Bertram Welton Sippy (June 30, 1865 – July 8, 1938) was an American gastroenterologist best known for developing the "Sippy diet," a therapeutic regimen for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1889 and later completed postgraduate training in Europe, where he studied under prominent physicians such as Adolf Kussmaul.
In 1915, Sippy introduced his regimen, which combined a high‑protein, low‑acid diet with regular dosing of antacids (commonly aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide) and the use of a nasogastric tube to continuously rinse the stomach with alkaline solutions. The protocol aimed to neutralize gastric acidity and promote ulcer healing. While the Sippy diet was widely adopted in the early to mid‑20th century, subsequent advances in pharmacology—particularly the development of H₂‑receptor antagonists and proton‑pump inhibitors—rendered the regimen largely obsolete.
Sippy held academic positions at the University of Michigan and served as chief of the gastroenterology service at the University of Michigan Hospital. He published numerous articles on gastrointestinal disorders and was a member of several professional societies, including the American College of Physicians.
His contributions are commemorated in medical history for influencing early ulcer management and for highlighting the importance of controlling gastric acidity in peptic ulcer disease.
