Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Division Chief

Ali Andre Mencin, MD
Director, Pediatric Fatty Liver Clinic

Director, Pediatric Endoscopy

Chief, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Overview

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provides comprehensive patient care for a broad range of gastrointestinal, nutritional, and liver disorders. We are consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for the treatment of childhood digestive disorders by US News & World Report. Our world-class reputation stems from the unparalleled quality of our clinical programs and research accomplishments, and from our multidisciplinary team of physicians, researchers, dieticians, social workers, and nurses. We strive for excellence in clinical care, research, and teaching, and maintain a group of physician-scientists who are committed to advancing the frontiers of our field.

Clinical Services

Faculty and staff in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition see patients in a variety of locations across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and ours is the largest program of its kind in the tri-state area. Our multidisciplinary team of providers maintains robust procedural, outpatient, and inpatient clinical services, and offer cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic modalities including advanced endoscopic procedures and motility testing.

We are recognized for providing seamless collaboration with other pediatric specialties 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 one of the most active research programs in the nation, our physicians continue to expand our understanding of childhood digestive disorders and transform research advances into patient care, and we offer our patients access to the latest treatments through many exclusive clinical trials.

The division receives numerous extramural grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense for individual research endeavors. In addition, faculty hold a number of independent and mentored research awards including R-, U-, and K-level NIH awards, and awards from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, CTRI Pilot Awards, and the Doris Duke Foundation. There are numerous internal research cores with pending P30 and P50 grants that include members of our division.

Fellowship

The Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition fellowship is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program committed to training the next generation of academic pediatric gastroenterologists. The program provides a broad clinical experience in outpatient and inpatient medicine, extensive procedural training, and in-depth didactics. Abundant opportunity is provided for pursuing outstanding multidisciplinary research. Trainees benefit from the diverse clinical population seen at a major referral center, with consultations ranging from outpatient referrals to quaternary-level inpatient care. Numerous clinical and research conferences provide the requisite didactics that are necessary for up-to-date clinical care and research training.

Rigorous scholarly work is an integral component of the training experience, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center offers a wealth of opportunities. Fellows participate in basic, clinical, or translational investigative research and produce high quality projects under the dedicated supervision of an established faculty mentor. The majority of our fellows are supported by extramural funding including a NIDDK T32 Training Grant in Gastroenterology and the prestigious NIDDK-supported K12 Physician Scientist Development Program.