Gastroenterology

The liver’s role in metabolic disease

Conditions
December 8, 2025

If you’re managing metabolic disease for your patients, you’re also dealing with liver disease, whether you realize it or not. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects up to 70 percent of patients who have type 2 diabetes or obesity, yet reliable, routine screening for liver disease is anything but commonplace.

I often wonder why that is. After all, the liver is arguably the most sensitive barometer of metabolic dysfunction, …

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How online parent communities extend care

Physician
December 7, 2025

As a pediatric gastroenterologist with more than 10 years of face-to-face clinical experience, I can recall countless stories of parents who felt lost at sea, adrift between vague diagnoses, inconclusive tests, and unanswered questions. Medicine has its boundaries; doctors can only work within what is known. And while artificial intelligence now helps us digest vast amounts of medical data, nothing can replace the curiosity and determination of parents who take …

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The U.S. gastroenterologist shortage explained

Physician
December 7, 2025

The story of gastroenterology in 2025 is no longer about productivity or reimbursement; it’s about manpower. Hospitals and practices across the U.S. are struggling to recruit, retain, or even temporarily staff the specialists who manage digestive diseases, perform colon cancer screening, and handle emergency procedures like ERCP. What we’re facing isn’t simply a staffing issue; it’s a structural shortage decades in the making.

The shrinking pipeline of gastroenterologists

In the mid-1990s, roughly …

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Innovations and barriers in colorectal cancer screening strategies [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 11, 2025
YouTube video

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Nurse practitioner Elisabeth Evans discusses her article “The critical role of nurse practitioners in colorectal cancer screening.” Elisabeth shares why colorectal cancer is the second-deadliest cancer in the U.S. yet remains under-screened, …

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The evolving field of inflammatory bowel disease care — why staying educated matters more than ever

Podcast
September 29, 2025
YouTube video

This article is sponsored by Takeda.

When I started in gastroenterology 19 years ago, I didn’t imagine my professional journey would lead me to specialize so deeply in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But once I began caring for people with Crohn’s disease and …

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The critical role of nurse practitioners in colorectal cancer screening

Conditions
August 15, 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-deadliest cancer in the U.S.; however, screening rates remain too low due to a combination of lack of awareness, patient fear, and health care system barriers. Many patients don’t realize they are at risk because early-stage CRC has no symptoms, making screening the only way to detect and prevent disease progression.

As frontline health care providers, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates/assistants (PAs) are uniquely positioned …

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How gut bacteria shape your mental health and mood

Conditions
August 8, 2025

The gut-brain axis is a key player in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.

The intestinal microbiome (the foundation of the gut-brain axis) influences brain function through bidirectional communication via neural (vagus nerve), immune (cytokines), and metabolic pathways. Microbiota alterations may also impair hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation, which, in turn, affects both psychological stress level (cortisol) and whole-body hormonal balance. What’s more, microbial metabolites (such as short-chain fatty …

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Fatty liver disease in young adults [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 4, 2025
YouTube video

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Gastroenterologist Anuj Vikrant Sharma discusses his article, “Fatty liver disease is no longer reserved for older adults.” He warns of a quiet epidemic of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious liver condition …

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Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

Meds
May 28, 2025

Rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic, has become a cornerstone therapy for several gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and hepatic encephalopathy. Despite its established use, access to rifaximin varies significantly across global markets, with cost barriers posing challenges in some regions. In contrast, in many Asian countries, the same medication is available at a fraction of the price, raising important questions about pharmaceutical pricing practices and access …

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Empowering IBD patients: tools for managing symptoms between doctor visits [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 19, 2025
YouTube video

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Gastroenterologist Shamita B. Shah discusses her article, “How doctors can help IBD patients manage symptoms between visits.” Addressing the rising prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the U.S., Shamita highlights the …

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Fatty liver disease is no longer reserved for older adults

Conditions
April 17, 2025

Increasingly, it’s showing up in people in their 20s and 30s—individuals who don’t drink excessively, don’t appear outwardly unhealthy, and often have no idea their liver is under stress. The condition, now referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is emerging as a quiet epidemic, and diet and gut health are playing a larger role than many realize.

As a gastroenterologist, I’ve observed a shift in the demographics …

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Why SIBO is often misdiagnosed as IBS [PODCAST]

Podcast
April 6, 2025
YouTube video

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Gastroenterologist Mark Pimentel discusses his article, “SIBO and IBS: the hidden link keeping millions in pain.” Mark explains how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked due to its …

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How stress affects your gut—and how to fix it

Conditions
April 6, 2025

Life can feel overwhelming at times, with busy schedules, unexpected challenges, and daily pressures that never seem to slow down. While stress is a normal part of life, it can take a serious toll on your body—especially your digestive system. If you’ve ever experienced stomach cramps, nausea, or bloating during a stressful period, you’re not alone. The gut and brain are closely connected, and when stress levels rise, digestion often …

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How doctors can help IBD patients manage symptoms between visits

Conditions
March 30, 2025

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is on the rise, there is an urgent need for physicians to arm their patients with tools and education to manage these conditions in between appointments.

IBD already includes nearly three million people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, which cause inflammation of the …

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Why we need to talk about poop more often [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 4, 2025
YouTube video

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We explore the often-overlooked world of bowel health with colorectal surgeon Carmen Fong. Carmen shares her journey into this specialty, the stigma surrounding bowel habits, and the critical need to normalize conversations about …

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The potency of purpose: Merging corporate values with business success

Physician
December 27, 2024

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”
– Simon Sinek.

Business is equated with money—dollars, profits, ledgers, etc. But there is much more to business than finances. At the end of the day, you don’t take profits or losses home—you take home values. You rake in integrity. You create a playground of ethics for people. There are certain …

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SIBO and IBS: the hidden link keeping millions in pain

Conditions
December 12, 2024

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a little known gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with links to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Today, it takes an average of about six years for patients to receive a proper IBS diagnosis and begin a course of treatment, all the while experiencing debilitating symptoms from this disease.

Despite SIBO’s long documented medical history, it is poorly understood in comparison to similar chronic GI conditions. While there have …

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Why your doctor wants you to talk about poop — and it could save your life

Conditions
November 19, 2024

A patient came to see me recently (all my stories start like this: “A patient walked into the room…,” akin to “A guy walked into a bar…”), and she was so embarrassed to be there. That’s not uncommon for me. What was unusual was that she refused to talk about her bowel habits. She couldn’t say what her symptoms were or what her poop looked like. To her, it was …

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Understanding and supporting loved ones with celiac disease: a guide from 2 gastroenterologists

Conditions
October 16, 2024

Living with celiac disease can be a profound challenge, not just for those diagnosed but also for their friends and family. A strict gluten-free lifestyle is essential, and providing thoughtful, informed support can significantly improve the quality of life for someone with celiac disease. September 13 is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day, and as gastroenterologists, we want to share how you can be a source of strength and comfort in …

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