Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Four specialists in pediatric gastroenterology make Brenner Children’s Hospital the resource for children’s digestive and liver disorders. Children from birth to age 21 are treated at many of our outpatient clinics located throughout the region. The center’s pediatric gastroenterology specialists treat a variety of conditions, including esophageal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis, and disorders of the stomach and intestines including peptic ulcers, abdominal pain syndromes, irritable bowel syndrome, and vomiting syndromes. They also care for many children with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and see children with disorders of the liver and pancreas. In addition they offer a wide range of diagnostic and care including removal of intestinal polyps, control of intestinal bleeding conditions and endoscopic placement of feeding tubes.
Dr. Ivor Hill, head of the pediatric gastroenterology section at the children’s hospital, has expertise in the care of children with chronic diarrhea and malabsorption syndromes and offers a comprehensive evaluation and treatment program for children with celiac disease. Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Rick Caicedo has an interest and expertise in the evaluation and management of children with liver diseases and nutrition disorders including failure to thrive. Dr. Michael Glock, a pediatric gastroenterologist, has a particular interest in helping children who have constipation and difficulties with defecation.
The children’s hospital also offers the region’s only center for the evaluation and management of children with disorders of intestinal motility. Dr. John Fortunato, the fourth member of the pediatric gastroenterology team, has specialized training and expertise in such disorders and heads this unique service. In addition to caring for children with common gastrointestinal disorders and nutrition related problems, he helps children with swallowing disorders and other intestinal motility related abnormalities by tailoring treatment to their individual needs. Currently, there is no similar regional referral center in the Southeast offering specialized services to pediatric gastroenterology patients with intestinal motility-related problems.
“We work with family practitioners and parents to determine the best treatment for the child,” said Dr. Hill. “In addition, we are strongly committed to seeing all new patient referrals in a timely fashion and our goal is to see all such cases within a week of the referral.”
For more information about the pediatric gastroenterology program at Brenner Children’s Hospital, please do not hesitate to contact us.