Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Infants and children with disorders that affect digestion and nutrition have a special place for help and hope at Lurie Children’s. The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is one of the leading programs in the country that offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating and treating childhood digestive disorders. 

With highly-experienced doctors, state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques and research that offers cutting-edge treatments, we see more children with digestive disorders than any other program in Illinois. Each year we have more than 14,000 patient visits and perform approximately 1,500 endoscopic procedures.

We believe in family-centered care, which means we focus on supporting the whole family along with the patient. We offer many family support services and provide space for support groups. A multidisciplinary team of experienced healthcare providers will care for your child. This team approach makes it easier for you to see every specialist your child needs under one roof and often in the same visit. 

Nationally-Ranked Care

Lurie Children's is ranked 13th in the nation for pediatric gastroenterology and GI surgery by U.S.News World Report

Gastroenterology Tests, Diagnosis & Treatments

With a mission to care for young patients with complex gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases, our division offers high quality tests and treatments with expertise not available anywhere else in the region.

Our Pediatric Gastroenterologists, Hepatologists & Nutritionists

Our entire staff is dedicated to evaluating and treating infants, children and teens. All of our physicians are board eligible/certified in pediatric gastroenterology, with a wide variety of expertise in the care of children with diseases of the digestive system, including liver disease. Our division also has doctors who specialize in liver disease in children (pediatric hepatologists), and is a leader in the field of liver transplantation.

The team also includes:

  • Pediatric nurse practitioners and nurses
  • Dietitians/nutritionists
  • Imaging specialists
  • Liver and intestinal transplant specialists
  • Pain specialists
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers

Our team also works closely with other Lurie Children’s specialists to provide integrated care, and has specialized programs with the Division of Allergy and Immunology, the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Division of Pediatric Surgery.

Barry Wershil, MD, directs the Division of Gastroenterology. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology, and has more than 25 years of experience in pediatric gastroenterology. He also is a Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

 

Barry K. Wershil, MD

Division Head, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Estella M. Alonso, MD

Estella M. Alonso, MD

Medical Director, The Siragusa Transplantation Center; Sally Burnett Searle Professorship in Pediatric Transplantation

Valeria C. Cohran, MD

Medical Director, Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation; Attending Physician, Gastroenterology

Lee M. Bass, MD

Lee M. Bass, MD

Director of Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Jeffrey B. Brown, MD

Medical Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program

Catherine A. Chapin, MD

Catherine A. Chapin, MD

Medical Director, Hepatology & Liver Transplant; Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Bonnie S. Essner, PhD

Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Mark H. Fishbein, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; Medical Director, Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorder Program; Medical Director, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (Fatty Liver Disease) Program

John E. Fortunato, Jr, MD

Director, Neurointestinal & Motility Program; Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Amanda Gomez, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Alex D. Green, DO

Alex D. Green, DO

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Maria T. Greene, MD

Maria T. Greene, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology

Natalie Hoffmann, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Batul Kaj-Carbaidwala, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Corie M. Klepper, MD, MS

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Alyssa A. Kriegermeier, MD

Alyssa A. Kriegermeier, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Mora V. Mocanu, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Suzanne P. Nelson, MD, MPH

Suzanne P. Nelson, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Peter T. Osgood, MD

Peter T. Osgood, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Maria E. Perez, DO

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Lauren Potthoff, PhD

Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

C. Allan Pratt, MD

C. Allan Pratt, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Joshua D. Prozialeck, MD

Joshua D. Prozialeck, MD, MSA

Clinical Practice Director and Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Joseph M. Runde, DO

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Adrienne Scheich, MD

Adrienne Scheich, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Jennifer A. Strople, MD

Jennifer A. Strople, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Melissa Talley, RD, LDN, CNSC

Registered Dietitian, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Sharon Tam, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Skyler A. Tomko, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Ellen S. Wagner, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Joshua B. Wechsler, MD, MSCI

Medical Director, Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Program; Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; CURED (Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease) Foundation Research Scholar

Bridget A. Whitehead, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Beata Borawski, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Katherine Brennan, MSN, APRN-NP, FNP-C, CPN

Family Nurse Practitioner, Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation

Susan Buck, APRN-NP, PNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Caroline Lois, MPAS, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Maria Manuel-Rubio, MSN, APN, CPNP

Maria Manuel-Rubio, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Emily Santolin, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Melissa C. Semp, APRN-NP

Family Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Melanie H. Shea, MSPAS, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Julie K. Shotwell, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Truc Vo, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Anil A. Kesavan, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology

Sheela Mahendra, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology

Randolph M. McConnie, MD

Attending Physician, Gastroenterology

Make an Appointment

We offer easy online scheduling for your child's GI needs. 

Our Locations

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000

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Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center

25 N. Winfield Road
East Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631

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Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center

302 Randall Road
Suite 102
Geneva, Illinois 60134
630.933.6631

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park

2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming Place
Chicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Arlington Heights

Busse Center for Specialty Medicine
880 W. Central Rd, Ste 6400
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
312.227.5410

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lake Forest

Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Campus
900 N. Westmoreland, Suite 110 (Bays Medical Office Building, 1st Floor)*
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
312.227.1010

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in New Lenox

1870 N. Silver Cross Blvd. (formerly Clinton Street)
Suite 100
New Lenox, Illinois 60451
312.227.3620

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Northbrook

1131 Techny Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
312.227.7600

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Westchester

Surgical Treatment Center
2301 Enterprise Drive
Westchester, Illinois 60154
312.227.7900

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Grayslake

1475 E. Belvidere Rd. (Rte. 120)
Suite 285, Pavilion C
Grayslake, Illinois 60030-2012
312.227.2220

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Lurie Children's Physician Office in Glenview

3633 W. Lake Ave.
Suite 103
Glenview, Illinois 60026
312.227.2250

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Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie

3722 W. Touhy Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600

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Rush Adult & Pediatric Primary Care

1645 W. Jackson Blvd.
Suite 215 Westgate Building
Chicago, IL 60612
312.942.3034

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Research

Our specialists actively conduct research to improve the treatment of digestive disorders.

Training & Education

Keeping with our belief that quality education is inseparable from our quality patient care, we partner with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to train tomorrow’s leading pediatric physicians. As the pediatric teaching hospital for the Feinberg School, we offer several opportunities for residents to further their education in a pediatric specialty. A program for foreign medical graduates focuses on science-based clinical practice. This program is designed for foreign students who anticipate returning to their countries of origin. In 1997, the program received full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Review the Feinberg School’s information to learn how to apply for our fellowship programs.

Digestive Disorders News & Stories

Finding Peace Through Pain: How Psychologists Help Chronic Pain Patients Cope

Chronic pain often causes disruption to normal childhood activities and affects a child’s mood, family and peer relationships, and their ability to do the things they care about. Psychologists are an integral part of these patients' care. Learn about the mental health professionals embedded within each program who address the emotional and mental well-being of their patients. 

Read more

Newsweek Ranks Lurie Children’s Hospital #1 in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Nationally

Lurie Children’s ranked #1 in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Newsweek’s list of 'America’s Best Children’s Hospitals 2024,' and was listed in the top 10 in three other specialties.

Read more

Sawyer’s Fighting Chance: His Own Father

Newborn baby Sawyer battled a life-threatening liver condition for months until the most perfect donor was found and turned everything around: his own dad.  

Read more

The Falasz Family Finds Comfort in Their Care Team After Turner Syndrome Diagnosis

At 18 months, Rose was diagnosed with a genetic condition that she'd have to manage the rest of her life - Mosaic Turner Syndrome. Thankfully, her parents found immense comfort in the experts at Lurie Children's. 

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Innovative Botox Therapy Allows Franny to Thrive Independently After Difficult Years of Gastroparesis

20-year-old Franny faced challenges with digestive disorders most of her childhood. But when her symptoms became too severe to manage on her own, her care team turned to an unsuspecting treatment: Botox injections.

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Botox Improves Chronic Nausea and Vomiting in Children with Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction

Read more

Philanthropy

Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500