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What is a gastroenterologist?
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A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in diseases that impact the gastrointestinal tract, which may also be referred to as the digestive system. Some of the organs and body parts gastroenterologists treat include the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, which is also called the colon. Components of the biliary system such as the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile duct also may be treated by a gastroenterologist.
Gastroenterologists deal with motility, which is the way food moves through the digestive tract, and digestion, which is the breakdown of food by chemicals. These processes involve the ways food is absorbed and waste is removed.
Some of the disorders treated by gastroenterologists include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease & ulcerative colitis (forms of IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hepatitis B & hepatitis C, fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Esophagitis, pancreatitis, celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, diverticulitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernias, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) also are treated by a gastroenterologist. These specialists can perform fecal transplantation or liver transplantation and deal with microbiota in the gut or, in serious cases, hepatocellular carcinoma.
These patients may be treated in an office or in a hospital. Individuals with symptoms including abdominal pain, bleeding from the digestive tract, constipation or diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, unexplained weight loss or upset stomach — including nausea and vomiting — should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist.
Extensive education is required to become a gastroenterologist. After completing undergraduate work, these specialists are required to attend a 4-year medical school, where they are awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. From there, a 3-year residency is required, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship that can last 2 or 3 years. The fellowship is instructive to the gastroenterology candidate with regard to the aforementioned conditions, diseases and symptoms. The nature and quality of fellowships are overseen by organizations including the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Once a fellowship is completed, these candidates may take an examination offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Successful completion of the gastroenterology certification exam makes the candidate Board Certified in the specialty. A gastroenterologist may also be certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.
Special recognition for outstanding service can make a certified physician become a fellow within the organization. This allows the gastroenterologist to hold the title of Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) or Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG).
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/gastroenterology-hepatology/minnesota/overview
http://www.healthcommunities.com/general-gi-symptoms/what-is-a-gastroenterologist.shtml