Conditions and Treatments

At Mount Sinai, our pediatric gastroenterologists specialize in diagnosing and treating children with a wide range of digestive, liver, and nutritional disorders. We combine advanced medical technology with a compassionate, multidisciplinary approach to ensure your child receives the best possible care.

Conditions We Treat

We provide expert care for a variety of gastrointestinal issues, including:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Upper GI Disorders: Celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and reflux (GERD).
• Common GI Concerns: Abdominal pain, chronic constipation, and feeding problems.
• Complex Conditions: Short bowel syndrome, intestinal failure, and motility disorders.

Specialized Programs & Clinical Centers

Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program

Our program, co-directed by Marla Dubinsky, MD, is one of the largest in the country, treating children and young adults from around the world. We offer diagnostic evaluations, second opinions, and personalized treatment plans at The Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center.

• Multidisciplinary Team: Your child’s care includes pediatric gastroenterologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, nutritionists, and child life specialists.
• Pediatric IBD Prevention Program: Co-led by Elizabeth Spencer, MD, this specialized program focuses on early identification, risk assessment, and preventative strategies for children at risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease.
• Intestinal Ultrasound: Through the Henry and Elaine Kaufman Program, we use point-of-care, non-invasive ultrasound during routine visits to monitor disease activity without radiation or prep.
• Seamless Transition: We work closely with Mount Sinai’s adult gastroenterology program to ensure a smooth transition of care as your child reaches adulthood.

Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders

We offer comprehensive programs that optimize the treatment of disorders affecting the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel:

• Pediatric Celiac Disease Program: Led by Juliana Kennedy, MD,  this program offers medical and nutritional management along with psychosocial support for patients and their families.
• Pediatric Aerodigestive Program: Led by Joanne Lai, MD, this interdisciplinary program includes GI, ENT, pulmonary, speech language pathology, pediatric surgery, and complex care specialists to provide coordinated care for children with complex conditions of the upper airway and digestive systems.
• Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorder (EoE) Program: Led by David Dunkin, MD, this program specializes in the medical and nutritional management of eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroenteritis, working in close coordination with food allergists.

Advanced & Surgical Crossover Care

For children with complex structural, congenital, or severe functional bowel disorders, we partner across medical and surgical specialties to provide seamless, centralized management:

• Complex Pediatric Colorectal Program: We provide comprehensive, coordinated care for children born with complex colorectal and pelvic reconstruction needs, or severe, treatment-resistant motility disorders. By partnering closely with pediatric surgery, urology, and specialized nursing, we create highly individualized treatment plans to maximize your child's long-term quality of life.
• Pediatric Small Intestinal Rehabilitation Program: This program provides advanced medical and surgical management for children with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. We work in close partnership with expert registered dietitians and small intestinal surgeons to optimize your child's nutritional health and growth.

Pediatric Endoscopy Services

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of your child’s digestive tract using a thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) examines the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and small intestine). Colonoscopy examines the lower gastrointestinal tract (the colon and the last part of the small intestine known as the ileum).

Your doctor may also recommend a wireless capsule endoscopy. This is a non-invasive procedure using a small camera pill to take pictures of the small intestine that cannot be seen during a standard EGD or colonoscopy.

• Expert Care: Our pediatric gastroenterologists are specially trained to perform these procedures on children.
• Comfort and Safety: We partner with pediatric anesthesiologists to provide a relaxed, pain-free, and sedation-monitored experience.
• Child Life Support: We work closely with our child life specialists to create individualized plans for our patients to minimize stress and anxiety around endoscopic procedures.
• Advanced Therapeutics: In addition to diagnostic exams, we offer advanced therapeutic procedures—including endoscopic ultrasound, stent placement, ERCP, and feeding tube (gastrostomy) placement—which often allow patients to return home the same day without the need for traditional surgery.

Preparing for Your Child’s Procedure

It is natural to have questions. To help you and your child feel comfortable:

• Personalized Instructions: Once the procedure is scheduled, our staff will provide specific dietary and preparation instructions tailored to your child’s needs.
• Follow-up: On the day of the procedure, you will meet your care team. After the exam, your doctor will discuss the findings and coordinate a plan for sharing the final results.