Pediatric Gastroenterology 

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Children’s Mercy is one of the largest in the U.S. We are nationally recognized for providing excellent care for children with intestinal, liver, esophageal and nutritional disorders. Our experienced gastroenterology (GI) team collaborates across departments and incorporates the latest research to give every child the best possible care experience. 

Comprehensive care from pediatric experts 

Children and teens with GI conditions benefit from our comprehensive, child-centered care. We look at all the possible contributing factors to their disorder to find the best course of treatment.  

For example, our Abdominal Pain Program combines mental and physical health care to address the root causes of chronic abdominal pain. Families meet with both a gastroenterologist and pediatric psychologist from their very first visit. Together, they explore the various factors that interact and contribute to chronic abdominal pain and create a treatment plan designed to improve them. 

The team in our Polyposis Clinic is breaking new ground with research into hereditary childhood polyposis syndromes - conditions where small growths called polyps cause problems in the digestive tract. Using genetic testing and individualized medicine, the team is able to grow replicas of a child's specific polyps in the lab to test and see which medication will work best for that child. 

Meet the team 

We have many GI specialists at work to help care for children with a wide range of conditions. Our care team includes not only pediatric gastroenterologists and advanced practice nurses, but also clinical psychologists, nutrition support nurses, dietitians, social workers and pharmacists. 

Meet the entire team of pediatric GI specialists at Children’s Mercy. 

Caring for the whole child 

Physical, mental, emotional and social aspects can all play a role in abdominal pain, constipation and other common GI concerns. Often there are biological factors (like inflammation, hypersensitivity and gut flora), psychological factors (like mood, anxiety and sleep problems) and social factors (like relationships with family members and peers or problems at school) that contribute to the problem.  

Treating just one area at a time may not be effective, but when we take a combined approach to care, the majority of families report significant improvement in their child’s condition.

Research  

Our commitment to providing the best medical care goes hand-in-hand with our dedication to discovering new and more effective treatment methods through clinical research. Current GI research areas include abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, liver care, polyposis, GI issues in children with autism, and many other areas. We also collaborate with the Genomic Medicine Center to diagnose gastroenterology conditions at the genetic level.