Dr. Douglas Robertson is a Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where he is a Gastroenterologist with research interests both in the epidemiology of colorectal cancer and the utility of screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer. He has used large data sets to understand the associations of factors (like drugs and diet) on the development of colorectal neoplasia. He also has studied the effectiveness of colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer in those with a prior history of neoplasia.
Dr. Robertson is also the Chief of Gastroenterology at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. He is a past recipient of a VA HSR&D Career Development Award and has served as the Clinical Director of the Polyp Prevention Study Group that has performed large trials examining aspirin, folate, calcium and Vitamin D on the prevention of polyps.
Currently he is the National Co-Chair of VA Cooperative Study 577 CONFIRM trial. This randomized trial will directly compare up front screening colonoscopy to a strategy of annual stool testing with FIT for the prevention of colorectal cancer mortality in 50,000 US Veterans.
Dr. Robertson is a prior Associate Editor for the journal Gastroenterology and currently serves as a Special Section Editor for that journal. In addition, he is a member of the United States Multi-SocietyTask Force for Colorectal Cancer, which was responsible for a 2017 update to the clinical guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in the US. This group comprises representatives of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.