Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Saint Louis University School of Medicine's Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is nationally and internationally recognized for excellent patient care and pioneering research into chronic liver diseases, pediatric nutrition, motility disorders and inflammatory bowel disease. It has an excellent long-term track record for graft survival and outcomes in patients undergoing liver transplant.
A Caring Approach to Children's Digestive Health
The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition has an unyielding commitment to clinical and research innovation. It treats the full spectrum of digestive problems, from common issues like acid reflux to complex and life-threatening diseases.
Divisional physicians work at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. They provide personalized care through the division’s many specialty centers, including:
- The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, which follows 250-plus patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- The intestinal rehabilitation program, which treats infants and children with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure.
- The Gastrointestinal Motility Center is one of only a handful of centers in the country that provides comprehensive testing for patients with GI motility disorders.
Explore Division Specialty Programs
The division works closely with a dedicated, multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric psychologists, dietitians, speech pathologists, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists.
Its service continues to grow; it has reached a 44% market share for pediatric gastroenterology in the St. Louis region — more significant than any other area provider — reflecting both quality and patient satisfaction.
Hepatology
Faculty, fellows and trainees have the unique opportunity to train under globally and regionally renowned hepatology specialists, gaining essential skills to conduct successful liver transplants.
Liver Diseases
Faculty are internationally recognized for research into pediatric liver diseases, and have specific expertise in treating children diagnosed with hepatitis B and C. Notable SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital achievements include:
- First hospital in Missouri to offer pediatric clinical trials for Harvoni — later approved by the FDA for children with hepatitis C
- One of only a few pediatric centers to participate in the Hepatitis B Research Network
- One of only a few U.S. pediatric centers participating in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network to find treatments and novel therapeutics for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Liver Transplant
For more than 22 years, the UNOS-certified liver transplant program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital has met or exceeded national graft and patient survival outcomes.
The hospital offers isolated and multi-organ transplants, including whole and split livers. It is a long-standing member of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) registry, an international research collaborative. Ongoing research efforts include identifying pioneering strategies to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury in livers post-transplant.