David E. Beck, M.D.

Dr. David E. Beck is Chairman of the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA. David was born in Geneva, IL, but his family moved to south Florida, where he spent his youth. Dr. Beck was a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and attended medical school at the University of Miami. He completed his residency in general surgery at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX. After 1 year as a USAF surgeon at Patrick AFB, FL, Dr. Beck completed a fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. He is board certified in General and Colon and Rectal Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. After retiring from the Air Force, where he was Chairman and Residency Program Director of the Department of General Surgery at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center and the Military Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Dr. Beck joined Ochsner in 1993. He became Chairman of Colon and Rectal Surgery in 1995.

Dr. Beck runs a busy clinical practice and teaches residents and fellows on a daily basis. He conducts research into colorectal diseases, has authored and edited six medical textbooks, and has written more than 80 book chapters and 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Beck is a member of the editorial board of several prestigious medical journals and Editor in Chief of Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. In addition to being Chairman of the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, he serves as the Medical Director of the Ochsner Endoscopy Unit and is on the clinical faculty at the Louisiana State University and Uniformed Services University Schools of Medicine. Dr. Beck is listed in Who's Who, Best Doctors in America, and Good Housekeeping's Top Cancer Doctors for Women. Dr. Beck is a nationally recognized expert in inflammatory bowel disease, anal cancer, adhesions, sphincter saving surgery for cancer, constipation, and laparoscopic surgery.

David, his wife, Sharon and their son, John live in Madisonville, LA, a small town north of New Orleans. David and Sharon also have two daughters (Allison and Lauren), who are juniors at Baylor and Louisiana State University. When not working, he enjoys fishing, woodworking, SCUBA diving, and working around the house and in his garden.

On behalf of the readers and staff of Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Dr. Beck deserves our appreciation for serving as Guest Editor and for providing a comprehensive issue on constipation and functional bowel disease.