Karen Saks, MD

Gastroenterology
503-297-8081
Areas of Focus: 
Esophageal Motility
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Colon Cancer Screening
Request an Appointment
Refer a Patient

About Me

As gastroenterologist, I strive to form a relationship with each patient in order to provide personalized care in treating his/her gastrointestinal disease. I enjoy working together with patients and referring physicians to provide education about the disease process and find the most effective treatment.

- Karen Saks, MD

Dr. Saks was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and grew up in Southern California. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara and returned to Israel to attend medical school at Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine. After medical school, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to complete her internal medicine residency and gastroenterology/hepatology fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Dr. Saks has specialized training in esophageal motility disorders and has conducted research on colon cancer screening and complications of cirrhosis. She has presented her research at multiple national conferences and has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Other Interests: 

Dr. Saks enjoys cooking, exploring Portland restaurants, hiking, running, reading, and traveling.

My Work

Office Locations: 
Gastroenterology West at SW Barnes Road
Hospitals Served: 
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
Specialties: 
Gastroenterology
Areas of Focus: 
Esophageal Motility
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Colon Cancer Screening

Education & Honors

Board Certification: 
  • Internal Medicine
  • Gastroenterology - Board Certified
Education & Training: 
  • Fellowship, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 2017
  • Internship and Residency, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 2014
  • MD, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2011
  • BS, Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 2006
Honors: 
  • American College of Gastroenterology National Gastroenterology Jeopardy Champion, 2016
  • Award Winner in Clinical Research at the American College of Physicians Regional Conference, 2013
  • Dean Award for Academic Excellence in Clinical Studies, 2011
  • Phi Beta Kappa, 2006
Publications: 
  • Saks, K, Amjadi, D, D’Souza, S. "Eosinophilic Cholecystitis and Enteritis Associated With Ampullary Stenosis." Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 15.3 (2017): A23-A24.
  • Saks K, Enestvedt B, Holub J, Lieberman D. "Colonoscopy Identifies Increased Prevalence of Large Polyps or Tumors in Patients 40–49 Years Old With Hematochezia vs Other Gastrointestinal Indications." Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 14.6 (2016): 843-849.
  • Saks, K, and Levitt, JO. "Tazarotene 0.1 percent cream fares better than erbium: YAG laser or incision and drainage in a patient with eruptive vellus hair cysts." Dermatology online journal 12.6 (2006).
  • Hamilton EP, Dear PH, Rowland T, Saks K, Eisen JA, Orias E. "Use of HAPPY mapping for the higher order assembly of the Tetrahymena genome." Genomics 88.4 (2006): 443-451.
Other Activities: 
  • American College of Gastroenterology
  • American Gastroenterology Association
  • American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy