Gastroenterology is the study and treatment of problems of the digestive tract, which includes the system from the mouth to the anus. Stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis (a condition in which ulcers form on the internal lining of the colon), hemorrhoids and chronic heartburn are some of the problems typically treated by gastroenterologists.
Accurate diagnosis of digestive tract problems is greatly enhanced by the use of endoscopy, a technique in which a plastic tube equipped with a light and video camera are inserted through the mouth or anus, enabling an internal video examination and providing doctors with the visual information they need for an accurate diagnosis. Problems of the digestive tract are treatable by medication, changes in lifestyle and diet, and surgery.
The gastroenterologists affiliated with Roger Williams Medical Center provide a comprehensive range of preventive, diagnostic and surgical and non-surgical treatment.
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Gastroenterology at Roger Williams Medical Center
The Gastroenterology Service of University Medical Group is exclusively affiliated with Roger Williams Medical Center. The department is defined by a patient-first approach, teamwork and an eagerness to embrace the latest technology.
Endoscopy allows doctors to take a closer look into the patient's GI tract. Endoscopy is a part of the movement towards non-invasive therapies and offers many patients an alternative to surgery. The team at Roger Williams is composed of a talented group of physicians, nurses, technologists, and support staff who study, treat, and educate others about various disorders of the stomach, small intestines, colon, liver, pancreas, and other organs.
In nearly two decades under the direction of Alan Epstein, MD, the team at Roger Williams has been at the forefront of exciting changes in the field. Dr. Epstein is joined by three other full-time physicians on staff -- Dr. Amer Malik, Dr. Nabil Toubia, and Dr. Michael Nissensohn. Patients benefit from the collaboration among four doctors in an ambulatory hospital unit where quality, successful outcomes and safe treatment are the highest priority. In the hospital setting, our gastroenterologists can readily collaborate with their peers in Interventional Radiology, our medical and surgical services like laparoscopic surgical division, and directly consult with GI pathologists.
Patients visit for a wide range of services, ranging from colon cancer screenings to diagnostic procedures on their pancreas to revolutionary treatments that will assist surgical oncologists. About three-fourths of those visits will be on an outpatient basis.
Our staff is trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and can also work with patients in French and Arabic.
