Category Archives: gastroenterology

Doc, can I use this natural supplement?

Posted on June 9, 2011 by

A little while back, I saw a patient in my reflux practice who had recently stopped her PPI and substituted licorice root to help keep her acid reflux symptoms under control. She told me that her symptoms were still under … Continue reading →

Posted in CAM, GERD | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

DDW Day 4

Posted on May 10, 2011 by

Well, it’s the last day of DDW.  I’m already here, so I’m actually creating this blogpost during one of the esophageal motility sessions.  I posted my video blog about yesterday’s sessions here. The one study that I forgot to include … Continue reading →

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DDW Day 3

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

Yesterday was a good day for esophageal research and topics.  I attended a session on GERD pharmacotherapy and GERD diagnosis, and the poster session.  The video blog is (ahem) still uploading…I’ll get that link up here shortly. The very brief … Continue reading →

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DDW Day 2

Posted on May 8, 2011 by

So my first day of live tweeting from DDW went fairly well.  I only attended 2 sessions and presented my poster.  Unfortunately I didn’t get to see any other posters because of the amazing foot traffic at my poster that … Continue reading →

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DDW Day 1

Posted on May 7, 2011 by

Today is the first day of DDW — Digestive Disease Week — in Chicago. This international 4-day conference is the biggest combined gastroenterology/hepatology conference. DDW attracts thousands of gastroenterologists, hepatologists, endoscopists, surgeons, and researchers from across the world. This will … Continue reading →

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A Physician’s View about Medical Necessity

Posted on March 10, 2011 by

“Doc, do I really NEED this medication?” In my practice, I seem to hear this question (or something like it) on a daily basis.  The question is not always about a medication, maybe it’s about a lab test or a … Continue reading →

Posted in GERD, patient care | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Would You Like Some Cyanide in Your Herbal Therapy?

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

Like most allopathic physicians, I have no formal training in herbal medicine.  Nonetheless I tend to think that I have an open mind to non-Western therapies.  I do not discount their effects in various conditions, but they are not the … Continue reading →

Posted in CAM, gastroenterology, patient care | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

But I Have Reflux…

Posted on February 24, 2011 by

When I first started this blog, I promised topics about gastroenterology and esophageal problems.  So let me talk about one today.  I consider this the most fundamental issue I see in my office on a regular basis: the difference between … Continue reading →

Posted in Esophagus, gastroenterology, GERD, Heartburn | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Has Happened to Gastroenterology Training?

Posted on February 16, 2011 by

The state of gastroenterology training and education in the United States today can be summarized in one word: endoscopy. Gone are the days of the cognitive gastroenterologist, discussing the character, smell, texture, and color of a patient’s stool in an … Continue reading →

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Doctor as Teacher: A Life Lesson to Future Doctors

Posted on February 4, 2011 by

I do a lot of teaching.  Truth be told, it is what drew me to stay in academic medicine.  As a subspecialist, I am fortunate enough to have multiple opportunities to lecture, train, and educate in a number of venues.  … Continue reading →

Posted in gastroenterology, IBD, medical education, patient care, ulcerative colitis | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments