Pradeep Bekal

Term 2026-2032

A board-certified gastroenterologist, Dr. Bekal serves as a board member and senior vice president of clinical affairs for Ohio at Gastro Health, one of the nation's largest gastroenterology groups. Dr. Bekal also serves as the organization's medical director of clinical data & analytics. Additionally, he is chief of gastroenterology at The Christ Hospital and a principal investigator on numerous clinical trials that explore the efficacy and safety of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal conditions.

UC Board of Trustees Chairman Greg Hartmann praised the appointment: "Dr. Bekal's leadership, medical expertise, and commitment to our community will be a tremendous asset as we continue advancing UC's mission," said Hartmann. 

An accomplished physician, Dr. Bekal is well-known within the local and national GI communities for his leadership as well as his proficiency in general and advanced endoscopic procedures. Outside of the field of medicine, Dr. Bekal sits on the board of directors for the Cincinnati Port Authority. He graduated from Madras Medical College in Madras, India, completed his residency in internal medicine at New York - Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn and completed two fellowships at Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.