Find a Physician

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Clinical Services

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Health Information

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Research and Clinical Trials

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

For Patients, Families & Visitors

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Professionals

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Hospital News

Return to Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Overview

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Steven Lobritto, MD

The gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition programs of Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital specialize in the management of children with complex gastrointestinal and digestive, liver, and nutritional problems. The expertise of our physicians spans the range of diagnosis, procedures and treatment of these problems.

In particular, the multidisciplinary care programs integrate pediatric endoscopic procedures with insight from specialists in behavior medicine and child psychiatry. Our physicians are also at the forefront of diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding and other emergencies. In addition, programs focus on care for Crohn's disease and colitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease.

The Division of Gastroenteroloy, Hepatology and Nutrition at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is the only program in the New York tri-state area that has active programs in both liver and small bowel transplantation. Its physicians perform all diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal and liver procedures. They have extensive experience in the care of children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These specialists are nationally recognized for their expertise in nutrition support, obesity and hypercholesterolemia. In conjunction with adult gastroenterology specialists, they manage children with both disorders of the gallbladder and bile ducts and the pancreas. The division also works in conjunction with the Institute of Human Nutrition and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Liver and Liver Transplantation Center.

Clinical programs go on simultaneously throughout the tri-state area at: Nyack Hospital (Rockland County, NY), Overlook Hospital (Summit Valley, NJ), The Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, NJ), Northern Westchester Medical Center, Columbia Presbyterian Eastside (16 East 60th Street), and Lincoln and St. Barnabus Hospitals in the Bronx, and New York Hospital Queens. The program will expand to additional locations in Manhattan and Connecticut in the near future.

The Children's Cardiovascular Health Center within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital stresses cardiovascular risk reduction and prevention of obesity in children and offers a combination of counseling and diet intervention. The Center is also research focused and is supported by a National Institute of Health (NIH) research grant.

The Children's Program in Neurogastroenterology specializes in the management of children with complex digestive problems, in particular gastroesophageal reflux, feeding aversion, and recurrent pain. Clinical research in the use of the electrogastrogram (EGG), a study of the rhythm and movement of the stomach, helps expands the range of available diagnostic tests.

A new program in gut rehabilitation and management of children born with intestinal malformations and necrotizing enterocolitis resulting in a shortened bowel has recently opened. It combines the expertise of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition with the Divisions of General Pediatric Surgery and Organ Transplantation. The management of both intravenous and gastrostomy tube nutrition is a central part of this program. An outpatient feeding program with physicians, PhD feeding therapists, and speech and occupational therapists supports children who have feeding problems and difficulty swallowing, as well as their parents.