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Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
About Us
The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition at Weill Cornell Medicine provides specialized, multi-disciplinary care for children and adolescents. Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian's top-ranked Komansky Children's Hospital and Center for Advanced Digestive Care, our practice provides complete and therapeutic services to children with esophageal, gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic, and nutritional disorders, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Biliary tract disease
- Celiac disease
- Childhood obesity
- Crohn's disease
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
- Failure to thrive
- Food allergy
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Intestinal allergies
- Jaundice
- Malabsorption
- Motility disorders
- Pancreatic disorders
- Polyps
- Ulcerative colitis
- Viral hepatitis
- Vomiting
Other areas of expertise include:
- Bravo and pH Probe placement
- Capsule endoscopy
- Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy
- Fecal microbiota transplant
- Gastrostomy tube placement
- Hydrogen and methane breath testing for bacterial overgrowth and lactose intolerance
- Impedance/pH testing
- Polypectomy
- Pouchoscopy
What Sets Us Apart
- We are affiliated with the Phyllis and David Komansky Children's Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the #1 ranked children's hospital in New York City on the 2018-2019 US News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals survey.
- Our pediatric sub-specialists are part of the Center for Advanced Digestive Care (CADC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, one of the nation's leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood diseases.
Office Information and Patient Forms
Diagnosis and Treatment
Upper and Lower Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a procedure that allows a Gastroenterologist to look at the inside of the gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope. An endoscopy is performed to discover reasons for problems including swallowing difficulties, bleeding, indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, reflux, chest pain or diarrhea.
- Tip Sheet: Upper and Lower Endoscopy (PDF)
Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy is used to look at the inside lining of the small intestine. Conventional upper endoscopy will only visualize the beginning of the small intestine, and colonoscopy will only visualize the end of small intestine. Capsule endoscopy is a way of bridging that gap to see the entire intestine.
- Tip Sheet: Capsule Endoscopy (PDF)
pH Probe Study
A pH probe study is designed to assess acid reflux in your child. Sometimes this study can be performed "with impedance," which means that it will also detect non-acid reflux.
- Tip Sheet: Testing for pH/Impedance (PDF)
Research
Crohn's Disease Growth Study
Dr. Neera Gupta, MD, MAS is leading a research study about the effects of Crohn's disease on the growth of pediatric patients. Learn more about the Growth Study, including how to enroll.
Resources
- GI Kids: Education resources for families by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). Includes brochures, videos, podcasts, and online communities.
- North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN): An organization of more than 1,400 pediatric gastroenterologists in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada.
- Center for Advanced Digestive Care (CADC): Pediatric Gastroenterology: The CADC at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is one of the nation's leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood digestive diseases
Our Services
Pediatric Aerodigestive Program
The Pediatric Aerodigestive Program at Weill Cornell Medicine houses a state-of-the-art clinic committed to providing care for children with complex medical problems involving the airway, lung and upper gastrointestinal tract.
Medical problems related to the aerodigestive tract are often complex and challenging to diagnose and treat. Our program brings together a multidisciplinary team in a single location to care for your child. Our team includes:
- Pediatric pulmonologists
- Pediatric otorhinolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat))
- Pediatric gastroenterologists
- Speech therapy and feeding specialists
As needed, we offer referrals to additional specialists, including pediatric sleep specialists, surgeons, geneticists and many more.
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cause chronic inflammation of the lining of the intestines. We take a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with IBD. Our goal is to help young patients with IBD keep their disease in check, so they can continue to live full lives throughout childhood, adolescence, and beyond. We tailor the care we provide to your child, and offer support to your entire family.
Services & Programs
Infusion Therapies
We offer infusions of treatments including the new class of drugs called biologics. Some children can receive their infusions at home. Patients see their doctor at every infusion visit, allowing children and their families to continue working collaboratively with their providers on bringing their IBD into control or remission.
Transitional Care
The Pediatric IBD Transition Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital is a collaborative initiative in which teens and young adults with IBD, their family members and caregivers, and our healthcare team work together to prepare young patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for the move from pediatric into adult medicine. Young patients learn to manage their medical care and independently navigate the healthcare system.
Improve Care Now
Our pediatric gastroenterologists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Komansky Center for Children’s Health are part of Improve Care Now, a national network of clinicians and researchers collaborating to improve the standard of care for pediatric IBD patients.
Pediatric Motility Program
If your child has problems with motility — the coordinated contraction and movement of the digestive tract — we know how much these problems can interfere with your child's and your family's quality of life. Children can develop motility disorders that range from relatively benign conditions such as constipation to more serious disorders such as Hirschsprung's disease.
Our goals are to help you understand the reasons for your child's symptoms and to improve his or her quality of life. The Pediatric Motility Program at Weill Cornell Medicine is led by Dr. Thomas Ciecierega, a leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of routine and complex motility disorders. He specializes in complex esophageal, gastric, intestinal, colonic, and anorectal motility testing, as well as advanced endoscopic procedures.
Services & Programs
We treat the following symptoms and conditions:
- abdominal distention
- constipation
- diarrhea
- difficulty swallowing
- heartburn
- nausea
- pain
- vomiting
- anorectal disorders
- congenital anorectal malformations
- congenital esophageal malformations
- esophageal achalasia
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- gastroparesis
- incontinence
- intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome
Diagnosis & Treatment
The Director of the service is Dr. Thomas Ciecierega, an expert in motility in children. Dr. Ciecierega is trained in performing diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures in children of all ages with gastrointestinal diseases, including colonoscopy, ileoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, polypectomy, liver biopsy, esophageal and pyloric Botox injections, and esophageal dilatation.
Each patient’s healthcare team may include, as needed, dedicated nurses, technicians, a dietitian and a patient care coordinator.
We are able to diagnose patients using leading-edge equipment, including:
- high-resolution esophageal Manometry
- high-resolution 3D anorectal Manometry
- pH impedance testing
- wireless video capsule endoscopy
- therapeutic endoscopy
Esophageal and anorectal manometry usually do not require sedation, and the radiation we use, if any, is minimal. With older patients, our team can explain certain procedures and perform them while the patient is awake. Parents are an important part of the team and may choose to be present during the procedure.
We will provide ongoing comprehensive care, and work with your child’s pediatrician to manage chronic conditions.
What Sets us Apart
- We are one of only a few pediatric motility programs in the country, and one of the few in the New York metropolitan region to provide motility studies (such as esophageal and anorectal manometry) in infants, children, and adolescents.
- We are affiliated with the Phyllis and David Komansky Children’s Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the #1 ranked children’s hospital in New York City on the 2017-2018 US News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals survey.
- Our pediatric sub-specialists are part of the Center for Advanced Digestive Care (CADC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, one of the nation's leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood disease.
Our Locations
505 East 70th Street, Helmsley Tower, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10021
Get DirectionsNew York, NY 10021
505 East 70th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10021
Get DirectionsNew York, NY 10021
News
Events
Media
Learn more about Dr. Neera Gupta's study, which aims to figure out why boys with Crohn's disease are more likely to have growth issues compared to girls.
Dr. Aliza Solomon explains the "jellybean test," which she helped develop alongside Dr. Robbyn Sockolow, and its benefits.
