The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, biliary tree and pancreas in children. We perform an extensive range of related procedures, consult on nutrition, gastrointestinal and liver problems, and provide care for children before and after liver transplants.
Established in 1977, the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology (GI) at UNC in Chapel Hill was the first of its kind in North Carolina. It continues to be a leading authority in pediatric GI on a state and national level. We provide care to children all across North Carolina as well as neighboring states. We also provide consultations to children from many other states as well as across the globe.
We treat patients with a variety of common and uncommon problems. These include, but aren't limited to, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, failure to thrive, irritable bowel syndrome, H. pylori infection, hepatitis, jaundice in newborns, biliary atresia, short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), and celiac disease. We manage complex nutritional problems and care for children on home TPN (total parenteral nutrition, where nutrients are delivered intravenously) and tube feedings. We also are a vital part of the UNC Pediatric Liver Transplantation team and participate in the pre- and post-liver transplantation care and long-term follow-up.
Outpatient consultations are provided in clinics held at North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill and in AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) clinics in Wilmington, NC. Our inpatient pediatric GI service treats many patients who are hospitalized at the NC Children's Hospital, and we provide consultation services to all the specialties. Our core GI team consists of physicians, nurses, dietitians, and social workers. We work closely with all our pediatric medical and surgical specialists and the many other specialists available, including psychologists and psychiatrists, speech pathologists, occupational, physical, and play therapists. We work in close collaboration with Pediatric Surgery to provide excellent long-term care of children with complex intestinal problems.
Our goal is to continue our state-of-the-art treatment of patients while looking to the future to advance our discipline. Patient care is our number one priority, and we strive to offer the best medical care and find long term solutions for our patients and their families.
