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The Division of Digestive Diseases, often referred to by patients and staff as the GI Division, continues to grow and improve under the leadership of Thomas L. Abell, M.D. The division’s faculty members, Drs. Thomas L. Abell, Walter T. Boone, and Roland F. Garretson are devoted to research and the clinical care of patients with gastrointestinal, liver, and nutritional disorders. Faculty members continue publication efforts. Seven (7) peer-reviewed articles have been published during the 2006 – 2007 academic year. More than 120 healthcare providers from Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas attended the last “Digestive Diseases Update Symposium for the Non-Gastroenterologist.” Faculty members continue to speak at various educational meetings, both locally and nationally, for physicians and other healthcare providers. Collaborative research is being conducted with other departments at the Medical Center as well as, with medical centers outside Mississippi. In 2006, the division was selected as one of five national sites to participate in a National Institute of Health grant entitled “Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium Registry.” A research study entitled “Gastric Electrical Stimulation System (Enterra) Implantation and Data Collection for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Gastroparesis” was implemented in 2001. Other areas of research interest include immunology in irritable bowel syndrome and gastroparesis patients, intestinal pseudoobstruction, GERD, functional dyspepsia, diabetic enteropathy, pelvic floor dysfunction, dysphagia, sedation for endoscopy, irritable bowel syndrome, and hepatitis C. Drug and device-related trials are underway. Clinical volume at the University Medical Pavilion, the Jackson Medical Mall, and the G.V. (“Sonny”) Montgomery Department of Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center has increased nearly 20 percent over the last year, and growth continues. The Medical Center is the only facility in the state to offer gastric electrical stimulator placement for any type of gastroparesis. The division supervises the Nutritional Support Team (NST) at the Medical Center, and faculty members work with pharmacists, nutritionists, and other providers to care for the nutritional needs of patients. The team receives about 40 consults per month with an average length of care of one week, treating more than 3,000 patient days per year. Team members are active in the local American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition chapter and sponsor several education meetings on nutrition every year. Digestive Diseases fellows include Drs. Chris Abrasley, Vikram Tarugu, Matt Runnels, Naren Siddaiah, Trippe McNeese, and Namita Pareek. Faculty members provide clinical gastrointestinal service outreach service to surrounding communities in Mississippi. The Medical Center is the only Level I Trauma Center in Mississippi. | ||||||
