Gastroenterologists

Gastroenterologists

Gastroenterology is the medical field dedicated to the study of the digestive system and its associated disorders. The term is derived from three Ancient Greek words: gaster (gen.: gastros) meaning stomach, enteron meaning intestine, and logos meaning reason. In the United States, Gastroenterology is recognized as an Internal Medicine Subspecialty certified by the ABIM (www.abim.org).

Gastroenterologists focus on diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which spans from the mouth to the anus along the alimentary canal.

These physicians, known as gastroenterologists, typically undergo extensive training, including eight years of pre-medical and medical education, a yearlong internship (if not part of residency), three years of internal medicine residency, and two to three years in a gastroenterology fellowship.

Some gastroenterology trainees pursue additional training in areas such as Transplant Hepatology, Advanced Endoscopy, IBD, motility, or other specialized topics.

Their expertise lies in managing chronic or acute conditions of the digestive tract, covering areas like the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and colon. Additionally, many gastroenterologists also specialize in hepatology, which involves treating liver diseases and disorders.

It's important to note that Gastroenterology differs from colorectal or hepatobiliary surgery, which are specialized branches of general surgery.

Hepatology, or hepatobiliary medicine, focuses on the study of the liver, pancreas, and biliary tree, and is commonly considered a sub-specialty within gastroenterology.

Most gastroenterologists either own or are partners in their own practices, although some may be employed by hospitals or groups. Like many physicians, higher patient volumes and performing more procedures generally lead to higher earnings.