Logo for University of Iowa Health Care This logo represents the University of Iowa Health Care

Peter Nau, MD

Contact Information

Office: 4626 JCP
Phone: 356-7675
Faculty Profile


Brief description of current research: 

I am interested in obesity surgery outcomes and it’s influence on body composition and the resolution of associated medical comorbidities.  The sleeve gastrectomy and roux-en-y gastric bypass are distinctly different operations which influence body composition, diabetes resolution and reflux disease differently.  Identifying patients who would benefit from these interventions and maximizing outcomes through pre-operative education, post-operative support and proper patient selection is important in treating this pervasive disease.  I am involved in research investigated the use of automated intelligence, machine learning and video based assessment to improve outcomes and the way that we teach and evaluate bariatric surgeons.   I am also interested in sarcopenia and the influence that this often underdiagnosed condition has on clinical outcomes in a diverse set of patients including the obese, those being treated for malignancies and the critically ill. 

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications:

  • Nau P, Jackson HT, Aryaie A, Ibele A, Shouhed D, Lo Menzo E, Kurian M, Khaitan L; SAGES Foregut Task Force White Paper. Surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the obese patient. Surg Endosc. 2020 Jan;34(1):450-457. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07231-w. Epub 2019 Nov 12. PMID: 31720811.
  • Kavanagh R, Smith J, Avgenackis E, Jones D, Nau P. A Comparison of the Effects of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy on Body Mass Composition as Measured by Air Displacement Plethysmography. Obes Surg. 2020 Feb;30(2):451-455. doi: 10.1007/s11695-019-04178-8. PMID: 31606840.
  • Hart A, Goffredo P, Carroll R, Lehmann R, Nau P, Smith J, Ahad S, Bao W, Hassan I. Optimizing Bariatric Surgery outcomes: the impact of preoperative elevated hemoglobin A1c levels on composite perioperative outcome measures. Surg Endosc. 2021 Aug;35(8):4618-4623. doi: 10.1007/s00464-020-07887-9. Epub 2020 Aug 12. PMID: 32789589; PMCID: PMC8823948.
  • Small molecule SWELL1 complex induction improves glycemic control and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in murine Type 2 diabetes.

Quote:

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. – Dr. Suess