The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Tufts Medical Center has a long and distinguished history of maintaining a strong commitment to patient care and the advancement of digestive disease research. Our physicians and nurses use up-to-date technology to provide diagnosis and treatment for patients with all gastrointestinal disorders and liver diseases.
We work together to determine the best treatment plan for each patient and to ensure maintenance of long-term health. We provide nutritional advice and address the emotional issues that often accompany gastrointestinal problems. We take time to explain what each diagnostic and therapeutic step may mean to a patient and the purpose for which they are being recommended.
Our Division has experts in both intestinal and liver diseases that vary from the more easily managed to the extremely complex. Our experts in liver disease manage all forms of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and liver tumors. At each step we work daily with our colleagues within Tufts Medical Center including surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, nutritionists and the Frances Stern Nutrition Center specialists. Several of the faculty have research programs aimed at advancing the effectiveness of therapy for patients suffering from these conditions.
We also have developed a world renowned strength in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. We are currently conducting cutting edge research to uncover the fundamental mechanisms that drive these diseases and are collaborating with the Division of Colorectal Surgery to create new therapeutic modalities for these conditions.
Additionally, we work with Tufts Medical Center physicians who specialize in infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract including complications of HIV, infections of travelers and foodborne infections that commonly occur in the general population. We also work closely with the clinical genetics experts who aid patients with inherited digestive disorders by providing counseling and screening of family members.
We also provide a wide range of diagnostic and endoscopic services, including:
Esophageal and Upper GI
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Esophageal motility studies and 24-hour pH monitoring
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Endoscopic treatment of Barrett’s esophagus
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Endoscopic treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum
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Barrett’s esophagus diagnosis and endoscopic treatment
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Achalasia diagnosis and endoscopic treatment
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Diagnosis and follow-up of gastric intestinal metaplasia
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Endoscopic management of difficult esophageal strictures, duodenal stricture and small bowel strictures
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Staging and diagnosis of esophageal cancer via endoscopic ultrasound
Biliary/Pancreatic/Small Intestine
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Transduodenal bile duct and pancreatic duct cannulation with removal of retained common bile duct stones
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Endoscopic ultrasound
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Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction diagnosis and treatment
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Endoscopic treatment of duodenal tumors including tumors of the papilla of Vater
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Endoscopic management of acute and chronic pancreatitis
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Enteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases
Liver
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Management of chronic liver disease such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones and rare causes of liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Colon and Other
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Stent placement in GI malignancies including bile duct, pancreas, esophagus, duodenum and colon
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Endoscopic removal of large colonic polyps, flat polyps and sessile serrated adenomas
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Malabsorption disorders, nutritional disorders, weight loss, intestinal and liver disease, parasitic infections and chronic secretory diarrhea
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Evaluation of patients with unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms/illnesses that are difficult to diagnose and treat
History
Our Division was established in the 1960s under the direction of Dr. James Patterson. In 1972, Dr. Marshall Kaplan succeeded Dr. Patterson and helped the Division to become widely known for its management of primary biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis. Dr. Kaplan also served as an Associate Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the most respected journals in the field of medicine.
In 1984, the Division became one of the first awardees of an NIH Silvio O. Conte Digestive Disease Research Center grant. The Cetner became known as the GRASP Center, which serves as a link among digestive diseases researchers throughout Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Tufts Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Dr. Joel Weinstock became Chief of the Division in 2006. Since his appointment, Dr. Weinstock has brought novel approaches to the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and a strong basic research interest to the Division.