Gastroenterology

Established in 1959, the Division of Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center is one of the oldest in the country and houses one of the largest training programs in clinical gastroenterology. Our board-certified physicians deliver the highest quality care with respect to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for all diseases of the gastrointestinal system and liver, ranging from common to rare disorders – and they do it with the utmost sensitivity and kindness, knowing that each patient’s condition is unique.

Patients of all ages come to us for our expertise in vascular disorders, ischemic and inflammatory bowel diseases, colitis, colon cancer, gastro-esophageal reflux, and diseases of the pancreas, liver, and bile ducts. We also work closely with the Division of Pediatrics to care for children with complex G.I. and biliary tract diseases.

State-of-the-Art Technology and Care

Each year our distinguished gastroenterologists perform approximately 14,000 procedures, employing the most advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy technology. Some of the more common procedures include: colonoscopy and removal of polyps, upper endoscopy, ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, esophageal and rectal manometry, liver biopsy, capsule endoscopy, and endoscopic reflux therapy,.

In order to alleviate any anxiety, patients are first seen by a member of the G.I. division who thoroughly investigates the problem and outlines a treatment plan for each individual. Should an endoscopy be required, patients will be directed to one of two locations, depending on the complexity of the case. Some patients may have their procedure at the endoscopy unit at Montefiore Medical Center, while others might go to our nearby state-of-the-art, newly constructed ambulatory endoscopy center.

Expertise and Clinical Services

Most of the physicians on staff have spent their entire careers at this hospital, which translates to a greater wealth of experience and a broader spectrum of specialties for patients compared to most other facilities. Although we treat hundreds of types of gastroenterology disorders and diseases each year, some of the more familiar ones we specialize in include the following:

C. Difficile
Celiac Sprue (celiac disease)
Cirrhosis
Colon and rectal cancer (Montefiore Medical Center is an integral part of the New York Metropolitan Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry to promote prevention, education, timely treatment, and research.)
Crohn’s disease
Diarrhea and constipation
Fissure and fistula
Gallstones
Gastroparesis
GERD
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis C
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Ischemic colitis
Pancreatic cancers
Pancreatic cysts
Pancreatitis
Peptic ulcer disease with bleeding

A Commitment to Research

The Division of Gastroenterology dedicates a significant amount of time and resources toward the study and development of new treatments and therapies. Typically we have more than 25 research endeavors simultaneously in progress, both multiple and varied clinical trials and independent projects. Some of our current areas of concentration include:

C. Difficile colitis – identifying patients who are prone to it or experience recurrent episodes
Cystic lesions in the pancreas and better means of diagnosing them
Diarrhea
Endoscopy and the psychological effects/tolerance among women who have been sexually abused
Gastric pacing (placing a pacemaker onto the outside wall of the stomach)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Ischemic colitis
Reflux disease
The removal of barriers to treatments such as language and access to healthcare to improve patients’ understanding of their diseases

We also have one of the finest fellowship programs in gastroenterology in the nation at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center. Academic life is actively integrated into the Medical Center to maximize the learning experience and research options, as well as to groom the gastroenterologists of tomorrow. Our fellows will not only tell you that they learn a tremendous amount about the field here, but that they also have fun doing it! To read more about our fellowship opportunities and training program, click here.