Centers of Excellence
The Liver Service is staffed by five hepatologists and two advanced practice nurses striving to meet the needs of those with significant liver disease. Referral and consultative care is provided through daily outpatient clinics. Patients are seen for problems relating to the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of hepatobiliary diseases.
The inpatient service cares for patients at Vanderbilt University Hospital and the Nashville Veteran's Hospital and is staffed by an attending hepatologist, a GI fellow, resident physicians, and nurse coordinators. Collegial interaction among staff members from the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Radiology, and Pathology facilitates delivery of state-of-the-art multidisciplinary care required by many patients with liver disease.
A significant component of the Liver Service is its primary role in the Vanderbilt Liver Transplant Program. Through this active and growing program, eighty to ninety patients with end-stage liver disease are treated each year by liver transplantation, with excellent results.
Appointments for hepatology consultation may be scheduled by calling (615) 322-0128. Referrals for consideration of liver transplantation should be directed to (615) 936-5321.
Vanderbilt Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic
The Vanderbilt IBD Clinic is a highly specialized center that focuses exclusively on treating patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, nurses, psychologists and nutritionists in the IBD center apply a multidisciplinary approach to the management of IBD. Because of the chronic nature of these diseases, our mission is to assist patients with their on-going physical, nutritional, educational, and psychosocial needs. Together the IBD center team will provide individualized comprehensive assessment and treatment plan utilizing the latest diagnostic, procedures and treatment options available. We also work with pediatric gastroenterologists at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital to foster smooth transition to care by an adult IBD specialist.
The Vanderbilt IBD center is a member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) clinical research alliance, a group of 70 medical centers testing new drug therapies for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.Appointments for patient consultations may be scheduled by calling (615) 322-0128
Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders
"The Vanderbilt Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders is among the most sophisticated centers in the country. The center focuses on multidisciplinary approach to patient care which includes gastroenterologists, radiologists, pulmonary and ENT physicians, voice specialists, speech therapists, general and thoracic surgeons.
Patients are evaluated for symptoms relating to heartburn, regurgitation, asthma, chronic cough, voice disorders and throat symptoms felt to be due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as well as symptoms of difficulty to swallow. The incidence of GERD has increased over the past two decades resulting in increase in the incidence of Barrett's esophagus predisposing patients to risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The experts at the Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders evaluate patients to identify those at higher risk for Barrett's esophagus and treat those who have the disease. In those with esophageal cancer, multidisciplinary approach of the team allow for improved care for this group of patients by prompt disease recognition and treatment.
The Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders has the state of the art technology in assessing patients' symptoms in order to provide the appropriate therapies. These include: Bravo pH monitoring, impedance/pH monitoring, hypopharyngeal wireless and conventional pH monitoring, Bilitec bile monitoring as well as high resolution manometry. The center is currently conducting multiple studies in the area of extraesophageal reflux disease as well as studies assessing clinical utility of diagnostic testing in esophageal diseases.
Appointments for patient consultations may be scheduled by calling 615-322-0128.