Pediatric Gastroenterology (GI)

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Pediatric Gastroenterology (GI)

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

We’re personalizing pediatric GI care

With 19 disease-specific programs, Children's Health℠ delivers world-class gastroenterology care and surgery to more than 24,000 patients in Dallas and Plano, Texas every year. As one of the nation's busiest GI specialties, we treat a diverse population with a range of complex conditions, from biliary atresia to gastroschisis to IBD.

We also offer the latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including single-balloon enteroscopy, biofeedback, EUS and ERCP, and we're home to the region's only multidisciplinary EoE and pediatric medical celiac program.

Dallas

214-456-8000
Fax: 214-456-1206
Suite F4500

Plano

469-303-2400
Fax: 469-303-2407
Suite P4400

Park Cities

469-488-7000
Fax: 469-488-7001
Suite 106

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Highlights

Baby smiling with physician

Improving Outcomes with Pediatric Therapeutic Endoscopy

The Pediatric Therapeutic Endoscopy Program at Children’s Health℠ is a nationally recognized program leading the way in minimally invasive treatments and diagnostics through advanced and therapeutic endoscopy. Our program performs specialized, cutting-edge endoscopic procedures, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and cholangioscopy for the treatment of biliary and pancreatic disease in children of all ages.

Listen to the Children’s Health Podcast to learn more. 

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Our Programs

  • Intestinal Immunology
  • Pediatric Polyposis Program

Conferences and Events

Many of our conferences and events offer continuing education credits.

NASPGHAN 2023 Annual Meeting (October 4-7) presenter schedule:

 

Wednesday, October 4

  • Single-topic symposium: Polyps Matter
  • Juvenile Polyposis of Infancy | 11 a.m. – Claudia Phen, M.D., presenter
  • A Tale of Two Syndromes: JPS/HHT | 2:20 p.m. – Claudia Phen, M.D., presenter
  • Endoscopic & Clinical Management Dilemmas | 11:45 a.m. – Claudia Phen, M.D., moderator
  • Single-topic symposium: Polyps Matter
  • Capsule endoscopy and imaging: Visualizing matters | 4:10 p.m. – Isabel Rojas, M.D., presenter

Thursday, October 5

  • Post-graduate course, Module 3: Neuromodulation in FGIDS | 11:20 a.m. – Rinarani Sanghavi. M.D., presenter
  • Post-graduate course, Module 4: New tools for childhood obesity | 1:40 p.m. – Sarah Barlow, M.D., presenter
  • Poster: Clinical Outcomes and Microbiome Biomarkers Predicting Success with Fiber Food Introduction in Short Bowel Syndrome | 5-7 p.m. – Wenjing Zong, M.D.
  • Poster: Is Anorectal Biofeedback an Effective Treatment Option for Bowel Elimination Disorders in a Pediatric Gastroenterology Practice? | 5-7 p.m. – Alejandro Llanos-Chea, M.D.
  • Poster: Familial Polyposis Syndrome and Achalasia: A Case Report | 5-7 p.m. – Alejandro Llanos-Chea, M.D.
  • Poster: Office-Based Unsedated Transnasal Esophagastroduodenoscopy Using Single-Use Gastroscopes: A Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Single Center Experience | 5-7 p.m. – Jessina Thomas, M.D.
  • Poster: An Obstructive Jaundice Presentation of Rhabdomyosarcoma | 5-7 p.m. – Charina Ramirez, M.D.

Friday, October 6

  • Women in Medicine (Meet the Professor Breakfast) | 7-8 a.m. – Rinarani Sanghavi, M.D., moderator
  • Endoscopy: Controversies and Conundrums | 10:30 a.m. – Isabel Rojas, M.D., moderator
  • Nutrition Potluck | 11:32 a.m. – Wenjing Zong, M.D.
  • Poster: Current Practice Patterns in Pediatric Gastroenterology for Children with Hereditary Polyposis Syndromes | 12-2 p.m. – Claudia Phen, M.D.
  • Sesión y Recepción de LASPGHAN | 6-8 p.m. – Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, M.D., moderadero
  • NASPGHAN Foundation Reckitt-Mead Johnson Nutrition Research Young Investigator Development Award recipient: Wenjing Zong, M.D.

Saturday, October 7

  • Zumba | 7-8 a.m. – Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, M.D.
  • Hands on Endoscopy Teaching | 12 p.m. – Isabel Rojas, M.D.
  • Poster: Battery in the stomach: is that concerning? | 12-2 p.m. – Isabel Rojas, M.D.
  • Poster: The Use of Dupilumab in Eosinophilic Esophagitis Patients: A Single Center Experience | 12-2 p.m. – Jessina Thomas, M.D.

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Making life better for children starts with training

Fellowship and Residency Training

Children’s Health℠ partners with UT Southwestern to offer a wide variety of options for pediatric fellowship and residency training from gastroenterology and cardiology to anesthesia and emergency medicine. Our educational opportunities prepare health care professionals to achieve the best medical and quality of life outcomes for children.

Learn more

Latest News

Rinarani Sanghavi, M.D., Featured in Dallas Morning News

Insights from Rinarani Sanghavi, M.D., on how the mind affects the rest of the body and recommendations for students and young athletes experiencing high levels of anxiety, especially in light of COVID-19. 

Bradley Barth, M.D., Featured on CBS Dallas-Fort Worth

The rate of young children swallowing foreign objects has almost doubled in the last two decades. In 2018, nearly 700 children were treated at Children's Health for nonsurgical removal of objects like coins and batteries. Bradley Barth, M.D., Division Director of Pediatric GI at Children's Health, spoke with CBS DFW about why these numbers are growing and what parents need to do if their child swallows an object.

From Patient to Practitioner: Jody's Liver Transplant Story

Jody Mackling’s experiences at Children's Health not only saved her life, but also helped shape her future by revealing exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up: a nurse at Children's Medical Center Dallas who helps liver transplant patients.

As a child, Jody had primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) that led to a liver transplant in 1986.

"My experience in the hospital was amazing, and I had such a circle of caring people around me," Jody says. "I had a curious mind and found everything the nurses and doctors did so fascinating that I wanted to mimic them. When I went back home, I would bring out my home health supplies to play with like I would any other toy."

Over the years, Jody worked diligently to reach her goal, eventually returning to Children's Health for her first job after graduating from nursing school. She began working on the same floor that she had been a patient on just a decade earlier.

A few years later, Jody became a pediatric nurse practitioner and was able to reunite with the doctor that had made such an impact in her life early on – John Anderson, M.D.

"Dr. Andersen approached me about starting the inpatient nurse practitioner service on the GI floor to care for patients before and after they've received a liver transplant," Jody says. "I've known him since I was 8 years old and consider him one of my mentors, so it has been an honor to work with him again."

Jody's health journey often gives her a unique connection with her patients and their families, perhaps giving families a glimpse of what their child's future could look like.

"I am always willing to share my story with other families when asked," she says. "I think it helps give them a sense of hope that their child can live a healthy, fulfilling life – just like I am."

Work Life Balance / GI Team Gets Moving at Children’s Health

This summer, more than 50 GI team members participated in a half-day event, which consisted of an international potluck, workshops on work/life integration and preventing burnout, Zumba and team building.

With approximately 80 team members and three new Fellows, the GI Division has experienced many changes throughout 2019. Krys Guice, Practice Administrator, Ambulatory Services, and Norberto Rodriquez-Baez, M.D., Hepatology, organized the event to reaffirm that each team member plays a critical role in the department.

During the event, team members were informed about Children's Health and UT Southwestern wellness programs. The day ended with a 10-minute meditation and a Zumba exercise led by Dr. Rodriquez-Baez.

"The goal was to spread a message of unity across our team," Krys says. "It's important that our team members see one another not only in a professional sense, but also having fun and being human."

Meet the Care Team