M.D. Barbara John, FEBGH

Dr. Barbara John, FEBGH, is a specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology and the chief physician at the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Bürgerspital Wertheim. Her practice focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, the bile ducts, and the pancreas. She combines many years of clinical experience with modern endoscopic techniques and a consistently evidence-based, individualized approach to patient care.

A particular focus is placed on diagnostic and interventional endosonography of all relevant organs, especially the pancreas and bile ducts, as well as submucosal masses. The range of services includes endosonographic puncture (FNA/FNB), the evaluation of pancreatic cysts and tumors, contrast-enhanced endosonography, EUS elastography, as well as HOT-AXIOS implantations for pseudocyst treatment and for the creation of endosonography-guided gastroenterostomies and choledochoenterostomies. In addition, Dr. John offers risk-adapted early detection of pancreatic cancer for patients with a family or genetic predisposition.

Interventional endoscopy includes gastroscopy and colonoscopy, particularly for the early detection of colorectal cancer and its precancerous lesions, as well as for the removal of polyps and early tumor changes. Other procedures include EMR, ESD, endoscopic full-thickness resection using FTRD, OTSC, complex polypectomies, endoscopic hemostasis, and APC.

ERCP with papillotomy, stone extraction, dilatation, and stent implantation; PTC; long-term pH monitoring; and esophageal manometry are being established as part of the realignment and expansion of the gastroenterology department at Bürgerspital Wertheim.

Other clinical areas of focus include chronic inflammatoryintestinal diseases, particularly complex forms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as short bowel syndrome and chronic intestinal failure, with specialized gastroenterological, therapeutic, and nutritional care. Functional gastrointestinal disorders, SIBO, and food intolerances are also diagnosed with a differentiated approach, including through H₂ breath tests.

In the field of hepatology, Dr. John treats autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases, fatty liver diseases—including MASLD and MASH—as well as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis of various etiologies. The diagnostic spectrum includes abdominal ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and shear-wave elastography, as well as the early ultrasound detection and evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Celiac disease and autoimmune enteropathies constitute another area of focus.

A special focus is placed on colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic gastrointestinal oncology. Further medical and interdisciplinary tumor therapy is currently provided in cooperation with the Juliusspital Würzburg. As part of the reorganization of the Bürgerspital Wertheim/Nationalklinik Weights, an obesity center has been established that provides endobariatric care— including modern GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1-based therapy, gastric balloon implantations, endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, OverStitch and POSE procedures, as well as endoscopic fundus ablation, such as the MOVIVA procedure.

Dr. John holds DGVS certifications in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, gastrointestinal infections, hepatology, and nutritional medicine. As a DEGUM Level II instructor for endosonography and a DEGUM Level I tutor for sonography in internal medicine, she shares her expertise in workshops throughout Germany and the entire DACH region.

Her professional profile is complemented by additional qualifications in pharmacological cancer therapy, nutritional medicine, and emergency medicine.

As chair of the Short Bowel Syndrome Competence Network, she is committed to improving care for patients with short bowel syndrome and chronic intestinal failure. She is a co-author of the Springer textbook “Therapy Manual for Short Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Intestinal Failure.” For Thieme Verlag’s ultrasound course series at Via medici, she provided the complete image documentation for a sonography textbook. As early as 2018, she was honored as part of the “Leading Women in Medicine” initiative.
As a board member of the LebensBlicke Foundation, Dr. John is particularly committed to colorectal cancer screening. One focus is the development of new, low-barrier approaches to better reach people with immigrant backgrounds with screening services. Her medical practice is guided by the conviction that careful listening remains essential for properly assessing symptoms, life circumstances, and individual needs, and for developing an appropriate treatment plan.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. John is deeply committed to the advancement of gastroenterology. As a DEGUM instructor for endosonography and a DEGUM tutor forsonography, she passes on her knowledge to physicians and is active as a speaker and proctor in national and international professional societies. Her goal is to combine medical innovations with the highest quality standards while ensuring personalized, trusting care for her patients.

With her many years of experience in leadership positions, her scientific expertise, and her interdisciplinary treatment approach, Dr. Barbara John embodies modern gastroenterology at the highest level. Her goal is to detect diseases early, treat them individually, and achieve lasting therapeutic success together with her patients—always based on the latest medical findings and gentle, minimally invasive procedures.