Dr Willert is a specialist in the management of patients with digestive symptoms and disorders of the luminal gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach, small bowel and colon) including the diagnosis and management of heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's & ulcerative colitis) and diverticular disease, as well as the investigation and nutritional management of weight loss.

He was appointed as a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2008 after completing an international training fellowship in Australia, following his medical training in the UK. He is also a Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester.

He initially completed a joint Physiology/Pharmacology degree with first class honours in 1993, and qualified in Medicine with honours in 1996. He then completed a PhD in Gastrointestinal Pharmacology in 2004 and in 2006, was awarded an international Gastroenterology fellowship in Perth, Western Australia. In 2009, he was awarded fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians.

He has developed several endoscopic specialist services at Manchester Foundation Trust for the North West of England, including radiofrequency ablation therapy and endoscopic mucosal resection for Barrett's oesophagus, double balloon enteroscopy for small bowel disorders and advanced bowel cancer screening polyp removal.

Dr Willert became the Clinical Director for the Manchester Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in 2019 and is a nationally-accredited expert in colonoscopy and bowel cancer screening. He provides a weekly regional advanced polypectomy/EMR service for patients referred from other consultants across the conurbation with externally audited key performance indicators well above national standards annually.

Given his BSc and PhD background, he has a specialist interest in the pharmacological management of all gastrointestinal disorders, including both simple and complex inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastro-oesophageal reflux and constipation.

Dr Willert is the current Endoscopy Lead of the Upper Gastrointestinal Committee for Manchester Cancer and is an Editorial Board Member of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, and has ongoing clinical research studies in Barrett’s oesophagus and inflammatory bowel disease.

He is also on the North West Faculty of Endoscopy Trainers. He enjoys cycling, scuba diving and watching rugby in his free time.

Useful links:

• www.manchestergastrospecialists.com
  

• Bowel cancer screening colonoscopy +/- polyp removal and complex polyp endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
• Endoscopic eradication of Barrett's oesophagus (HALO RFA & Duette EMR)
• Oesophageal acid reflux - endoscopic assessment (BRAVO pH testing)

• British Society of Gastroenterology
• American Society Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• European Crohn’s & Colitis Organisation