Drª. Rita Ornelas

I am a specialist physician in gastroenterology with more than 25 years of clinical experience and almost 20 years of experience in diagnostic and therapeutic digestive endoscopy, and I dedicate myself especially to the areas of Neurogastroenterology, Gut–Brain Axis Disorders and Hepatology. My approach integrates conventional medical knowledge with advances in neuroscience and neurogastroenterology, recognising the complex interaction between the digestive system, the nervous system, the gut microbiota, lifestyle habits and lived experience. I have a particular interest in the influence of stress, adverse experiences and trauma on digestive physiology, as well as in the regulatory mechanisms of the autonomic nervous system and in the application of polyvagal theory to understanding gut–brain axis disorders. Alongside my medical training, I have deepened my study of mindfulness- and compassion-based practices, as well as the Internal Family Systems (IFS) psychotherapeutic model, integrating this knowledge into an approach that values nervous system regulation, interoceptive awareness and an understanding of each person's individual experience of illness. I believe in a person-centred approach that combines scientific rigour, clinical listening and a biopsychosocial perspective, recognising digestive health as the result of the dynamic interaction between biological, psychological and social factors.