Personal Information
Birth Date: June 25, 1948.
Birth Place: Tel Aviv, Israel
Marital Status: Married, wife Shoshana, head, prevention of child abuse program, Ministry of Education.
Children: Two daughters: Dana (30, writer, journalist, student) and Tal (25, student).
Languages: Hebrew, English, French and Spanish.
Education and Training
Medical School: Hebrew University‑Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, 1968‑1974.
Internship: Rotating Internship, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, 1974‑1975.
Residency: Internal Medicine B, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, 1977‑1982.
Fellowships: Dept of Gastroenterology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, 1982‑1984.
Gastroenterology Section, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1984‑1986.
Military Service - Israeli Defense Force
Armored Corps, regular service: 1966‑1968.
Medical Corps, regular service: 1975‑1977
Medical Corps, reserve service: 1977-1999.
Medical Licenses and Certifications
ECFMG, # 224‑246‑9, July 24, 1974.
Israeli License as a Physician, # 13025, November 11, 1975.
VQE (Visa Qualifying Examination) September 5‑6, 1979.
Israeli Board Certification in Internal Medicine, #7368, May 9, 1982.
FLEX, June 11, 1985.
Illinois License as a Physician, #036‑072255, 1986.
Israeli Board Certification in Gastroenterology, #9568, June 4, 1987.
Israeli Licensed Hypnotherapist #300, 1996.
Academic Appointments at The Hebrew University‑Hadassah Medical School
Instructor in Internal Medicine: 1979‑1981.
Lecturer in Internal Medicine: 1983‑1987.
Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine: 1987‑1993.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine: 1993-present.
Research Awards
1980: Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah.
1984‑1985: Research Award, Fogarty International Center, Dept of Health and Human Services.
1986: Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah.
1987-88: USDA Contract in Collaboration with Dr. I.H. Rosenberg, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Membership
Member of the Israeli Medical Association: 1975‑present.
Member of the Israeli Gastroenterological Association: 1984‑present.
Member of the American Gastroenterological Association: 1987‑present.
Member of the Israeli Society of Hypnosis: 1987-present.
Member of the International Society of Hypnosis: 1997-present.
Appointments
1987‑1989: Chairman, Committee for Examinations in Internal Medicine, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School.
1989: Acting Head, Dept of Gastroenterology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. (August through November).
1989: Scientific Secretary, Third International Symposium on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Jerusalem, Israel.
1989‑94: Contributing Editor, Nutrition Reviews.
1990‑92: Coordinator of a postgraduate course in Internal Medicine for preparation of new immigrant physicians for the Israeli licensure examinations.
1992-93: Visiting Scientist, Vitamin Bioavailability Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
1993-94: Member of the Joint Committee for Examinations in Internal Medicine of the Israeli Medical Schools.
1993-96: Chairman, The University Institute for Postgraduate Studies, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School.
2000 - present Chairman, Admittance Committee of the Medical School, Hebrew University Medical School.
Research Interests
1980-82: The effect of dietary modifications on serum lipoproteins in man.
1982-84: Lipoprotein synthesis and secretion in organ-cultured mucosa of the human small intestine.
1984-93: Intestinal transport of folic acid and methotrexate; Studies in various models: in the rat intestine (influx chamber, isolated intestinal loop in vivo, brush border membrane vesicles) and in the organ-cultured mucosa of the human intestine.
1989-96: Epidemiology and prognostic factors in acute gastrointestinal bleeding.
1996 - present: Implementation of hypnotic techniques in Gastroenterology: Use of hypnosis to sedate patients undergoing medical procedures, and in the therapy of various gastrointestinal disorders.
1997 - present: Functional gastrointestinal disorders: Development and validation of instruments to diagnose functional gastrointestinal disorders (irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, non cardiac chest pain) and monitor response to therapy in these disorders. Studies of the factors affecting the symptomatology in functional disorders of the GI tract.
Presentations in International Meetings Since 1994
(Numbers in parentheses indicate serial number of abstract in the list of publications.)
Digestive Disease Week (DDW):
The annual joint meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the American Society of Liver Diseases, (ASLD) and the American Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (ASSAT).
1994:
A: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Comparison of the causes in primary and secondary bleeders. (#21)
B: Folate synthesis by intestinal microflora (#22)
1995: Predictors of mortality in patients admitted to hospital for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Evaluation of two models (#23).
1996:
A: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the elderly: distinct clinical features (#24).
B: Predictors of mortality in patients aged >80 admitted to hospital for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (#25).
C: Population screening for colorectal cancer (#26).
1997:
A: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in cancer patients: Etiology and prognosis (#27).
B: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with acute cardiac disease (#28).
1999: Assessment of the response to hypnotherapy in functional bowel disorders (#29).
2000: Discriminant analysis of symptom clusters: A highly sensitive and specific tool to differentiate between the irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and normal subjects. (#31).
2002: Serum nitrite levels: a sensitive indicator of disease activity in colitis (#35).
2004:
A: Validation of a brief inventory for diagnosis and monitoring of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux (#37).
B: Smoking, IBS and esophageal acid exposure: An insight into the nature of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (#38). United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW)
1999: Hypnotherapy ameliorates gastrointestinal and extra intestinal symptoms in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome (#30).
2001:
A: Male patients with the irritable bowel syndrome have the same degree of extra intestinal symptoms as patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.
B: Effect of hypnotherapy on the quality of life in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome (#34).
2003: Accurate differentiation between irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease by analysis of symptom clusters. (#36).
2004: Interaction of irritable bowel, smoking and esophageal acid exposure in symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Falk Symposia
1999: Symposium 112: Neurogastroenterology: From basics to the clinics. (#4 in reviews).
2001: Symposium 123: VI International symposium on inflammatory bowel diseases. Discriminant analysis of symptom clusters can accurately differentiate between the irritable bowel syndrome and IBD.
Participation in International Meetings as Invited Speaker
1996: The Belgian Digestive Disease Week, Knokke, Belgium. (Prognostic factors in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding).
1997: The Second Binational Meeting of the Italian and Israeli Gastroenterological Associations, Capri, Italy. (Epidemiology, risk factors and prognostic factors in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding).
2000: The World Congress of hypnosis, Munich, Germany. (Hypnotic techniques for sedation of patients undergoing invasive procedures; Treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders by hypnosis and suggestion).
2000: The Nordic IBS state of the art meeting, Stockholm, Sweden. (Treatment of the Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by hypnosis and suggestion; The IBS patient).
List of Publications
Original Research Papers
1. Zimmerman J, Holick MF, Silver J: Normocalcemia in a hypoparathyroid patient with sarcoidosis: Evidence for parathyroid‑hormone‑ independent synthesis of 1,25 dihydroxy- vitamin D. Ann Intern Med 98: 338, 1983.
2. Zimmerman J, Kaufmann NA, Fainaru M, Eisenberg S, Oschry Y, Friedlander Y, Stein Y: Effect of weight reduction in moderate obesity on plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels and on high‑ density lipoprotein composition. Arteriosclerosis, 4: 115‑123, 1984.
3. Zimmerman J, Fainaru M, Eisenberg S: The effect of prednisone therapy on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins ‑ a prospective study. Metabolism, 33:521‑526, 1984.
4. Eisenberg S, Oschry Y, Zimmerman J: Intravascular metabolism of the cholesterol ester moiety of rat plasma lipoproteins. J Lipid Res 25:121‑128, 1984.
5. Silver J, Zimmerman J, Sela J, Rubinger D, Friedlander MF, Popovtzer MM: 24,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol treatment of osteomalacia: Use in a patient with vitamin D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism. Isr J Med Sci 20:437‑439, 1984.
6. Slater PE, Fich A, Zimmerman J, Ever‑Hadani P, Rachmilewitz D: Recruitment of subjects for fecal occult blood screening: A comparison of two methods in Jerusalem. J. Clin Gastroenterol 7:51‑54, 1985.
7. Fich A, Goldin E, Zimmerman J, Ligumski M, Rachmilewitz D: Comparison of misoprostol and cimetidine in the treatment of doudenal ulcer. Isr J Med Sci 21:102‑106, 1985.
8. Zimmerman J, Shapiro E, Porat Y, Rachmilewitz D: Computer application in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. Endoscopy, 17:207‑ 209, 1985.
9. Rosenberg IH, Zimmerman J, Selhub J: Folate transport. Chimioterapia, 4:354‑358, 1985.
10. Zimmerman J, Gavish D, Rachmilewitz D: Early- and late-onset ulcerative colitis: Distinct clinical features. J Clin Gastroentrol 7:492‑498, 1985.
11. Zimmerman J, Gati I, Eisenberg S, Rachmilewitz D: Fat absorption and triglyceride synthesis and secretion by cultured human intestinal mucosa. Isr J Med Sci 21:962‑967, 1985.
12. Fich A, Goldin E, Zimmerman J, Ligumsky M, Rachmilewitz D: Comparison of misoprostol and cimetidine in the treatment of gastric ulcer. Isr J Med Sci 21:968‑972, 1985.
13. Zimmerman J, Gati I, Eisenberg S, Rachmilewitz D: Ethanol inhibits triglyceride synthesis and secretion by human small intestinal mucosa. J Lab Clin Med, 107:498‑501, 1986.
14. Zimmerman J, Eisenberg S, Kaufmann NA, Fainaru M, Oschry Y, Friedlander Y, Stein Y: Effect of moderate isocaloric modification of dietary carbohydrate on High‑Density Lipoprotein composition and apoliprotein A1 turnover in humans. Isr J Med Sci, 22:95‑104, 1986.
15. Zimmerman J, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH: Role of sodium ion in transport of folic acid in the small intestine. Am J Physiol, 251:G218‑ G222, 1986.
16. Zimmerman J, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH: Competitive inhibition of folic acid absorption in rat jejunum by triamterene. J Lab Clin Med, 108:272‑276, 1986.
17. Argov Z, Soffer D, Eisenberg S, Zimmerman J: Chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy in Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis. Ann Neurol 20:89‑91, 1986.
18. Berry EM, Zimmerman J, Peser M, Ligumsky M: Dietary fat, adipose tissue composition and the development of carcinoma of the colon. J Natl Cancer Inst 77:93‑97, 1986
19. Berry EM, Zimmerman J, Ligumsky M: Relationship between dietary fat composition and colorectal neoplasia. J Natl Cancer Inst 78:395‑396, 1987.
20. Zimmerman J, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH: Competitive inhibition of folate absorption by dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, trimethoprim and pyrimethamine. Am J Clin Nutr, 46:518‑522, 1987.
21. Fich A, Goldin E, Zimmerman J, Rachmilewitz D: Seasonal variations in the frequency of endoscopically diagnosed doudenal ulcer in Israel. J Clin Gastroenterol, 10:380‑382, 1988.
22. Goldin E, Fich A, Eliakim R, Zimmerman J, Ligumsky M, Rachmilewitz D: Comparison of misoprostol and ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Isr J Med Sci 24:282‑285, 1988.
23. Zimmerman J, Gilula Z, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH: Kinetic analysis of the effect of luminal pH on transport of folic acid in the small intestine. Int J Vit Nutr Res 59:151‑156, 1989.
24. Ackerman Z, Eliashiv S, Reches A, Zimmerman J: Neurological manifestations in Celiac disease and vitamin E deficiency. J Clin Gastroenterol 85:106‑107, 1990.
25. Ligumsky M, Sestieri M, Karmeli F, Zimmerman J, Okon E, Rachmilewitz, D: Rectal administration of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs: Effect on rat gastric ulcerogenicity and PGE2 synthesis. Gastroenterology 98: 1245‑1249, 1990.
26. Zimmerman J: Folic acid transport in organ cultured mucosa of human intestine: Evidence for distinct carriers. Gastroenterology 99: 964‑972, 1990.
27. Zlotogora Y, Zimmerman J, Rachmilewitz D: Crohn's disease in Ashkenazi jews. Gastroenterology 99:286‑287, 1990.
28. Zimmerman J: Does dietary therapy for hyperlipoproteinemia type V predispose to premature atherosclerosis? Nutr Rev 48:277‑279, 1990.
29. Zlotogora Y, Zimmerman J, Rachmilewitz D: Prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in family members of Jewish Crohn's disease patients in Israel. Dig Dis Sci 36:471‑475, 1991.
30. Mason JB, Zimmerman J, Otradovec CL, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH: Chronic diuretic therapy with moderate doses of triamterene is not associated with folate deficiency. J Lab Clin med 117:365‑369, 1991.
31. Lysy J, Zimmerman J. Ascorbic acid status in Diabetes mellitus. Nut Res 12:713‑720, 1992.
32. Zimmerman J. Methotrexate transport in the human intestine: Evidence for heterogeneity. Biochem Pharmacol 43: 2377‑2383, 1992.
33. Zimmerman J, Arnon R, Beeri R , Keret D, Lysy J, Ligumski M, Gonzalez J, Fich A, Ackerman Z, Goldin E: Seasonal fluctuations in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Lack of effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Am J Gastroenterol, 87:1587‑1590, 1992.
34. Zimmerman J. Drug interactions in intestinal transport of folic acid and methotrexate: Further evidence for the heterogeneity of folate transport in the human small intestine. Biochem Pharmacol 44:1839‑1842, 1992.
35. Zimmerman J, Arnon R, Ligumski M, Beeri R, Keret D, Lysy J, Fich A, Tsvang E, Siguencia J, Goldin E, Ackerman Z: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Jerusalem 1988‑1991: Causes, characteristics and relation to non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs. Isr J Med Sci 29:292-297, 1993.
36. Oren R, Ligumsky M, Lysy J, Gonzales J, Zimmerman J: Gastro-duodenal injury associated with intake of 100-325 mg aspirin daily. Postgrad Med J 69:712-714, 1993.
37. Zimmerman J, Meroz Y, Siguencia J, Tsvang E, Arnon R: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Comparison of the causes and prognosis in primary and secondary bleeders. Scand J Gastroenterol, 29:795-798, 1994.
38. Zimmerman J, Siguencia J, Tsvang J, Beeri R, Arnon R. Predictors of mortality in patients admitted to hospital for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Scand J Gastroenterol 30: 327-331,1995.
39. Zimmerman J, Meroz Y, Arnon R, Tsvang E, Siguencia J. Predictors of mortality in hospitalised patients with secondary upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. J Int Med 237: 331-337, 1995.
40. Zimmerman J, Siguencia J, Tsvang E. Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with cutaneous application of diclofenac gel. Am J Gastroenterol 90:2032-34, 1995;
41. Camilo E, Zimmerman J, Mason JB, Golner B, Russell R, Selhub J, Rosenberg IH. Folate synthesized by bacteria in the upper small intestine of the human is assimilated by the host. Gastroenterology 110:991-998; 1996.
42. Lysy J, Ackerman Z, Dabbah K, Shmueli A, Zimmerman J. Vitamin C status and colonic neoplasia. Dis Colon Rectum 39:1235-37, 1996.
43. Goldin E, Aptekar L, Siguencia J, Tsvang E, Fich A, Zimmerman J . Reduced glutamine content in colonic polyps. Scand J Gastroenterol 31:345-348; 1996.
44. Zimmerman J, Shohat V, Tsvang E, Arnon R, Safadi R, Wengrower D. Esophagitis is a major cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly. Scand J Gastroenterol 32:906-909, 1997.
45. Zimmerman J. Hypnotic technique for sedation of patients during upper gastro- intestinal endoscopy. Am J Clin Hypnosis 40:284-287, 1998.
46. Zimmerman J. Dyspepsia as the somatic expression of guilt: A Case Report. Am J Clin Hypnosis 44:57-61, 2001.
47. Zimmerman J. Cleaning up the river: A metaphor for functional digestive disorders. Am J Clin Hypnosis, . Am J Clin Hypnosis 45;353-359, 2003.
48. Zimmerman J. Extraintestinal symptoms in the irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases: Nature, severity and relationship to gastrointestinal symptoms. Dig Dis Sci, 48;743-749, 2003.
49. Zimmerman J. Validation of a brief inventory for diagnosis and monitoring of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Scand J Gastroenterol, 39:212-216, 2004.
50. Zimmerman J. Irritable bowel, smoking and oesophageal acid exposure: An insight into the nature of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2004; 20:1297-1303.
51. Dubner S, Dubner Y, Gallino S, Spallone L, Zagalsky D, Rubio H, Zimmerman J, Goldin E. Electromagnetic interference by video-capsule endoscopy in cardiac implantable pacemakers. Gastrointest endosc, 2005; 61:250-254.
Research Papers in Hebrew
1. Arnon R, Zimmerman J, Keret D, Lysy J, Wengrower D, Fich A, Goldin E. A new therapy for esophageal and cardiac varices: Rubber band ligation. Harefuah, 124:65-67, 1993.
Case Reports
1. Zimmerman J, Silver J, Shapiro M, Friedman G, Melmed RN: Clindamycin unresponsive anaerobic osteomyelitis treated with oral metronidazole. Scand J Infect Dis 12: 79‑80. 1980.
2. Kornberg A, Zimmerman J, Matzner Y, Polliack A: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Association with vasopressin‑responsive diabetes insipidus. Arch Intern Med 140:1236, 1980