Gastroenterology

Pediatric Gastroenterology

All infants and children experience digestive upsets at some point and in most cases, their primary care physician can help them get better. But when disorders of the digestive system are severe, persistent or complex, families may be referred to a specialist in children's digestive disorders.

This kind of specialist is known as a pediatric gastroenterologist. At Stony Brook Children's, the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition serves Suffolk County as a referral center for complex cases. We specialize in the diagnosis and long-term care for children with gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic and nutritional disorders, including celiac disease at our own Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity Center, the first comprehensive center on Long Island to address celiac and gluten issues for children and teens.

Committed to delivering comprehensive, collaborative care, our gastroenterology division conducts about 5,000 outpatient visits and 750 inpatient consults and endoscopies per year. The division is actively involved in clinical and basic science research in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. We also teach medical students, residents and fellows affiliated with the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.

Services

A complete range of diagnostic and treatment options are available through the pediatric gastroenterology division — more comprehensive in scope than any other hospital in Suffolk County.

Our services include:

Upper endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy
Colonoscopy
Removal of intestinal polyps
Placement of gastrostomy tubes (PEG)
Control of intestinal bleeding
Evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Impedance studies
BRAVO 24 hr pH monitoring
Evaluation for Crohn's Disease and Colitis
Intestinal motility studies
Lactose breath test
Liver biopsy

In addition, our Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity Center provides comprehensive evaluation, treatment and management of celiac disease and related disorders including gluten sensitivity/intolerance.

We take a multidisciplinary approach, which means connecting children and families with the appropriate Stony Brook Children’s experts, including registered dieticians.

Our Team

Our team of board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists is complemented by highly trained nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and celiac educators. We work closely with our state-of-the-art endoscopy unit staff as well as motility laboratory staff.
Pediatric anesthesiologists provide anesthesia for all endoscopy patients, which is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to diagnose a number of gastrointestinal issues including celiac disease.
Together, we provide multidisciplinary care drawing upon all the resources and specialists of our academic medical center as needed, including pediatric surgery, pediatric radiology, pediatric anesthesia, pediatric intensive care and more.

Anupama Chawla, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Medical Co-Director & Diplomat of National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialist

Keith Breglio, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Grace N K Gathungu, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Ada K. Lee, DABOM

Medical Co-Director & American Board of Obesity Medicine Diplomat

Jeffrey Morganstern, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Reach Out for Youth (ROFY) with Ileitis and Colitis: Provides education and support for children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Call (631) 293-3102 for more information, email info@reachoutforyouth.org or search for ROFY on Facebook.
Suffolk County Celiacs Support and Awareness Group: Provides education and support to persons suffering from gluten intolerances, including celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis and gluten sensitivities. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30p.m. at the West Islip Community Center, 90 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY 11795. Email SuffolkCountyCeliacs@gmail.com for more information.
Cystic Fibrosis Support Group (in collaboration with the Division of Pulmonology): For parents or caregivers of children with cystic fibrosis. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7p.m. at Middle Country Public Library, Centereach Branch, 101 Eastwood Blvd. Call (631) 580-6075 or (631) 839-8926.

Research and Education

Research and education are vital components of our work. Our pediatric gastroenterology fellowship program is American College Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited.

The division is actively involved in clinical and basic science research, routinely presents papers as well as invited lectures at national conferences, and has a long list of publications in professional journals.

Topics of current research interest include:

Celiac disease
Gastroesophageal reflux — pH monitoring
Inflammatory bowel disease — We are a part of the ImproveCareNow collaborative community
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Nutrition-related research in children with cystic fibrosis

Advances and Recognitions

Click on our experts to review their individual recognitions in the field of pediatric gastroenterology:

Castle Connolly Top Doctor (New York Magazine Top Doctor, Newsday Top Doctors on Long Island) since 2008 to present
President, National Board of Nutrition Physician Specialists (2022 to 2025)
Chair, Nutrition Committee at Stony Brook University Hospital
NASPGHAN Nutrition Committee
Medical Co-Director, Healthy Weight and Wellness Center at Stony Brook University Hospital
Co-Director, Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity at Stony Brook University Hospital
Vice President, National Board of Nutrition Physician Specialists for exam content (2018-2024)
Stony Brook University Hospital Fellowship Education Committee
Stony Brook University Hospital Pediatric RSOC Committee
NASPGHAN Celiac Disease special interest group
NASPGHAN Fecal Microbiota Transplant special interest group

Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2023 (New York Magazine Top Doctor, Newsday Top Doctors on Long Island)
NASPGHAN Endoscopy and Procedures Committee
Director, Pediatric Endoscopy Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook University Hospital Endoscopy Committee
Pediatric Gastroenterology Rotation Director for Pediatric Residents
Pediatric Gastroenterology Curriculum for Pediatric Residency

Recipient, Intramural award from Pediatrics for research project: 'Infection and drug studies using enteroids'
NASPGHAN International Committee
Stony Brook University Hospital Pediatric RSOC Committee

NASPGHAN Technology Committee

Medical Co-Director, Healthy Weight and Wellness Center at Stony Brook University Hospital

Medical Advisor, Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center at Stony Brook University Hospital

Physician Lead, ImproveCareNow (national database registry and research tool for IBD)
Deputy Chief Medical Information Officer and IT Liaison for the Department of Pediatrics
Stony Brook University Hospital Wellbeing Committee

Program Director, Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship
NASPGHAN Ethics Committee
NASPGHAN Celiac Disease special interest group
Stony Brook University Hospital Ethics Committee and Ethics Consult service
Stony Brook University Hospital Fellowship Education Committee
Co-Director, Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Center at Stony Brook University Hospital

Definitions

This measures acidity in the digestive tract and replaces a previously used less sensitive, less comfortable technology.

This diagnostic test involves a tiny capsule the size of a pill that is swallowed and takes pictures of the entire small intestine over an 8-hour period.

Permits a visual examination of the colon.

Done endoscopically using state-of-the-art modalities like heater probes, clips and argon coagulation.

Clinical test using 24 to 48 hour reflux monitoring.

Tests to determine if contents from the stomach are coming up into the esophagus.

Measures how well the esophagus is doing its job.

Test to help determine whether the patient is lactose intolerant.

Feeding tube placed in the stomach, also known as a g-tube.

Performed endoscopically.

Procedure using a lighted, flexible endoscope to see inside the upper GI tract.