A doctor who has received education and training in the management of diseases of the digestive system is called a gastroenterologist. The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.

Common conditions that cause problems within the digestive system include colon polyps and cancer, hepatitis, colitis, gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, nutritional problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and pancreatitis. A gastroenterologist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of these and other conditions affecting the normal functioning of the digestive system.

To become a gastroenterologist, a person must first attend college, medical school and complete a three-year Internal Medicine residency. He or she is then eligible for additional specialized training (fellowship) in Gastroenterology. This fellowship is generally two to three years long, so by the time gastroenterologists have completed their training, they have had five to six years of additional specialized education following medical school.

Gastroenterologists also receive training in endoscopy (upper endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy). Endoscopy is the use of narrow, flexible lighted tubes with built-in video cameras, to visualize the inside of the intestinal tract.

The PAMF Digestive Health team offers specialized services using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to diagnose and treat diseases of the digestive system. We have gastroenterologists in four locations. For more information on our doctors, follow the links on the left to their profiles pages.

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