Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases

A Commitment to Research

Our team has made particular strides in research and was recognized for developing, publishing, and patenting the first computerized scanning system of gene expression. The Division of Gastroenterology is studying and developing new treatments and therapies through more than 25 current research projects, including clinical trials and independent projects. Leonard H. Augenlicht, MD, and Robert Singer, MD,  of the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology of the Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center are investigating how the elevation of calcium and vitamin D3 can prevent tumor development as well as changes to a patient’s genes. They are also studying how disruptions that change genes can alter the number, position and function of the intestinal stem cells and increase the chance of tumor development.

Research studies investigate:

• C. difficile Colitis, by identifying patients who are prone to recurrent episodes of bacteria that can cause swelling and irritation of the large intestine, or colon
• Cystic lesions in the pancreas and better means of diagnosis
• Diarrhea
• Endoscopy and the psychological effects/tolerance among women who have been sexually abused
• Gastric electrical nerve stimulation or pacing, which requires placing a pacemaker on the outside wall of the stomach
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Ischemic colitis
• Reflux disease

The more common procedures include:

• Colonoscopy and removal of polyps
• Upper endoscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Esophageal and rectal manometry
• Liver biopsy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Endoscopic reflux therapy
• Gastrointestinal motility services

First, a member of the Gastrointestinal Division thoroughly evaluates each patient, educates the patient about his or her condition and treatment options, and determines a treatment plan. If an endoscopy is required, the patient receives the procedure at the endoscopy unit or at our nearby Ambulatory Endoscopy Center.

Expertise and Clinical Services

Most of our physicians have spent their entire careers at Montefiore and have extensive clinical experience in a broad range of specialties.

As physicians committed to prevention and treatment of digestive diseases, we provide a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services and treat everything from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn to acute liver failure.

Although we treat patients with hundreds of types of gastroenterology and liver diseases each year, some of the more common conditions we see include:

• Acute liver failure
• Chronic liver conditions such as viral hepatitis, cholestatic disorders, metabolic liver diseases, malignancies, chronic liver diseases and vascular disease
• Management of complications of portal hypertension or abnormally high blood pressure in the veins that carry blood between the intestines and the liver
• Gastroenterological diseases such as cirrhosis, Crohn’s disease and pancreatitis

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