Description of Services

The staff of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition includes experts in general clinical pediatric gastroenterology and a broad range of specialty areas, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis
• Eosinophilic disorders
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Ulcer disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diarrhea
• Poor growth
• Feeding disorders
• Intestinal failure (short-bowel)
• Motility disorders
• Constipation
• Liver Clinic
• Liver diseases
• Liver transplantation
• Small bowel transplantation
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis
• Metabolic disorders affecting the liver or intestines

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition provides a full range of diagnostic procedures and treatments related to the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas. Procedures performed include endoscopy of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts; biopsy of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel and liver; polypectomy; sclerotherapy of varices; capsule endoscopy; tests of secretory function of the pancreas; pH probe testing for gastroesophageal reflux; and breath hydrogen testing.

Enterostomal therapy is offered for children with stomas, incontinence, dermal ulcers and other select skin conditions or those needing wound care.

Special Programs
In combination with colleagues in the Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation and the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology offers care in several interdisciplinary programs.

Hepatology Center
The Hepatology Center offers consultative services and comprehensive care for children with a wide range of hepatobiliary disorders. Services provided include inpatient and outpatient consultation; diagnosis using a variety of methods; collaborative consultation and care with the Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation and the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery; care plan coordination; long-term follow-up care; and state-of-the-art clinical research.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center
The IBD Center uses a team approach to provide each patient with the most advanced medical care available and compassionate support for the whole family. The center provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art clinical care to control the symptoms of IBD and to improve the quality of life for children with the disease.

Intestinal Care and Rehabilitation Center
Children’s Hospital’s Intestinal Care and Rehabilitation Center (ICARE) provides expert care for patients with complex intestinal disease. It follows children with poorly functioning intestines and provides expert care for children with complicated nutritional needs including those on parenteral nutrition. The Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery and the transplant team participate in this center. Moreover, Children’s small-bowel transplant program is one of the largest in the country.

Referral Requirements

Referrals are not required from primary care physicians or other Children’s Hospital specialty services. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans may require authorization from the insurance provider and primary care physician. All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before the patient’s visit. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call the office number listed.

Chief of Service
Mark Lowe, MD, PhD

Clinical Director
Robert H. Squires Jr., MD

Our Physicians
Feras T. Alissa, MD
Nadia Ameen, MD
Cheryl Blank, DO
Maria Clavell, MD
Alka Goyal, MD
David Keljo, MD, PhD
Douglas Lindblad, MD
Marcus R. Rivera, MD
Benjamin L. Shneider, MD
Eva Szigethy, MD, PhD
Veena Venkat, MD

Clinical Support Staff
Beverly Bernard, CRNP
Carey O’Brien, MS, RD, LDN
Danielle Sebbens, CRNP
Leslie Coda, CRNP

Clinical Nurses
Allison Betz
Denise Di Pasquale
Amy Smith
Kimberly Steighner

Procedure Nurses
Melissa Pisicottano
Paula Stanley