Ashleigh Watson
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Ashleigh Watson, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Children's Hospital

Pediatric Gastroenterology
Salt Lake City
801-662-1000
Directions

Primary Children's Hospital - Lehi

Pediatric Gastroenterology
Lehi
801-213-3599
Directions

University of Utah Hospital

Pediatric Gastroenterology
Salt Lake City
Directions

  • Dr. Watson received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) with a focus on Urban and Community Health and receiving The Morris and Lee Zuckerman Clinical Proficiency Award. She completed pediatric residency at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee where she co-founded the Pediatric Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She then completed pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition fellowship with a niche focus on inflammatory bowel disease at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine.

    Her clinical interests include caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD-unclassified), specifically very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (diagnosed <6 years of age). She values the importance of providing comprehensive care and understanding all medical, environmental, and social factors that may impact her patients’ health. Her research primarily involves the epidemiology, natural history, and genetic basis of inflammatory bowel disease. She also studies how social determinants of health impact presentation and treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions, in order to ultimately combat such factors and improve the health and quality of life of patients.

    Dr. Watson is currently an assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. She sees patients with a wide array of gastrointestinal issues and performs endoscopy at Primary Children’s Hospital and at Primary Children’s Hospital - Lehi. She serves as a gastroenterologist in the multidisciplinary Complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, and she plans to develop a multidisciplinary clinic for patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)

  • Dr. Watson received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) with a focus on Urban and Community Health and receiving The Morris and Lee Zuckerman Clinical Proficiency Award. She completed pediatric residency at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee where she co-founded the Pediatric Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She then completed pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition fellowship with a niche focus on inflammatory bowel disease at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine.

    Her clinical interests include caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD-unclassified), specifically very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (diagnosed <6 years of age). She values the importance of providing comprehensive care and understanding all medical, environmental, and social factors that may impact her patients’ health. Her research primarily involves the epidemiology, natural history, and genetic basis of inflammatory bowel disease. She also studies how social determinants of health impact presentation and treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions, in order to ultimately combat such factors and improve the health and quality of life of patients.

    Dr. Watson is currently an assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. She sees patients with a wide array of gastrointestinal issues and performs endoscopy at Primary Children’s Hospital and at Primary Children’s Hospital - Lehi. She serves as a gastroenterologist in the multidisciplinary Complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, and she plans to develop a multidisciplinary clinic for patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition
    Board Certification
    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)

    Education history

    Fellowship Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition - Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine Fellow
    Residency Pediatrics - Children's Wisconsin/Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Resident
    Professional Medical Medicine - Medical College of Wisconsin M.D.
    Undergraduate Major: Biochemistry; Minor: Psychology - University of Kansas B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Watson A, Young C, Ihekweazu FD (2025). Assessing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in a Diverse Cohort with Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Pediatr, 114504. (Read full article)
    2. Watson A, Harris RA, Oezguen N, Kellermayer R (2025). A familial early-onset Crohn's disease-based testing of a small bowel versus colonic location-associated discovery gene network. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. (Read full article)
    3. Watson A, Harris RA, Engevik AC, Oezguen N, Nicholson MR, Dooley S, Stubler R, Satter LF, Karam LB, Kellermayer R (2024). MYO5B and the Polygenic Landscape of Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease in an Ethnically Diverse Population. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 31(1), 189-199. (Read full article)
    4. Watson A, Jazayeri A, Raj P (2024). Food insecurity in a diverse community pediatric gastroenterology clinic: Screening strategies and insights. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 80(1), 80-86. (Read full article)
    5. Watson A, Karam LB, Kellermayer R (2024). Failure Rate of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Biologics in Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 30(3), 510-512. (Read full article)
    6. Patel H, Harris RA, Qian JH, Oezguen N, Watson A, Szigeti RG, Cho S, Ruan W, Britto S, Opekun A, Preidis G, Kellermayer R (2024). Genetic Variation Between Small Bowel and Colon-Predominant Crohn's Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 17(6), 1069-1071. (Read full article)
    7. Watson A, Forbes Satter L, Reiland Sauceda A, Kellermayer R, Karam LB (2023). NOD2 Polymorphisms May Direct a Crohn Disease Phenotype in Patients With Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 77(6), 748-752. (Read full article)
    8. Tregoning VG, Parran K, Watson AS, Mitchell ML (2023). Refractory Pneumonia in a 12-year-old Girl with Hemoglobin SS Disease. Pediatr Rev, 44(2), 100-103. (Read full article)
    9. Watson A, Jafari M, Seifi A (2020). The persistent pandemic of violence against health care workers. Am J Manag Care, 26(12), e377-e379. (Read full article)
    10. Watson A, Sheridan B, Rodriguez M, Seifi A (2014). Biologically-related or emotionally-connected: who would be the better surrogate decision-maker? Med Health Care Philos, 18(1), 147-8. (Read full article)

    Case Report

    1. Watson A, Chong T, Karam L (2024). Cat scratch colon in a patient with very early-onset Crohn's disease with diverting ileostomy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 79(5), 1081-1083. (Read full article)
    2. Simon D, Watson A, Chiou E (2023). Duodenal Cloverleaf Deformity Associated With Eosinophilic Inflammation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 77(6), e114. (Read full article)
    3. Watson A, Karam LB (2022). The Case of a Missing COVID Swab. JPGN Rep, 3(4), e272. (Read full article)
    4. Watson A, Kolinski J, Suchi M, Elkadri A (2021). Bone Marrow Suppression Associated With Celiac Disease in a 4-Year-Old Boy. ACG Case Rep J, 8(2), e00538. (Read full article)

    Abstract

    1. Watson A, Harris RA, Oezguen N, Kellermayer R (2025). A Familial Very Early-Onset Crohn’s Disease Based Refinement of Disease Location Associated Gene Networks [Abstract]. 5(S3), S399.
    2. Watson A, Forbes Satter L, Reiland Sauceda A, Kellermayer R, Karam LB (2023). NOD2 Polymorphisms May Direct a Crohn Disease Phenotype in Patients With Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease. [Abstract]. Gastroenterology, 164(6), s1182-3.
    3. Watson A, Cabrera J, Noe J, Elkadri A (2021). Comprehensive retrospective therapeutic outcome analysis in a well- defined cohort of very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease patients shows higher response rates with adalimumab versus infliximab [Abstract]. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 73(Suppl 1), s417.
    4. Watson A, Labott A, Yarur AJ (2018). Rate and risk factors for post-operative complications in Crohn’s and colitis patients undergoing non-inflammatory bowel disease surgery [Abstract]. Gastroenterology, 154(6), s633-4.
    5. Watson A, Labott A, Yarur AJ (2018). Biologic drug discontinuation and tobacco use are independently associated with inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation after elective non-IBD related surgery [Abstract]. Gastroenterology, 154(6), s618.