Pediatric Gastroenterology
The gastroenterology team at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital leads Oregon in providing expert care for children with digestive disorders.
We offer:
- Team-based care, with experts working together to meet your child’s needs.
- Oregon’s only board-certified pediatric liver doctor.
- Oregon’s only at-home IV tube feeding program.
- Clinics across Oregon, so you can find care for your child near you.
- Innovative treatment options based on the latest research.
- Imaging and testing options that are safe, thorough and less invasive.
Our excellence
Expertise: We are highly-trained to care for children with GI conditions, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease. Oregon's only pediatric liver specialist leads our team.
Our team includes:
- Pediatric gastroenterologists
- Pediatric hepatologist (liver specialist)
- Pediatric psychologists
- Nurse practitioners
- Dietitians
- Pediatric nurses
- Social workers
Innovative programs: We pledge to help our patients feel better and get back to their usual activities through our unique programs.
Ongoing care: Our pediatric gastroenterologists stay in touch, even when your child is doing well. When your child becomes an adult, we guide them as they move from pediatric to adult GI care.
Collaboration: We work with experts throughout Doernbecher to make sure testing and treatment meet all of your child’s health needs.
Care near you: We see patients in greater Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford and Vancouver. This means your child has the care they need closer to home.
Conditions we treat
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Liver disease
- Motility disorders (GERD, fecal incontinence, Hirschsprung’s disease, gastroparesis and other GI muscle and nerve disorders)
- Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic GI disorders (GI conditions caused by issues with white blood cells
- Malabsorption (problems absorbing nutrients from food)
- Disorders of gut-brain interaction (such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, and functional dyspepsia)
- Pancreatic disorders
- Short-gut syndrome
- Aerodigestive conditions (working closely with Doernbecher’s Aerodigestive Clinic)
Learn about our programs and services.
When to see a doctor
Children often have GI discomfort, especially constipation and stomach pain. Usually, these symptoms are not caused by a GI disease. But if you have concerns, talk to your child’s pediatrician.
Take your child to the doctor right away if:
- Their symptoms don’t stop or keep coming back.
- The problem gets worse, especially in a short period of time.
- They have pain or constipation with vomiting, fever or rectal bleeding.
- The symptoms keep your child from doing their usual activities, like school or sports.
- They are having trouble eating or drinking, or are losing weight.
- They are often unable to sleep and/or feel very tired.
- They avoid or resist going to the bathroom.
- They are unusually cranky.
Learn more about pediatric constipation and pediatric abdominal pain.
When to seek a referral to Doernbecher
Your child’s pediatrician can diagnose and treat some GI conditions. But if tests don't provide answers or if symptoms are serious, they can refer you to our pediatric gastroenterology team. We will work with you and the pediatrician to provide care for your child.
Clinical trials and research
Your child may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial for a promising new treatment. If a clinical trial may be right for your child, we will share the information with you at your child’s appointment.
Our providers are also researchers studying pediatric gastroenterology. Their research to date includes:
- How nutrition affects gastrointestinal diseases.
- Best practices to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- How to manage pediatric liver diseases, including Alagille syndrome, biliary atresia and autoimmune liver disease.
- Clinical trials for pediatric liver disease and constipation.
- The impact of telemedicine on health care in rural Oregon.
For families
Call 503-346-0640 to:
- Request an appointment
- Seek a second opinion
- Ask a question
Locations
Parking is free for patients and their visitors.
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
700 S.W. Campus Drive
Portland, OR 97239
Map and directions
Find other locations across Oregon and in southwest Washington.
For providers
How to reach us:
- Refer your patient to OHSU Doernbecher.
- Call 503-346-0644 to seek provider-to-provider advice.
- Fax patient records and gastroenterology related lab work to 503-346-6854.
Medical treatment guides:
- Constipation
- Functional abdominal pain
- Fatty liver (NAFLD)
- Work-up needs before your patient visits us
- Colonoscopy prep for your patients