Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS
Professor of Clinical Medicine (Gastroenterology)
Director, GI Nutrition and Obesity Program Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Vice Chief Community Engagement, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Vice Chief, Faculty Development, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Department: Medicine
Contact information
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
4 South
Philadelphia, PA 19104
4 South
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-349-8222
Fax: 215-349-5915
Fax: 215-349-5915
Education:
BS (Biology)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1998.
MD (Medicine)
University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2002.
MHS (Clinical Investigation)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2009.
Permanent linkBS (Biology)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1998.
MD (Medicine)
University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2002.
MHS (Clinical Investigation)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2009.
Selected Publications
Newberry C, Peng FB, Lynch KL, Sheth SG, Pickett-Blakely O, Maratt JK: AGA Institute Quality Indicators for Obesity Medication Use in Practice. Gastroenterology 169(7): 1537-1546, Dec 2025.Panchal S, Mahmud N, Atkins JH, Kang H, Leto A, Goebel A, Trivedi N, Chatila A, Hsu WW, Ginsberg GG, Pickett-Blakeley O, Zandvakili I: Endoscopy and anesthesia outcomes associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use in patients undergoing outpatient upper endoscopy. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 102(2): 216-222, August 2025.
Sehgal P, Lewis JD, Pickett-Blakely O, Nandi N, Bewtra M, Lichtenstein GR: Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of GLP1 Receptor Agonists in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 23(8): 1453-1454, July 2025.
Priya Sehgal,Faten Aberra,Tushar Khanna, Klea Profka, Octavia Pickett-Blakely, Neilanjan Nandi, Farzana Rashid Hossain, Meenakshi Bewtra, James D. Lewis, Gary R. Lichtenstein: Safety and clinical effectiveness of GLP1 receptor agonists in inflammatory bowel disease patients; a retrospective cohort study. Gastroenterology 166(4): S-123-124, May 2024.
Sarjukumar Panchal, Octavia Pickett-Blakely, Gregory G. Ginsberg, Hansol Kang, Alexandra Leto, Anna M. Goebel, Joshua Atkins, Inuk Zandvakili: Outcomes associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use in patients undergoing upper endoscopy. Gastroenterology 155(5): S-207, May 2024.
Vivian Ortiz and Octavia Pickett-Blakely: Obesity Medical and Physical Assessment. Health Professional's Guide to Management of Overweight and Obesity. Hollie Anne Raynor and Linda Gigliotti (eds.). Springer, April 2024.
Jennifer Lubell: GI Docs Nutrition Education Deficit May Shortchange Patients. Medscape Medical News. Medscape, October 2023 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/997639?form=fpf.
Inuk Zandvukili MD, PhD, Maraya Pulaski MD, Octavia Pickett-Blakely MD, MHS: A Phenotypic Approach to Obesity Treatment. Nutrition in Clinical Practice 38(5): 959-975, Oct 2023.
Carolyn Newberry, MD, Brandon Sprung, MD, Octavia Pickett-Blakely, MD, MHS: Enhancing Nutrition and Obesity Education in GI Fellowship through Universal Curriculum Development. Gastroenterology 165(1): 16-19. July 2023.
Vibhu Chiiajallu, Joseph Sleiman, Sarah DeLozier, Emad Mansoor, Raj Shah, Eduardo Grunvald, Octavia Pickett-Blakely, Perica Davitkov: Incidence proportion of pancreatic complications with incretin-based therapies: a multicenter population-based study. Gastroenterology 164: S-146, May 2023 Notes: Oral Presentation.