Board Member

DONALD CASTELL – Emeritus Director

(September 19, 1935 – January 8, 2021)

Dr. Donald Castell was one of the most influential figures in gastroenterology of his generation, recognized internationally as a leading authority on esophageal disease and function. He served as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he also directed the Esophageal Disorders Program beginning in October 2001.

Throughout his career, Dr. Castell authored or co-authored more than 600 scientific publications and served as editor of The Esophagus, the definitive reference text on the subject. His contributions to the field earned him the presidency of the American Gastroenterological Association from 1998 to 1999, and the organization later honored him with its prestigious Friedenwald Medal in 2012.

His legacy endures through the generations of clinicians and researchers shaped by his work, and through the foundational knowledge he helped build in the understanding and treatment of esophageal disorders.