DIVISION OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND NUTRITION
The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (Gastroenterology) is a clinical division
engaged in teaching medical students, internal medicine residents, and
gastroenterology fellows; provision of state-of-the-art care for patients with digestive
disorders; and clinical research.
Faculty
There are sixteen board certified gastroenterologists on the faculty at present. These
include four full-time core faculty based at the USF Medical Clinics and Tampa General
Hospital; three full-time faculty at the Swallowing Center; four full-time and two parttime faculty members at the VA, and three faculty members at the Moffitt Cancer
Center.
All four full-time core USF faculty are listed in Best Doctors in America 2007. One
Swallowing Center faculty is listed in Best Doctors in America 2007. Two faculty
members are past presidents of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,
three faculty members are past governors of the American College of Gastroenterology
for North Florida, three faculty members are past presidents of the Florida
Gastroenterologic Society. The faculty are nationally known for their expertise in
diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, esophageal disorders, gastrointestinal motility
disorders, nutritional support, and disease of the pancreas and biliary tract.
Medical Student Teaching
Physical diagnosis
Third year Primary Care Rotation
Third year Surgery Rotation
Fourth year Gastroenterology Elective
Fourth year Hepatology Elective
Resident Teaching
Lecture series to internal medicine residents (Noon Conferences at VA and TGH, Medical
Grand Rounds)
Joint GI-Surgery-X-ray Conference for surgery residents and GI fellows
Elective Gastroenterology rotation for internal medicine residents
Mentoring of research projects in gastroenterology for internal medicine residents
Gastroenterology Fellowship Teaching
The Division has had an ACGME accredited gastroenterology fellowship program since
the early 1970’s with a full component of teaching conferences and lectures. Currently
nine fellows are being trained in gastroenterology.
USF Endoscopy and Surgery Center
The Division operates the USF Endoscopy and Surgery Center, which was the first
academic ambulatory endoscopy center to open in the U.S. Recently, the Center was
cited as one of three excellent academic ambulatory endoscopy centers in the United
States in a national publication (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, May 2005). This
center provides endoscopic services including screening colonoscopy in a user friendly
environment away from the intimidation and prolonged waiting encountered in the
hospital.
Digestive Disorders Center TGH
The Division plays an active role in the Digestive Disorders Center, along with the
Division of General Surgery. A division faculty member is a co-director of the Center.
This is an interdepartmental activity.
Endoscopy Center TGH
The Director of this Center is a Division faculty member. The majority of endoscopic
procedures, including advanced therapeutic procedures performed at the Center are
done by Division members. Advanced therapeutic ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound,
balloon enteroscopy, and all standard procedures are done.
Capsule Endoscopy
The Division introduced capsule endoscopy to Central Florida and remains the major
referral center for this non-invasive endoscopic procedure. Both small bowel and
esophageal capsule endoscopy are provided at TGY by a Division faculty member.
Research
Division members are actively engaged in clinical research with an emphasis on
esophageal disorders, combined endoscopic surgical procedures, capsule endoscopy
and therapeutic endoscopy.