Lin Chang, MD
Accepting New Patients

Lin Chang, MD

  • Gastroenterology
Average rating: 4.9
 
Westwood Digestive Diseases |

About

  • Vice Chief, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
  • Program Director, UCLA GI Fellowship Program
  • Director, Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health
  • Co-Director, G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience
  • Director, Clinical Studies and Database Core, Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center

Dr. Chang earned her medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship training at the UCLA affiliated training program in gastroenterology. Dr. Chang’s clinical expertise is in disorders of gut-brain interactions which include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation and functional dyspepsia. Her research is focused on the pathophysiology of IBS related to stress, sex differences, genetic and epigenetic factors, neuroendocrine alterations, and gut microbiome and the treatment of IBS. She is the vice chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA, director of the Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health, co-director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, director of the Clinical Studies and Database Core of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, and program director of the UCLA Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. Dr. Chang is a recipient of the Janssen Award in Gastroenterology for Basic or Clinical Research, AGA Distinguished Clinician Award, and AGA Distinguished Educator Award. She has authored more than 185 original research articles, 75 review articles and 30 book chapters on her specialty interests and is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings. Active in professional organizations, she is a member of the Rome Foundation Board of Directors and previously served as clinical research councilor of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Governing Board and president of the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS). She also serves as associate editor of the journal, Gastroenterology. She is a fellow of the AGA and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certifications

Gastroenterology, American Board of Internal Medicine, 1993
Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 1989

Fellowship

Gastroenterology, UCLA School of Medicine, 1992

Residency

Internal Medicine, Harbor - UCLA Medical Center, 1989

Internship

Internal Medicine, Harbor - UCLA Medical Center, 1987

Degree

MD, UCLA School of Medicine, 1986

Locations

West Los Angeles

Westwood Digestive Diseases

Gastroenterology| Pediatric Gastroenterology| Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gastroenterology +1 more specialty

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Videos

Case Presentations: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction
Case presentation: Abdominal pain and constipation in a patient with fibromyalgia
Case presentation: Patient with IBS-D symptoms and POTS
Case presentation on DGBI disorders: Patient on a prolonged restrictive diet with persistent symptoms, and managing DGBI with coexistent psychological disorder
Nausea and vomiting: CVS and CHS
A patient with chronic dyspepsia
Functional GI: Dietary Management, ARFI Disorder, Chronic Abdominal Pain | UCLA Digestive Diseases
Functional GI: Non-Pharm Treatment, Diaphragmatic Breathing, Behavioral Therapies
How is IBS diagnosed?
What is the cause of IBS?
What is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS?
How is IBS treated?

Research

Interests

  • Pathophysiology of IBS related to stress, sex differences, genetic and epigenetic factors
  • Neuroendocrine alterations
  • Gut microbiome and the treatment of IBS

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change. 
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.

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Recognitions

  • Super Doctors® Southern California, 2019-2025
  • Best Doctors in America, 2019-2021
  • Janssen Award in Gastroenterology for Basic or Clinical Research
  • AGA Distinguished Clinician Award
  • AGA Distinguished Educator Award

Reviews

Overall Rating:
4.9
31 total ratings | 17 reviews
5.0
July 28, 2025
Dr Cheng spent along time going over my issues with nausea. I felt, respected, heard and very well taken care-of. She was very thorough.
5.0
July 10, 2025
Professional, informative, helpful
5.0
June 20, 2025
Dr Chang …amazing! Her stellar reputation is right on. So helpful with my situation. I’m so grateful for her expert care.
5.0
June 15, 2025
Smart, insightful with great interpersonal skills. A terrific listener. Consistently provides action steps for my care.
5.0
June 12, 2025
dr chang is professional & thorough. she is open & welcoming, easy to talk to & responsive. she is collaborative in her approach: her fellows take an active role in patient care.