What does a gastroenterologist do?

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disorders affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Gastroenterologists are experts in identifying and managing a wide range of GI conditions, from common digestive problems like acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to more complex disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastroenterologists utilize various diagnostic tools and procedures to assess the health of the GI tract and formulate treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. In addition to performing diagnostic procedures, they provide medical management, prescribe medications, recommend lifestyle modifications, and collaborate with other specialists to deliver comprehensive care for patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

What does a Gastroenterologist do?

Duties and Responsibilities
Gastroenterologists have a wide range of duties and responsibilities related to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Some of their key responsibilities include:

Diagnostic Evaluation: Gastroenterologists perform comprehensive evaluations to diagnose GI conditions. This involves reviewing patients' medical histories, conducting physical examinations, and ordering diagnostic tests such as endoscopies, colonoscopies, imaging studies, and laboratory tests to assess the health of the GI tract and identify abnormalities.
Treatment Planning: Based on diagnostic findings, gastroenterologists develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's specific condition and needs. They may prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms, manage chronic conditions, or treat underlying diseases affecting the GI system. Gastroenterologists also provide dietary recommendations, lifestyle modifications, and preventive measures to optimize patients' digestive health.
Endoscopic Procedures: Gastroenterologists perform a variety of endoscopic procedures to visualize and treat conditions within the GI tract. These procedures include esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and enteroscopy. During these procedures, gastroenterologists may take tissue samples (biopsies), remove polyps, place stents, or perform therapeutic interventions to treat conditions such as bleeding, strictures, or tumors.
Management of Chronic Conditions: Gastroenterologists manage chronic GI conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and chronic liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis. They monitor disease progression, adjust treatment regimens, and provide ongoing care to help patients manage their conditions and improve their quality of life.
Screening and Prevention: Gastroenterologists play a crucial role in screening for colorectal cancer and other GI malignancies. They recommend appropriate screening tests such as colonoscopy, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), or stool DNA testing based on patients' age, risk factors, and medical history. Gastroenterologists also provide counseling on lifestyle modifications, dietary habits, and risk reduction strategies to prevent GI disorders and maintain overall digestive health.
Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Teams: Gastroenterologists work closely with other healthcare professionals, including primary care physicians, surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, pathologists, and nutritionists, to provide comprehensive care for patients with complex GI conditions. They collaborate on treatment plans, coordinate care transitions, and participate in multidisciplinary conferences to discuss challenging cases and optimize patient outcomes.

Types of Gastroenterologists
Gastroenterology is a diverse field with various subspecialties that focus on specific aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) health. Here are some types of gastroenterologists and their areas of expertise:

Hepatologist: Hepatologists focus on diseases of the liver, including viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B and C), fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and autoimmune liver diseases. They perform liver biopsies, interpret liver function tests, manage complications of liver disease, and oversee liver transplantation evaluations and care.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Specialist: These gastroenterologists specialize in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They are skilled in treating the chronic inflammation and complications associated with these conditions, including monitoring disease activity, prescribing immunosuppressive medications, and coordinating care with other specialists.
Interventional Endoscopist: Interventional endoscopists are gastroenterologists who specialize in advanced endoscopic procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of complex GI conditions. They perform procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the management of gastrointestinal cancers, biliary and pancreatic disorders, and other challenging cases.
Motility Specialist: Motility specialists specialize in disorders of gastrointestinal motility, which involve abnormal movement and function of the digestive tract. They diagnose and treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), achalasia, and functional dyspepsia. Motility specialists use specialized diagnostic tests such as esophageal manometry and gastric emptying studies to evaluate GI motility disorders.
Pediatric Gastroenterologist: Pediatric gastroenterologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of GI disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. They address a wide range of pediatric GI conditions, including feeding difficulties, gastroesophageal reflux, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver disorders. Pediatric gastroenterologists have expertise in performing diagnostic tests and procedures tailored to pediatric patients and provide family-centered care in a child-friendly environment.
Transplant Hepatologist: Transplant hepatologists focus on the care of patients with advanced liver disease who may require liver transplantation. They assess patients for transplant candidacy, manage complications of end-stage liver disease, and provide pre- and post-transplant care. Transplant hepatologists collaborate closely with transplant surgeons, hepatobiliary radiologists, and transplant coordinators to optimize patient outcomes.

Are you suited to be a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterologists have distinct personalities. They tend to be enterprising individuals, which means they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive, and motivational. Some of them are also artistic, meaning they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if gastroenterologist is one of your top career matches.

Take the free test now Learn more about the career test

What is the workplace of a Gastroenterologist like?

The workplace of a gastroenterologist can vary depending on several factors, including their specific area of specialization, practice setting, and professional preferences. Many gastroenterologists work in hospitals or medical centers with dedicated gastroenterology departments or GI clinics. In these settings, they have access to advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities, including endoscopy suites equipped with state-of-the-art endoscopic equipment and imaging technology. Hospital-based gastroenterologists may perform a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and provide specialized care to patients with complex GI conditions, including those requiring inpatient or emergency care.

In addition to hospital-based practice, many gastroenterologists work in private practice settings or group practices specializing in gastroenterology. These practices may offer outpatient services, including clinic consultations, diagnostic testing, and endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies and upper endoscopies. Private practice gastroenterologists have the flexibility to set their schedules, manage their patient caseloads, and develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. They may also offer specialized services such as liver disease management, IBD care, or motility studies, depending on the practice's focus and patient population.

Some gastroenterologists also work in academic medical centers or university-affiliated hospitals, where they combine clinical practice with teaching, research, and scholarly activities. In academic settings, gastroenterologists may supervise medical students, residents, and fellows, participate in clinical trials and research studies, and contribute to advancements in the field through publications and presentations at national and international conferences. Academic gastroenterologists have access to cutting-edge research facilities, collaboration opportunities with other specialists, and resources to pursue academic interests while providing high-quality patient care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Doctor Specializations and Degrees

The following is a comprehensive list of the various specializations that a doctor can pursue and a brief summary of each specialization:

Allergist: An allergist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and related conditions. Allergists have specialized training in the recognition and management of allergic reactions.
Anesthesiologist: An anesthesiologist keeps a patient comfortable, safe and pain-free during surgery by administering local or general anesthetic.
Cardiologist: A cardiologist specializes in finding, treating, and preventing diseases that affect the heart, the arteries, and the veins.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon: A cardiothoracic surgeon specializes in surgical procedures inside the thorax (the chest), which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. As well as performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs.
Chiropractic Neurologist: A chiropractic neurologist is a specialized type of chiropractor who has undergone additional training in the field of neurology. They diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the nervous system.
Chiropractor: A chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic medicine, specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, especially in the spine. Treatment is usually physical manipulation of the joints and the spine to bring them back into alignment. A chiropractor does not perform surgery or prescribe medication.
Colorectal Surgeon: A colorectal surgeon specializes in diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus, as well as the entire gastric tract. These surgeons work closely with urologists, who handle the urogenital tract in males and the urinary tract of women, gynecologists, who deal with specific female issues, and gastroenterologists, who deal with diseases of the gut.
Doctor: An general overview of what a doctor does and how to become one.
Dentist: Dentists identify potential oral health issues such as gum disease, as well as examine patients, order medical tests and determine the correct diagnosis and treatment. They also perform oral surgery and remove teeth or address other dental health problems.
Dermatologist: A dermatologist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting skin, hair, sweat and oil glands, nails, and mucus membranes (inside the mouth, nose, and eyelids) which can include cancer.
Emergency Medicine Physician: An emergency medicine physician works in emergency departments, hospitals, and urgent care clinics, and is often the first medical professional that patients see when they are in need of urgent medical care.
Endocrinologist: An endocrinologist specializes in diagnosing conditions and diseases related to the glands and hormones. While primary care doctors know a lot about the human body, for conditions and diseases directly related to glands and hormones they will typically send a patient to an endocrinologist.
Family Practitioner: A family practitioner specializes in caring for the entire family. Patients can be children, adults, and the elderly, and are treated for a wide array of medical issues.
Forensic Pathologist: A forensic pathologist investigates the cause of sudden and unexpected deaths, and is able to determine how a person died by performing an autopsy and studying tissue and laboratory results. These doctors are often called upon to provide evidence in court regarding the cause and time of such deaths.
Gastroenterologist: A gastroenterologist has specific training in diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This may include diseases and disorders that affect the the biliary system (liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts), as well as the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon).
Geriatrician: A geriatrician specializes in the care of elderly patients, and often works with patients who have multiple chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as age-related cognitive and functional impairments.
Gynecologist: A gynecologist specializes in women's reproductive systems. Gynecologists are also sometimes certified as obstetricians, and will monitor the health of the mother and the fetus during a pregnancy.
Hematologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders, such as anemia and leukemia.
Hospitalist: A hospitalist is a physician whose focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their duties include patient care, teaching, research, and leadership related to hospital medicine.
Immunologist: An immunologist specializes in managing problems related to the immune system, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. A smaller number of immunologists are strictly researchers seeking to better understand how the immune system works and to help develop better ways of diagnosing and providing treatment for many immunological conditions.
Infectious Disease Specialist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis.
Internist: An internist is a 'doctor of internal medicine' who can diagnose, treat, and practice compassionate care for adults across the spectrum, from health to complex illness. They are not to be mistaken with "interns," who are doctors in their first year of residency training.
Medical Examiner: Medical examiners are responsible for performing autopsies and collecting evidence related to the circumstances of a death, including medical history, physical examination findings, and toxicology tests.
Naturopathic Physician: A naturopathic physician blends modern scientific medical practice and knowledge with natural and traditional forms of medical treatment. The goal is to treat the underlying causes of disease while stimulating the body's own healing abilities.
Nephrologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. They treat conditions such as chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, kidney stones, hypertension, and electrolyte imbalances.
Neurologist: A neurologist specializes in treating diseases that affect the human nervous system. It is a very prestigious and difficult medical specialty due to the complexity of the nervous system, which consists of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves.
Neurosurgeon: A neurosurgeon specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes congenital anomalies, trauma, tumours, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative diseases of the spine.
Obstetrician: An obstetrician is a medical doctor who specializes in caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Occupational Physician: Occupational medicine is focused on keeping individuals well at work, both mentally and physically. As workplaces become more complex, occupational physicians play an important role in advising people on how their work can affect their health.
Oncologist: An oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The three primary types of oncologists are: medical oncologists that specialize in the administration of drugs to kill cancer cells; surgical oncologists that perform surgical procedures to identify and remove cancerous tumors; and radiation oncologists that treat cancer with radiation therapy.
Ophthalmologist: An ophthalmologist is a specialist that deals specifically with the structure, function, diseases, and treatment of the eye. Due to the complexities and the importance of the eye as a special sense that provides vision, the discipline of ophthalmology is dedicated solely to this organ.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: An oral and maxillofacial surgeon treats dental and medical problems involving the oral cavity and the maxillofacial area. The maxillofacial area includes the bones of the forehead, face, cheekbones and the soft tissues. Treatment often involves performing surgery and related procedures to treat diseases, defects, or injuries, and to improve function or appearance.
Orthodontist: An orthodontist specializes in how the jaws and teeth are aligned. They help people whose teeth are misaligned or require some kind of correction – those with an improper bite, or malocclusion.
Orthopedic Surgeon / Orthopedist: An orthopaedic surgeon (or orthopedist) examines, diagnoses, and treats diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This system includes the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Osteopath: Osteopaths have attended and graduated from an osteopathic medical school and practise the system of healthcare known as osteopathy. They consider all aspects of the patient, not just the symptoms they exhibit. They see the integrated nature of the body’s organ systems and its capacity for self-regulation and self-healing.
Otolaryngologist: Otolaryngologists (or ENT physicians) are specialists trained in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. These specialists are trained in both medicine and surgery.
Pathologist: A pathologist studies the causes, nature, and effects of disease. The field of pathology is broad with concentrations on changes in cells, tissues, and organs that are the result of a disease.
Pediatrician: A pediatrician specializes in providing medical care to infants, children and teenagers by administering treatments, therapies, medications and vaccinations to treat illness, disorders or injuries.
Periodontist: A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in oral inflammation, and who knows how to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal disease.
Plastic Surgeon: A plastic surgeon specializes in reshaping healthy body parts for aesthetic reasons, and also in repairing or replacing body parts damaged by accidents, illness or malformation.
Podiatrist: A podiatrist practices podiatric medicine, which is a branch of science devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and study of medical disorders of the foot, ankle, lower leg and lower back. In the U.S. and Canada, podiatry is practiced as a specialty.
Prosthodontist: A prosthodontist specializes in restoring the look, function, comfort, and health of a patient's oral cavity with artificial materials. These artificial materials are made up of a wide variety of restorations that include fillings, dentures, veneers, crowns, bridges and oral implants.
Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who are affected by a temporary or chronic mental health problem.
Pulmonologist: A pulmonologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases of the chest, particularly pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, and complicated chest infections.
Radiologist: A radiologist is a specialist in interpreting medical images that may be obtained with x-rays, (CT scans or radiographs), nuclear medicine (involving radioactive substances, magnetism (MRI), or ultrasound.
Rheumatologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Sports Medicine Physician: A sports medicine physician specializes in taking care of people who have sports injuries that may be acquired from playing sports, exercising, or from otherwise being physically active.
Surgeon: A surgeon performs surgery for the purpose of removing diseased tissue or organs, to repair body systems, or to replace diseased organs with transplants.
Telemedicine Physician: A telemedicine physician provides remote healthcare services to patients using telecommunications technology, facilitating virtual consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations.
Urologist: A urologist specializes in the treatment of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Urologists can treat the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, and male reproductive organs. There are also specific specialty areas that urologists may choose to focus on, such as pediatric urology, male infertility, and urologic oncology.
Vascular Medicine Specialist - A vascular medicine specialist specializes in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels. They may work with patients who have conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, or pulmonary embolism.
Vascular Surgeon - A vascular surgeon specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels, including aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins.
Veterinary Dentist - A veterinary dentist is a specialized veterinarian who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental diseases and conditions in animals. They perform dental procedures such as cleanings, extractions, and oral surgeries to improve the oral health and well-being of pets and other animals.

Degrees

See Also

Doctor Allergist Anesthesiologist Cardiologist Cardiothoracic Surgeon Chiropractor Colorectal Surgeon Dentist Dermatologist Emergency Medicine Physician Endocrinologist Family Practitioner Forensic Pathologist Geriatrician Gynecologist Hematologist Hospitalist Immunologist Infectious Disease Specialist Internist Medical Examiner Naturopathic Physician Nephrologist Neurologist Neurosurgeon Obstetrician Occupational Physician Oncologist Ophthalmologist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Orthopedic Surgeon Orthopedist Orthodontist Osteopath Otolaryngologist Pathologist Pediatrician Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Podiatrist Prosthodontist Psychiatrist Pulmonologist Radiologist Rheumatologist Sports Medicine Physician Surgeon Urologist Vascular Medicine Specialist Vascular Surgeon Chiropractic Neurologist Veterinary Dentist Telemedicine Physician

Gastroenterologists are also known as:
GI Specialist Gastrointestinal Specialist