Gastroenterology is a specialized field of medicine focusing on the intricate workings of your digestive system. This includes the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. A medical professional who specializes in this area is known as a gastroenterologist, often referred to as a Gastro Doctor or GI (gastrointestinal) doctor.
Gastro doctors are experts in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions affecting your digestive tract and liver. Beyond treating illnesses, they also perform routine, yet crucial, procedures like colonoscopies to screen for and prevent diseases. Becoming a gastro doctor requires extensive training, including 5 to 6 years of specialized education after completing medical school. You might be referred to a gastro doctor by your primary care physician for specialized care.
What Does a Gastro Doctor Do?
Within the broad field of gastroenterology, a gastro doctor is primarily concerned with the health and function of your stomach and intestines. This encompasses the entire digestive process, from breaking down food and absorbing essential nutrients to eliminating waste effectively. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common disorder affecting the large intestine, and pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, are within the scope of a gastro doctor’s expertise.
Hepatology is a related subspecialty that zeroes in on the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. If you are experiencing symptoms or conditions related to these organs, such as liver disease caused by medications, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), or abnormal liver enzyme levels detected in blood tests, your doctor may refer you to a hepatologist. Hepatologists also play a critical role in managing patients who require liver transplants.
Proctology, another branch, traditionally focused on the rectum, anus, and colon – parts of the large intestine. However, the practice has evolved.
Gastro Doctor vs. Colorectal Surgeon
The term “proctologist,” once common for specialists treating the lower digestive tract, has largely been replaced by “colorectal surgeon.” While “proctologist” specifically referred to the anus and rectum, “colorectal” encompasses both the colon and rectum. Essentially, colorectal surgeons are experts in treating all parts of your large intestine and often beyond.
Colorectal surgeons, in addition to performing surgeries such as gallbladder removals, manage a diverse set of conditions. These can include anal fissures, gallstones, constipation, hemorrhoids, hernias, and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease.
Education and Training to Become a Gastro Doctor
Gastro doctors begin their journey with a strong foundation in internal medicine. They are first and foremost internists, meaning they specialize in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases affecting the internal organs. Like all medical doctors, aspiring gastro doctors must first complete medical school, earning an MD or DO degree.
Following medical school, they embark on rigorous residency and fellowship training. A residency in internal medicine provides a broad base of medical knowledge. This is then followed by a specialized fellowship in gastroenterology, lasting several years. This intensive fellowship is where they gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills in all aspects of gastroenterology, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
In summary, a gastro doctor is a highly trained specialist dedicated to the health of your digestive system, playing a vital role in both preventing and treating a wide spectrum of conditions to ensure your overall well-being.
