Since 2001, the division has grown to the current six-member division, offering a range of clinical care, research and educational activities for undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees are involved in both outpatient and inpatient clinical care during their rotations in pediatric gastroenterology. Exposure to specialized procedures including gastrointestinal endoscopy and breath hydrogen testing also occurs during their rotation. 

Our research projects cover clinical, health services and translational research with collaborators both locally at the University of Ottawa as well as throughout Canada and around the world.
 

To learn more about members of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition team— including their biography, area(s) of practice, research interests and other affiliations — visit CHEO’s Find Your Doctor Directory or visit the CHEO Research Institute's site to Find A Researcher. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees are able to participate in in-depth learning by attending outpatient clinics. The clinics within the Division give medical trainees exposure to general gastrointestinal conditions as well as focused areas of clinical care.  

Clinical problems and diseases evaluated and followed

• Luminal mucosal disease manifested as malabsorption, inflammation or dysfunction
• Conditions affecting the upper GI tract, small intestinal tract and colon
• Conditions affecting the liver
• Conditions affecting the pancreas

Inpatient care

Inpatient Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is a consulting service and also provides direct inpatient care working with residents and medical students assigned to individual units.

Outpatient care

There are 5,000 patient out-patient  visits per year . In addition to children with Celiac disease, pancreatic disorders and short bowel disease there are specific areas of focus including:

• CHEO Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre
• Liver and Post-liver transplant clinic
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease clinic
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis clinic
• Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula clinic (combined with Respirology and General Surgery)
• Cystic Fibrosis clinic (combined with Respirology)

Laboratory and diagnostic programs

• Diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy and colonoscopy - flexible endoscopies are performed by the division on all ages from premature infants to adolescents. 
• Breath hydrogen testing - outpatient testing using this technique is performed for dietary carbohydrate malabsorption, aged five years and older
• Capsule endoscopy - to visualize small intestinal lesions associated with tumors or bleeding. This type of endoscopic evaluation is performed on an outpatient basis. 
• Fibroscan-non-invasive method to assess hepatic fibrosis and fat content
   

Undergraduate training

Medical undergraduate trainees spend a focused two-week rotation in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Given the diversity of clinics available in this division, along with the exposure to procedures during this rotation, the trainee receives a comprehensive overview of this subspecialty.  

Postgraduate training

There is not a pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition fellowship program.

Additional postgraduate training

Our postgraduate focus is with training the pediatric residents and ensuring a solid foundation of knowledge in this subspecialty area. In addition, local and national CME presentations are undertaken.

Medical students and pediatric residents have the opportunity to work with members of the Division on a range of research projects. Current studies include investigator-initiated and collaborative research endeavors with researchers from basic science departments at the University of Ottawa as well as national and international colleagues.

For latest information on research and discoveries coming from our team, visit the CHEO Research Institute website.