Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic
Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of
Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational
background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the
University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North
Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology
at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship
training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and
gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of
Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology
at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dysphagia
means difficulty swallowing. Odynophagia means painful
swallowing. Sometimes it is not easy for individuals to
distinguish between these two problems. For example, food that
sticks in the esophagus (swallowing tube) can be painful. Is
this dysphagia or odynophagia or both? Technically it