Foundation, an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with disorders of gut-brain interaction through excellence in clinical care, education, and research.
NIH
Funded Research
GRITT
METHOD INVENTOR
The Multi-Faceted Career of a Scientist-Practitioner
As Director of Psychobehavioral Research in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she leads federally and foundation-funded research focused on resilience and innovative behavioral interventions that improve quality of life for people living with chronic digestive disorders, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry & Biomedical Sciences
NIH-Funded Investigator
Director of Psychobehavioral Research
International Mentor and Speaker
25+
YEARS IN GI BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
Clinical Innovation
Integrating psychology into the standard of GI care.
Research Domains
Advancing research in gastroenterology through behavioral science, clinical innovation, and patient-centered care.
Areas of Expertise
Psychogastroenterology
Integrating behavioral science and gastroenterology to improve care for digestive disorders.
IBD and DGBI
Advancing evidence-based care for inflammatory bowel disease and disorders of gut-brain interaction.
Science of Resilience
Developing resilience-based interventions that improve adaptation and quality of life for GI patients.
Implementation Science
Turning research into practical clinical solutions that improve patient care.
Behavioral Medicine
Integrating psychological strategies into medical care to support whole-person treatment and long-term wellness.
Digital Behavioral Health
Designing scalable digital solutions that expand access to behavioral healthcare beyond the clinic.
Patient-Reported Outcomes
Designing tools that measure patient experiences to improve quality of care, treatment decisions, and clinical research.
Intervention Trials
Leading innovative behavioral clinical trials that optimize effective medical therapies for gastrointestinal disorders.
Innovative Framework
GRITT® Method
The GRITT® (Gaining Resilience Through Transitions) Method is an evidence-based behavioral care model developed to personalize treatment for individuals living with gastrointestinal disorders. It integrates resilience science, precision behavioral medicine, and multidisciplinary care to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
CO-FOUNDER OF
Trellus Health
Risk Stratification
Personalized Care
Integrated Behavioral Care
Multidisciplinary Model
Resilience Science
Brain-Gut Behavior Therapies
Self-Regulation Skills
Precision Behavioral Medicine
Digital Health Innovation
500+ Publications
Psychogastroenterology for Adults
A handbook for mental health
professionals and gastroenterologists.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
Educational Materials
Patient-and clinician-facing guides for resilience and chronic disease management.
Book Chapters
Deep dives into the rationale and application of psycho-behavioral interventions for GI.
Professional Courses
CME-accredited training for healthcare providers.
Clinical Resources
Validated screening tools and intervention protocols for professionals.
"The future of GI health lies in treating the whole person, not
just the disease."
— DR. LAURIE KEEFER
Books & Publications
Explore authoritative books and clinical resources on psychogastroenterology, offering evidence-based insights and practical guidance for healthcare professionals and researchers.
Psychogastroenterology, An Issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
Provides in-depth clinical reviews on psychogastroenterology, offering actionable insights for clinical practice.
Psychogastroenterology for Adults
A handbook for mental health
professionals and gastroenterologists.
Consulting Projects
Selection of and interpretation of patient reported outcomes and self-report clinical measures in clinical trials
Dr Keefer worked with the NIH-funded investigative team to choose patient reported outcome measures that would reflect patient symptom burden, treatment satisfaction, decision-making and quality of life in Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous esophageal condition. She continues to advise the investigative team on the collection and optimization of the study’s PRO measures and interpretation of data in the context of the clinical trial.
Nitazoxanide for Norovirus in Transplant Patients Study
Dr Keefer worked with the NIH-funded investigative team to develop and validate the primary efficacy endpoint- days to cessation of vomiting and diarrhea after randomization through 160 days, measured through daily symptom diaries as well as the impact of treatment on exploratory efficacy endpoints, particularly change in the impact of norovirus on psychological function and quality of life.
Stress Adaptation via Gut Electrostimulation Study
DARPA Coaster Chase, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard], –development of an ingestible, autonomous, and multimodal neuromodulation and biosensing capsule designed to detect acute stress biomarkers—specifically cortisol and neuropeptide Y (NPY)—and modulate the enteric nervous system (ENS) to achieve optimal cognitive performance under duress. Dr Keefer brings consulting expertise in GI stress and psychobehavioral frameworks to this government project.
Behavioral Intervention Design and Therapist Training
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for licensed mental health professionals (Veterans Administration)
Gastropsychology Worskhop for Psychologists (Canadian Psychological Association (CPA))
Favourite Open Access Articles
Burton-Murray WTR ClinicalTrials Aliment Pharmacol Ther - 2025 - Burton‐Murray - Rome Foundation Working Team Report Consensus Statement on the Design
Keefer-2023-A Rome Working Team Report on Brain-Gut Behavior Therapies
Keefer - 2022 - Resilience-based integrated care CGH
Keefer-2021-NaturePositivePsych
Expert Advisory &
Engagement
Leveraging decades of clinical and academic leadership to foster growth in individuals and organizations.
Executive Coaching
Blending empathetic leadership skills with high employee expectations in academic-entrepreneurial environments, with a focus on optimizing culture among multidisciplinary teams.
- Resilience Methodology for Leaders
- Academic-to-Entrepreneur Transitions / Technology Transfer
- Academic Career Growth
Scientific Consulting
Experienced collaborator in team science, clinical and translational research, behavioral and mixed methods study design, grant writing, and patient-centered outcomes.
- Behavioral Intervention Design and Implementation
- Patient-Centered Outcome Measurement or Selection
- Stress-Resilience Models in Gastroenterology
- Digital Innovation
Speaking
Keynotes, Grand Rounds, and workshops at international medical conferences. Translating complex science into actionable insights.
- Brain-Gut Axis
- Behavioral Medicine
- Resilience & Leadership
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP & HONORS
AFFILIATIONS
Rome Foundation
Chief Executive Officer
Psychogastroenterology
Founder & Chair
American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
Former Council Member
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Consultant, Methodology and Impact
- Healio Disruptive Innovators Award (2023)
- Distinguished Woman Investigator in Neurogastroenterology
- Fellow, American College of Gastroenterology (FACG) + Fellow, American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF)
- Phi Beta Kappa
Featured Media
PODCAST
Gut Check: Laurie Keefer, PhD, on
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
Dr Laurie Keefer joins Dr Brian Lacy to discuss brain-gut behavioral therapies, including hypnotherapy, and how they can help patients effectively cope with the chronic symptoms of digestive disorders as well as depression and anxiety.
Lets Connect
Whether you're interested in research collaboration, executive coaching, or
booking a speaking engagement, please fill out the form below.
Direct Inquiry
drlauriekeefer@gmail.com
drlauriekeefer