Pediatric Gastroenterology

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is an integral part of the Department of Pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and emphasizes outstanding clinical care, cutting-edge research, and training of future academic leaders in the field of pediatric gastroenterology.

Our multidisciplinary program brings multiple specialists together to provide consultation, diagnosis and medical management of children with gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and nutritional disorders. Our GI specialists are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hepatobiliary diseases of children such as biliary atresia and chronic hepatitis, liver transplantation, intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation, diarrheal diseases, gastrointestinal motility disorders, nutrition support, gastroesophageal reflux, and celiac disease. Our GI specialists are skilled in the most current and state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for children.

We are consistently ranked in the top fifteen nationally of pediatric gastroenterology programs by the US News and World Report. Each year there are more than 6,000 patient visits to the various subspecialty ambulatory clinics at UCLA Westwood. These subspecialty clinics include: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Liver Transplantation Clinic, Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Clinic, Nutrition Support Clinic, Center for Pediatric Diarrheal Diseases, Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Clinic, and Gastrointestinal Motility Center. There are over 700 admissions per year to the GI Inpatient Service and over 1,500 GI procedures are performed annually.

In 2012 a community-based clinic was established in Santa Monica, CA to serve patients on the Westside of Los Angeles. The Mattel Children's UCLA Pediatric Specialists office provides patients with access to the same expert physicians at our nationally renowned main campus. Medical and surgical services and ancillary testing are provided at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, which is conveniently located a few blocks from the clinic.

Our Pediatric Liver Transplant Program offers consultation, evaluation and treatment for children in liver failure who may require transplantation. The program which is the largest transplant program in the Western United States, was established conjointly with the adult program in 1984. A cohesive multi-disciplinary team approach is utilized by our pediatric gastroenterologists and liver transplant surgeons, with consultation from a full range of pediatric sub-specialties for pre and post-transplant conditions. To date, over 950 pediatric transplants have been performed, making the program one of the largest, most experienced of its kind in the world. The Pediatric Liver Transplant Program is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader within the field with excellent one-year patient survival rates.

A vital activity of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition is laboratory, translational and clinical research. The Division has active research programs in numerous clinical and basic research areas. The Division also has several NIH funded research projects in areas such as intestinal stem cell development, intestinal failure in children, outcomes after liver transplantation, and H. pylori signaling systems and pathogenesis. Active clinical investigation is ongoing in several areas including: inflammatory bowel disease/Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, diarrheal disorders, genetics of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, immunosuppression in pediatric liver transplantation. The Division's Pediatric IBD Center is currently conducting clinical trials of new medications for treatment of IBD.

Because of the highly specialized nature of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, patients must be referred by a primary care physician or treating physician for any initial consultation appointment.

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is an integral part of the Department of Pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and emphasizes outstanding clinical care, cutting-edge research, and training of future academic leaders in the field of pediatric gastroenterology.

Our multidisciplinary program brings multiple specialists together to provide consultation, diagnosis and medical management of children with gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and nutritional disorders. Our GI specialists are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hepatobiliary diseases of children such as biliary atresia and chronic hepatitis, liver transplantation, intestinal rehabilitation and transplantation, diarrheal diseases, gastrointestinal motility disorders, nutrition support, gastroesophageal reflux, and celiac disease. Our GI specialists are skilled in the most current and state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for children.

We are consistently ranked in the top fifteen nationally of pediatric gastroenterology programs by the US News and World Report. Each year there are more than 6,000 patient visits to the various subspecialty ambulatory clinics at UCLA Westwood. These subspecialty clinics include: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Liver Transplantation Clinic, Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Clinic, Nutrition Support Clinic, Center for Pediatric Diarrheal Diseases, Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Clinic, and Gastrointestinal Motility Center. There are over 700 admissions per year to the GI Inpatient Service and over 1,500 GI procedures are performed annually.

In 2012 a community-based clinic was established in Santa Monica, CA to serve patients on the Westside of Los Angeles. The Mattel Children's UCLA Pediatric Specialists office provides patients with access to the same expert physicians at our nationally renowned main campus. Medical and surgical services and ancillary testing are provided at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, which is conveniently located a few blocks from the clinic.

Our Pediatric Liver Transplant Program offers consultation, evaluation and treatment for children in liver failure who may require transplantation. The program which is the largest transplant program in the Western United States, was established conjointly with the adult program in 1984. A cohesive multi-disciplinary team approach is utilized by our pediatric gastroenterologists and liver transplant surgeons, with consultation from a full range of pediatric sub-specialties for pre and post-transplant conditions. To date, over 950 pediatric transplants have been performed, making the program one of the largest, most experienced of its kind in the world. The Pediatric Liver Transplant Program is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader within the field with excellent one-year patient survival rates.

A vital activity of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition is laboratory, translational and clinical research. The Division has active research programs in numerous clinical and basic research areas. The Division also has several NIH funded research projects in areas such as intestinal stem cell development, intestinal failure in children, outcomes after liver transplantation, and H. pylori signaling systems and pathogenesis. Active clinical investigation is ongoing in several areas including: inflammatory bowel disease/Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, diarrheal disorders, genetics of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, immunosuppression in pediatric liver transplantation. The Division's Pediatric IBD Center is currently conducting clinical trials of new medications for treatment of IBD.

Because of the highly specialized nature of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, patients must be referred by a primary care physician or treating physician for any initial consultation appointment.