Portrait: Rebecca Cherry

Rebecca Naomi Cherry

MD, MPH
Professional Focus Dr. Rebecca Cherry is board-certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology specializing in functional and motility-related disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including constipation, chronic abdominal pain, and inflammatory bowel disease as well as mind-body medicine and nutrition. She is also specialized in using clinical hypnosis for gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, and swallowing difficulties, which often arise as the result of anxiety. She advocates the use of both traditional medicine and non-pharmacological treatments for GI disorders, including physical therapy, dietary treatments, hypnosis, and mindfulness meditation, and also performs research in these areas.

Dr. Cherry earned her undergraduate degree and medical degree from the prestigious Harvard University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She completed a residency in Pediatrics at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and a fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

Currently. Dr. Cherry provides gastroenterology care through private practices and inpatient care in California and Pennsylvania. She is active in both clinical and classroom education of medical students, residents, and fellows, and has supervised more than 100 clinical trainees.

Dr. Cherry's research focuses on motility disorders, nutrition-related cholestatic liver disease, and failure to thrive diagnoses. She has studied and written peer-reviewed articles for pediatric journals, authored and co-authored books and book chapters, and has been a key speaker for national presentations. She is also a part of multiple ongoing research projects involving pediatric gastrointestinal diagnoses and treatments. Outside of medicine, Dr. Cherry enjoys puzzles, spending quality time with her husband and three children, and storytelling.

Member Feedback:
"Dr. Cherry was amazing! She took the time to listen to my daughter's symptoms and had a lot of great suggestions. This consultation was so helpful! She gave some treatment options no other MD had suggested in over 10 years of trying to find solutions! She is a valuable asset to your team and our family."
Honors & Awards Selected Awards:

Physician of Exceptional Excellence, San Diego County Medical Society | 2019

Best Pediatrician in La Jolla, La Jolla Light | 2018
Research & Publications Selected Publications:

Cherry RN, Blanchard SS, Chogle A, Santucci NR, Mehta K, Russell AC. Herbal Approaches to Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain. Children (Basel). 2022 Aug 22;9(8):1266. doi: 10.3390/children9081266. PMID: 36010156; PMCID: PMC9406842.

Books and Chapters:

Anbar, Ran D. and Cherry, R. “Communicating with the Subconscious: Ideomotor and Visualization Technique.” Chapter 10; in Handbook of Hypnotic Techniques, Vol. 2: Favorite Methods of Master Clinicians. Ed. Mark P. Jensen. Denny Creek Press (2021).

Cherry, R. “Failure to Thrive/Growth Faltering.” Chapter 12; in Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 6th edition. Ed. Robert Wyllie, Jeffrey Hyams, and Marsha Kay. Philadelphia, Elsevier (2021).

Cherry, R. “Failure to Thrive.” Chapter 12; in Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 5th edition. Ed. Robert Wyllie, Jeffrey Hyams, and Marsha Kay. Philadelphia, Elsevier (2016).
Conditions
Acid reflux
Biliary dyskenisia
Celiac disease
Celiac sprue
Chronic abdominal pain
Colic
Constipation
Crohn's colitis
Crohn's disease
Cyclic vomiting syndrome
Dysphagia
Elevated liver enzymes
Encopresis
Eosinophilic esophagitis ( EoE )
Fatty liver
Food allergy
Fructose malabsorption
Gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD )
Gluten sensitivity
Inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD )
Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS )
Milk protein sensitivity
Nausea
Obesity
Pancreatitis
Rectal prolapse
Rumination syndrome
Short bowel syndrome
Slow weight gain
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth ( SIBO )
Swallowing difficulties
Ulcerative colitis
Vomiting
Weight issues
Procedures
Anal sphincter botox injections
Colonoscopy
Diet management
Endoscopy
Esophageal pH monitoring
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy ( EGD )
Gastroscopy
Herbal supplements
Infant feedings
Lab review
Medication reconciliation
Mind body treatments
Tube feedings
Weight management
Children's Hospital Los Angeles / University of Southern California | Pediatric Gastroenterology
Fellowship
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital / Vanderbilt University | Pediatrics
Residency
Harvard Medical School
Medical School
Board Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Hospital Affiliation
Jefferson Abington Hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital
Place of Work
Pediatric Gastroenterologist/Clinical Hypnotherapist | Deep Well Health Care | Solo | Current
Languages
Spanish
English