Gastroenterology

The Division of Gastroenterology (GI), Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Viera provides clinical services to children with symptoms of digestive problems and diseases. The division is composed of pediatric Gastroenterologists, Nurse practitioners, Nurses, Medical Assistants and Registered Dietitians. All of the physicians are board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. Problems frequently seen include abdominal pain; inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis; chronic liver disorders; malabsorptive disorders; and feeding disorders. Comprehensive outpatient services are available for evaluation, diagnosis, and management of routine and complex gastroenterologic disorders. These services are enhanced by an integrated, cooperative program including, Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians, and Licensed Clinical Social Work.

Emphasis is placed on the care of children requiring special nutritional support such as enteral and parenteral hyperalimentation. The division has considerable experience in the preoperative and postoperative care of children with liver, small bowel and multi-organ transplants. The physicians in the division participate in several multi-center and national research protocols. A full range of pediatric investigations is performed including diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower endoscopy, esophageal and small bowel manometry, ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, hydrogen breath testing, esophageal impedance and capsule endoscopy. The department offers several specialty clinics. Twice per month there is a clinic specialized for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients. This clinic allows multidisciplinary care of our IBD patients with the support from the Licensed Clinical Social Workers, the Registered Dietitian, Nurse Practitioner and the Physicians working together in a patient centered environment. Once per year the department holds an IBD Education Day, which spotlights treatment and diagnosis and is geared towards the pediatric patient and the entire family. A nationally know speaker is invited each year.

Once every three months we have a Hepatology Clinic staffed by a pediatric hepatologist from the University of Florida. Patients with complex liver diseases can now be seen locally instead of traveling to Gainesville. This clinic allows close interaction and coordinated care from the hepatologist and our gastroenterology doctors.

The division is also very active in teaching young physicians both the science and art of patient care.