Gastroenterologist Job Description
Gastroenterologists, also known as GI doctors, are physicians who have specific knowledge and expertise in treating the digestive system. A gastroenterologist specializes in diagnosing and treating problems with the esophagus, intestines, gallbladder, stomach, liver and pancreas.
Other People Are Reading
-
Duties
-
Gastroenterologists have extensive knowledge about the movement of food and nutrients through the body. They most commonly treat such conditions as colon polyps, colon cancer, hepatitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pancreatitis, colitis, gallbladder disease, peptic ulcer disease and other medical conditions that disrupt the normal function of the digestive tract.
Teamwork
-
A gastroenterologist is often in charge of a team of other nurse practioners or physician assistants, so he or she must be able to work well with others and be a confident leader. Family doctors often refer their patients to gastroenterologists whenever a problem with the digestive system is unclear. Gastroenterologists can perform a number of more specialized tests to make an accurate diagnoses. During treatment, they may confer with a patient's primary doctor or other specialists, such as oncologists when dealing with cancer or endocrinologists when dealing with the pancreas (such as diabetes) and hormone problems.
-
Endoscopy
-
A gastroenterologist receives extensive training in various types of endoscopic procedures. Most often, endoscopy involves using a long, thin tube with a light and tiny camera on the end; the scope is maneuvered inside of a person's body to get a clear, up-close view of internal organs. Endoscopy is used to visually search for internal problems, to remove polyps in the colon, to widen narrow areas of the intestinal tract and esophagus, to perform biopsies to test for cancer, and to fix internal bleeding problems. A gastroenterologist must be an expert in performing all of those procedures safely, as well as in interpreting images and deciding upon treatment options. Some gastroenterologists undergo specific training to perform endoscopic surgeries.
Education
-
In the U.S., a gastroenterologist must graduate with a bachelor degree from a college or university, complete another four years of medical school, go through an internal medicine residency for three years and, in most cases, continue on with more specialized gastroenterology training through fellowships, which normally last another two to three years. After completing all their training, gastroenterologist hopefuls must become board certified by passing a test given by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Pay
-
As with most medical specializations, the salary of a gastroenterologist can be very lucrative and depends upon the years of active practice. According to PayScale.com, in August 2009 the average yearly pay for a person just entering the career as a gastroenterologist makes between $162,083 and $259,977. After gaining five to nine years of experience, gastroenterologists make $137,569 to $279,775 per year. After being in the practice for 10 years or more, the higher end of the pay scale nears $305,209 per year.
-
