Dr. Miranda van Tilburg
Associate Dean for Research, College of Medicine & Professor of Health Systems Science
Ph.D., Tilburg University (The Netherlands)
Bio:
Dr. Miranda van Tilburg is the Associate Dean for Research at the College of Medicine at Methodist University. She is also the Research Director of Graduate Medical Education at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Dr. van Tilburg has led a continuously funded research lab for over 20 years, focusing on brain-gut treatments for children with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and improving access to care, especially in rural areas. Her mission is to enhance treatment for Disorders of Brain-Gut Interaction (DGBI), such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, which affect 1 in 4 children but are often misunderstood and under-treated. Dr. van Tilburg has a passion for healthcare needs of the underserved and is excited about the opportunity to build the research infrastructure and culture at the college of medicine to support a new generation of researchers.
She has authored 280+ publications, including professional guidelines and updates to diagnostic criteria for pediatric DGBI. Dr. van Tilburg serves as associate editor for the Journal of Psychosomatic Research and sits on several editorial boards and grant review committees. Due to her expertise, she has advised agencies like the FDA, European Medicines Agency, NIH, and Medicaid/Medicare on pediatric DGBI care. She has held leadership roles in major organizations, including the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.
In addition to her research, Dr. van Tilburg has 20+ years of teaching experience across various health disciplines and is known for integrating play in her teaching to make education more fun and engaging. She has mentored students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, and more. Before joining Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health, she served as vice chair of research in Internal Medicine at Marshall University. Dr. van Tilburg currently also holds professor positions at the University of North Carolina, University of Washington, and Campbell University.