Edwin K. McDonald IV, MD

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Edwin K. McDonald IV, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine Associate Director, Adult Clinical Nutrition

25 Insurance Plans Accepted

I was inspired to become a gastroenterologist primarily because I had a family member who had a polyp, a precancerous growth that was removed by a gastroenterologist. So when I found out about that when I was in high school, that piqued my interest in medicine and subsequently gastroenterology.

I'm primarily interested in and helping people out with nutritional issues. So those issues can range from people who are trying to lose weight to people who have lost too much weight and now they're trying to figure out ways to gain weight back.

I view myself as a physician, as a teacher, a listener, a problem solver, a shared decision maker, and a collaborator. And I work together with my patients to really solve some of the issues that they are going through.

One of my favorite tips is to really try to eat real food, mostly plants and not too much. And that tip was inspired by the author Michael Pollan.

I'm also a trained chef. So people come to see me to not only talk about nutrition but also how to cook food and how food plays a role in their everyday life and everyday health, for that matter.

Edwin K. McDonald IV, MD, is dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities through nutrition education. He works with patients with small bowel diseases, obesity and other conditions affecting the digestive system.

Dr. McDonald's interest in the effects of nutrition on health and disease stem from his experience with Project Brotherhood — an innovative clinic dedicated to providing accessible, affordable care for black men on Chicago's South Side. While training barbers to serve as health educators, he became keenly aware of the impact of social determinants of health, including the role of nutrition. In 2012, Dr. McDonald received a certificate in professional cookery from Kendall College School of Culinary Arts.

Dr. McDonald also is an active researcher. He recently investigated the effects of vitamin deficiency in patients requiring parenteral nutrition (intravenous feeding) and studied the usefulness of fecal calprotectin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. He also created a web-based mobile program to assess the utility of applications in managing inpatient hepatology patients. Dr. McDonald's work has been funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Specialties

Areas of Expertise

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • American College of Gastroenterology
  • American Gastroenterological Association
  • American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

Practicing Since

  • 2011

Languages Spoken

  • English

Medical Education

  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Internship

  • Northwestern Medicine

Residency

  • Northwestern Medicine

Fellowship

  • University of Chicago Medicine; Rush University Medical Center

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

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