Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

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The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at Riley Hospital for Children includes board certified pediatric gastroenterology specialists and nurse specialists who care for children with disorders of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, intestine), liver and pancreas. We provide comprehensive evaluations, individualized treatment plans and extensive education for families.

Our pediatric gastroenterologists are faculty members of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Along with excellent patient care, our division is engaged in clinical research and offers a highly regarded pediatric gastroenterology fellowship training program.

Why Choose Us?

We help children live normal lives.

Children with digestive disorders may experience a range of unpleasant physical symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain. Chronic problems like constipation or encopresis (soiling) can be socially and emotionally traumatic for both the patient and the family. Liver diseases can be life-threatening. Our team of specialists works aggressively to provide a comprehensive, personalized care plan for each child to improve health and ensure quality of life.

We believe in a team approach that includes the family.

Within our division, physicians and nurses are grouped by teams in order to optimize continuity of care for your child.

Our gastroenterologists work closely with other Riley pediatric specialists, including surgeons, nutritionists and psychologists, as well as our patients' own pediatricians and family physicians to provide comprehensive care for our patients. Your family is an important part of our team approach as well. Family education is a priority, and in addition to the extensive time spent during an appointment, we provide a variety of resources on this website and in printed booklets available in our office. We host family conferences, provide support groups and link you to other existing community resources.

We are experienced.

• Our ten pediatric gastroenterology specialists are fellowship trained, meaning they completed three years of post-graduate training in gastroenterology after having completed three years of post-graduate training in pediatrics.
• The pediatric gastroenterology division was one of the first programs of its kind in the country and was founded in 1969 by Dr. Joseph Fitzgerald, who is considered a pioneer in the field of pediatric gastroenterology.
• Because Riley Hospital is a regional referral hospital, our team performs more than 2000 pediatric endoscopy procedures and cares for more than 70 new pediatric liver patients each year.

We've earned national prominence.

• Our pediatric gastroenterology team ranked 18th in U.S. News and World Report's 2009 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
• Riley Hospital for Children ranked 16th out of nearly 250 children's hospitals in Parent magazine's 2008 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
• Each year our pediatric gastroenterologists are asked to speak at national conferences, give lectures at other medical schools and teaching hospitals, and publish articles on our gastrointestinal and liver disease research.