A gastrointestinal doctor is a physician who specializes in the investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive system disorders. Professionals have in-depth knowledge of the various diseases, injuries, and symptoms that patients may experience, and they use advanced medical equipment to diagnose and treat patients. Some doctors focus on a specific population of patients, such as children or the elderly, or treat a specific category of conditions, such as cancers or bowel problems. A gastroenterologist may work in a hospital, medical clinic, private practice, or in a group practice with other internal medicine specialists.
Problems with the digestive organs, such as the intestines, stomach, and liver, can be mildly irritating to severely debilitating. By asking patients questions about their medical histories and lifestyles, conducting physical examinations, using ultrasound and x-ray equipment, and ordering laboratory tests on blood, stools, urine, and tissue samples, a gastrointestinal doctor can determine the severity and nature of symptoms. A doctor can usually pinpoint symptoms, make diagnoses, and administer treatment with the help of nurses and medical aides. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications, suggest healthy lifestyle changes, or recommend surgery to correct severe conditions, depending on the cause of the digestive problems. Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and hemorrhoids are among the diseases and ailments that a gastrointestinal doctor treats.
Many years of education and clinical training are required to become a gastrointestinal doctor. Doctoral degrees from accredited universities are required of professionals, which usually takes four years after completing a premedical bachelor’s program. After college, new doctors in the United States and many other countries typically complete a one-year internship at hospitals or medical clinics to gain practical experience and better prepare for their future careers. They usually take up residencies that last up to six years after completing internships. The first three years of residency are spent in an internal medicine practice or hospital, followed by two to three years in a gastrointestinal medicine practice.
Before new gastrointestinal doctors can practice independently in most countries, they must pass licensing exams. Medical terms, the various types of diseases and injuries they may encounter, ethics, insurance laws, and other aspects of providing quality care are typically covered in exams. Licensed doctors have a good chance of joining a group practice or starting their own practice.