What is a Gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system (esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, liver, pancreas and gallbladder). A complete gastrointestinal evaluation usually includes specialized studies in addition to an interview and physical exam. Endoscopy (the use of a flexible lighted instrument to inspect the lining of the digestive tract) may be indicated along with x-rays and blood tests. If your family physician or internist referred you to our office, a summary of our findings and recommendations will be sent to him or her after our evaluation.
A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in disorders and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Most gastroenterologists are board-certified in this subspecialty. After completing the same training as all other physicians, they first complete at least two years of additional training in order to attain board certification in internal medicine, then gastroenterologists study for an additional 2-3 years to train specifically in conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
