Bench to Bedside Management of GI Disorders and Liver Disease

young child being having stomach examined by pediatrician

Department of Pediatrics Annual Report – 2022

Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Department of Pediatric Annual Report 2022 Banner

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provides comprehensive patient care for a broad range of gastrointestinal, nutritional, and liver disorders. We strive for excellence in clinical care and teaching and support basic and clinical research to advance the frontiers of our field.

Clinical Services

Our multidisciplinary team of providers, the largest program of its kind in the tristate area, maintains robust procedural, outpatient, and inpatient clinical services and offers cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, including advanced endoscopic procedures and motility testing. The pediatric liver and intestinal transplant program is the largest in the Northeast.

We are recognized for providing seamless collaborations with other pediatric specialists, including surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiologists, clinical geneticists, speech and language pathologists, dietitians, social workers, and child life specialists. Our integrated approach provides comprehensive, innovative pediatric programs and centers in:

Research

Our faculty are leaders in clinical, translational, and basic gastrointestinal research. With robust funding and an active research program, our physicians continue to expand our understanding of childhood digestive disorders, transforming advances in research into the latest cutting-edge care. Many of the latest clinical trials are offered through the division’s clinical research program. Our faculty publish in a range of high quality scientific journals, including the leading journals in the field. A list of publications from this year can be found below.

The division receives extramural grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and our faculty hold a number of independent and mentored research awards, including R- and K-level NIH awards, and awards from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation.

Education

Through the Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition fellowship, we provide a broad clinical experience in outpatient and inpatient medicine, extensive procedural training, and in-depth didactics. As one of the leaders in liver and small bowel transplant in the region, we are proud to also offer an Advanced Hepatology Fellowship. Fellows participate in basic, clinical, or translational investigative research and produce high-quality projects under the dedicated supervision of an established faculty mentor. Many of our fellows are supported by extramural funding, including a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) T32 Training Grant.

New Appointments

Promotions

Honors and Awards

Jennifer Woo Baidal, MD

  • Selected as Research Committee Vice Chair for the Research North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
  • Invited to serve as the inaugural alumna National Advisory Committee member for the Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) in the Academic Pediatrics Association
  • Appointed to the National Advisory Council for Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) for the Academic Pediatric Association.

Elizabeth Berg, MD

  • Appointed Director of Inpatient Services for Pediatric Gastroenterology

Amy Defelice, MD

  • Elected to Columbia University Academy of Clinical Excellence

Sivan Kinberg, MD, MS

  • Appointed to the Oley Foundation Advisory Council and nominated for the 2022 Oley Foundation Distinguished Clinician Award
  • Appointed Program Director of Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program at Columbia (Department of Biomedical Informatics)

Sarah Lusman, MD

  • Selected as Vice Chair of the NASPGHAN Training Committee

Mercedes Martinez, MD

  • Appointed Medical Director of Pediatric Abdominal Organ Transplant at NewYork-Presbyterian

Ali A. Mencin, MD

  • Elected to Columbia University Academy of Clinical Excellence
  • Selected Section Editor for Gastroenterology for Rudolph’s Pediatrics textbook

Joseph Picoraro, MD

  • Recipient of the NASPGHAN Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship. Dr. Picoraro will work with Dr. Bo Shen to learn endoscopic therapeutic techniques for the management of strictures in patients with IBD.

Major Grants

  • LINC: Leveraging IT for neighborhoods in childhood. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. NIH/NIMHD. NIH R01MD014872. Principal Investigator: Jennifer Woo Baidal, MD, MPH.
  • Molecular mechanisms of reactive epithelial changes in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis. NIH. K08DK128603. Principal Investigator: Dominique Bailey, MD.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids, acute neuroprotection via mitochondria. NIH. R01NS088197-07. Principal Investigator: Richard Deckelbaum, MD.
  • Synergistic effects of medium-chain and omega-3 triglycerides on cellular omega-3 fatty acid enrichment: Characterization, mechanisms, and optimization. NIH. R01DK119389-03. Principal Investigator: Chuchun Chang, MD.
  • The GUTSY Program (Gaining Understanding of Transition for Short bowel syndrome among Youths): Optimizing transition of care in short bowel syndrome through collaborative and comprehensive. Takeda. Principal Investigator: Sivan Kinberg, MD.
  • Determinants of zonation of liver inflammation and fibrosis in pediatric NASH. CaMPR-ISP award. CUIMC. Principal Investigator: Jennifer Woo Baidal, MD.

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Selected Publications

Dellon ES, Gonsalves N, Abonia JP, Alexander JA, Arva NC, Atkins D, Attwood SE, Auth MKH, Bailey DD, Biederman L, Blanchard C, Bonis PA, Bose P, Bredenoord AJ, Chang JW, Chehade M, Collins MH, Di Lorenzo C, Dias JA, Dohil R, Dupont C, Falk GW, Ferreira CT, Fox AT, Genta RM, Greuter T, Gupta SK, Hirano I, Hiremath GS, Horsley-Silva JL, Ishihara S, Ishimura N, Jensen ET, Gutiérrez-Junquera C, Katzka DA, Khoury P, Kinoshita Y, Kliewer KL, Koletzko S, Leung J, Liacouras CA, Lucendo AJ, Martin LJ, McGowan EC, Menard-Katcher C, Metz DC, Miller TL, Moawad FJ, Muir AB, Mukkada VA, Murch S, Nhu QM, Nomura I, Nurko S, Ohtsuka Y, Oliva S, Orel R, Papadopoulou A, Patel DA, Pesek RD, Peterson KA, Philpott H, Putnam PE, Richter JE, Rosen R, Ruffner MA, Safroneeva E, Schreiner P, Schoepfer A, Schroeder SR, Shah N, Souza RF, Spechler SJ, Spergel JM, Straumann A, Talley NJ, Thapar N, Vandenplas Y, Venkatesh RD, Vieira MC, von Arnim U, Walker MM, Wechsler JB, Wershil BK, Wright BL, Yamada Y, Yang GY, Zevit N, Rothenberg ME, Furuta GT, Aceves SS. International Consensus recommendations for eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease nomenclature. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(11):2474–2484.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.017. Epub 2022 Feb 16. PMID: 35181570; PMCID: PMC9378753.

Berg EA, Huang Z, Wang Y, Baidal JW, Fennoy I, Lavine JE, Zitsman J, Shen W. Magnetic Resonance imaging to assess body composition change in adolescents with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;75(6):761–767. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003607. Epub 2022 Sep 6. PMID: 36070531; PMCID: PMC9675718.

Bredefeld C, Hussain MM, Averna M, Black DD, Brin MF, Burnett JR, Charrière S, Cuerq C, Davidson NO, Deckelbaum RJ, Goldberg IJ, Granot E, Hegele RA, Ishibashi S, Karmally W, Levy E, Moulin P, Okazaki H, Poinsot P, Rader DJ, Takahashi M, Tarugi P, Traber MG, Di Filippo M, Peretti N. Guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of hypolipidemia disorders. J Clin Lipidol. 2022;16(6):797–812. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2022.08.009. Epub 2022 Sep 29. PMID: 36243606.

Patel D, Sood V, Ambartsumyan L, Wheeler J, Kaul A, Khlevner J, Darbari A, Rodriguez L. A Guide to establishing a pediatric neurogastroenterology and motility program. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;74(4):435–439. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003385. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 35045556.

Gerall CD, Stewart LA, Price J, Kabagambe S, Sferra SR, Schmaedick MJ, Hernan R, Khlevner J, Krishnan US, De A, Aspelund G, Duron VP. Long-term outcomes of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A single institution experience. J Pediatr Surg. 2022;57(4):563–569. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.06.007. Epub 2021 Jun 25. PMID: 34274078.

Khlevner J, Jodorkovsky D, Bailey DD, Middlesworth W, Sethi A, Abrams J, Katzka DA. Management of adults with esophageal atresia. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;21(1):15–25. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.07.037. Epub 2022 Aug 9. PMID: 35952943.

Richey Levine A, Picoraro JA, Dorfzaun S, LeLeiko NS. Emulsifiers and intestinal health: An introduction. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;74(3):314–319. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003361. PMID: 35226642.

Hyams JS, Brimacombe M, Haberman Y, Walters T, Gibson G, Mo A, Mack D, Griffiths A, Boyle B, LeLeiko N, Markowitz J, Rosh J, Patel A, Shah S, Baldassano R, Pfefferkorn M, Sauer C, Dailey J, Venkateswaran S, Kugathasan S, Denson LA. Clinical and host biological factors predict colectomy risk in children newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(2):151–160. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izab061. PMID: 33904583; PMCID: PMC8804885.

Kerur B, Fiedler K, Stahl M, Hyams J, Stephens M, Lu Y, Pfefferkorn M, Alkhouri R, Strople J, Kelsen J, Siebold L, Goyal A, Rosh JR, LeLeiko N, Van Limbergen J, Guerrerio AL, Maltz RM, Karam L, Crowley E, Griffiths AM, Heyman MB, Deneau M, Benkov K, Noe J, Moulton D, Pappa H, Galanko J, Snapper S, Muise AM, Kappelman MD, Benchimol EI. Utilization of antitumor necrosis factor biologics in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter retrospective cohort study from North America. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;75(1):64–69. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003464. Epub 2022 May 27. PMID: 35622080.

Lusman SS, Borowitz D, Marshall BC, Narkewicz MR, Gonska T, Grand RJ, Simon RH, Mascarenhas MR, Schwarzenberg SJ, Freedman SD. DIGEST: Developing innovative gastroenterology specialty training. J Cyst Fibros. 2021;20(4):586–590. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.07.012. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32736950; PMCID: PMC7387932.

Boster JM, Superina R, Mazariegos GV, Tiao GM, Roach JP, Lovell MA, Greffe BS, Yanni G, Leung DH, Elisofon SA, McDiarmid SV, Gupta NA, Lobritto SJ, Lemoine C, Stoll JM, Vitola BE, Daniel JF, Sayed BA, Desai DM, Martin AE, Amin A, Anand R, Anderson SG, Sundaram SS. Predictors of survival following liver transplantation for pediatric hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma: Experience from the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT). Am J Transplant. 2022;22(5):1396–1408. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16945. Epub 2022 Jan 22. PMID: 34990053.

Kehar M, Ebel N, Ng V, Lobritto S, Martinez M. Updates from the NASPGHAN/SPLIT SARS-CoV2 international registry. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;74(2):e43–e44. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003326. PMID: 34654794; PMCID: PMC8788628.

Squires JE, Alonso EM, Ibrahim SH, Kasper V, Kehar M, Martinez M, Squires RH. North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition position paper on the diagnosis and management of pediatric acute liver failure. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;74(1):138–158. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003268. PMID: 34347674.

Bowlus CL, Arrivé L, Bergquist A, Deneau M, Forman L, Ilyas SI, Lunsford KE, Martinez M, Sapisochin G, Shroff R, Tabibian JH, Assis DN. AASLD practice guidance on primary sclerosing cholangitis and cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology. 2022 Sep. doi: 10.1002/hep.32771. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36083140.

Jazayeri A, McConnie RM, Ross AM, Montijo-Barrios E, Ballengee Menchini C, Tulin-Silver S, Duron V, Walsh CM, Lerner DG, Mencin A. postpyloric feeding access in infants and children: A state of the art review. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022 ;75(3):237–243. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003518. Epub 2022 Aug 9. PMID: 35696699.

Mencin AA, Sethi A, Barakat MT, Lerner DG. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in children: A state of the art review. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022;75(3):231–236. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003503. Epub 2022 Aug 9. PMID: 35653433.

Moore H, Dubes L, Fusillo S, Baldassano R, Stein R. Tofacitinib therapy in children and young adults With pediatric-onset medically refractory inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2021;73(3):e57–e62. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003190. PMID: 34091545.

Picoraro JA, Shen B. The pediatric pouch deserves precision. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(9):1469–1471. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izab321. PMID: 35040991.

Householder S, Picoraro JA. Diagnosis and classification of fistula from inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease-related surgery. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2022;32(4):631–650. doi: 10.1016/j.giec.2022.04.003. Epub 2022 Sep 7. PMID: 36202507.

Shen B, Kochhar GS, Rubin DT, Kane SV, Navaneethan U, Bernstein CN, Cross RK, Sugita A, Schairer J, Kiran RP, Fleshner P, McCormick JT, D'Hoore A, Shah SA, Farraye FA, Kariv R, Liu X, Rosh J, Chang S, Scherl E, Schwartz DA, Kotze PG, Bruining DH, Philpott J, Abraham B, Segal J, Sedano R, Kayal M, Bentley-Hibbert S, Tarabar D, El-Hachem S, Sehgal P, Picoraro JA, Vermeire S, Sandborn WJ, Silverberg MS, Pardi DS. Treatment of pouchitis, Crohn's disease, cuffitis, and other inflammatory disorders of the pouch: consensus guidelines from the International Ileal Pouch Consortium. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;7(1):69–95. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00214-4. Epub 2021 Nov 10. PMID: 34774224.

Woo Baidal JA, Meyer D, Partida I, Duong N, Rosenthal A, Hulse E, Nieto A, On behalf of the Herald Collaborative. Feasibility of food FARMacia: Mobile food pantry to reduce household food insecurity in pediatric primary care. Nutrients. 2022;14(5):1059. doi: 10.3390/nu14051059. PMID: 35268034; PMCID: PMC8912842.

Braid L, Oliva R, Nichols K, Reyes A, Guzman J, Goldman RE, Woo Baidal JA. Community perceptions in New York City: Sugar-sweetened beverage policies and programs in the first 1000 days. Matern Child Health J. 2022;26(1):193–204. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03255-8. Epub 2021 Oct 7. PMID: 34618312; PMCID: PMC8495667.

Lauren BN, Lim F, Krikhely A, Taveras EM, Woo Baidal JA, Bellows BK, Hur C. Estimated cost-effectiveness of medical therapy, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric bypass in patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e2148317. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.48317. PMID: 35157054; PMCID: PMC8845022.

McGovern C, Rifas-Shiman SL, Switkowski KM, Woo Baidal JA, Lightdale JR, Hivert MF, Oken E, Aris IM. Association of cow's milk intake in early childhood with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk in early adolescence. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022;116(2):561–571. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac103. PMID: 35441227; PMCID: PMC9348987.

Highlights

Hepatitis Outbreak Among Kids: What Parents Should Know

Health authorities around the world are investigating rare cases of children with severe hepatitis of unknown cause. Mercedes Martinez, MD, explains.

CUIMC Newsroom

Advancing the Management of Short Bowel Syndrome

Pediatric gastroenterologists Sivan Kinberg, MD, MS, MA and Elizabeth Berg, MD work together through the Pediatric Intestinal Rehabilitation Center to improve the outcomes of infants and children born with short bowel syndrome. They discussed the latest on this condition with NYP Advances.

NYP Advances