Division Chief's Message

As the Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, I am thrilled to announce the establishment of the Digestive Health Institute (DHI). In my role as the Executive Director of the DHI, I am proud to highlight our collaboration with our surgical colleagues. This new designation better reflects our status as a comprehensive service line within Northwestern Medicine.

The DHI consists of nearly a fully employed physician group across all of NM's Chicagoland hospitals. As a comprehensive service line, we can implement best practices in our clinical operations to ensure that we provide our patients with the highest quality of care while utilizing advanced technology throughout the system. In the coming years, we plan to enhance our community hospitals to offer more complex and advanced gastrointestinal care that would typically be available only at academic medical centers.

Within the DHI, we are humbled by the generosity of our grateful patients who have donated to support our mission. Over the past year, with the help of philanthropic contributions, we established the Hanauer IBD Center, named in honor of the world-renowned expert in inflammatory bowel disease, Dr. Stephen Hanauer. Dr. Hanauer has been instrumental in enhancing clinical research and has published extensively on IBD management. He has also played a key role in developing new therapeutic strategies and treatment guidelines, significantly impacting patient care across the world. The establishment of the Hanauer IBD Center allows us to focus our efforts on advancing treatment options in this specialty. Dr. Parambir Dulai leads our research initiatives and is currently the Principal Investigator of a multicenter trial assessing the role of hyperbaric oxygen in IBD. He has also been awarded several grants focused on spatial transcriptomics in IBD. Dr. Eugene Yen is enhancing diagnostic options to improve patient access; for example, we have incorporated IBD ultrasound into our practice and will continue to explore new diagnostic tools and biomarkers for diagnosing and managing patients with IBD. Additionally, Dr. Adam Stein leads our program for nutrition-related gastrointestinal disorders, focusing on integrating nutritional therapy into comprehensive treatment plans for patients with complex IBD and small bowel disease.

In addition to the Hanauer IBD Center, the Kenneth C. Griffin Esophageal Center has been established, representing the culmination of four decades of expertise in esophagology. Dr. Peter Kahrilas founded the Northwestern Medicine esophageal program, which is now one of the leading referral centers in the world for complex esophageal cases and post-surgical complications. Most of the technologies currently used to study and diagnose esophageal diseases have been developed at Northwestern by myself (Dr. John Pandolfino) along with my current and former colleagues. One notable colleague, a pioneer in the field of esophageal disease is Dr. Ikuo Hirano, who significantly advanced our understanding of EoE. As part of the Kenneth C. Griffin Esophageal Center, we have established the Ikuo Hirano EoE Program in his memory. Dr. Hirano made substantial contributions to the understanding of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of esophageal conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and we are honored to have received philanthropic support to establish this program in recognition of his achievements. Dr. Nirmala Gonsalves, who collaborated closely with Dr. Hirano and is nationally recognized in our field, serves as the Director of the program and will continue both her and Dr. Hirano’s research efforts focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of EoE, thereby advancing knowledge about this increasingly recognized condition. Dr. Dustin Carlson is leading our initiatives in motility testing and will oversee the network of NM GI Diagnostic Labs across the Chicagoland area, providing patients with better access to motility tests closer to home. Additionally, national leader Dr. Srinadh Komanduri leads a state-of-the-art Barrett's esophagus program that emphasizes early cancer detection and new treatments such as ablation and endoscopic mucosal resection. His research and clinical practice aim to improve outcomes for patients with Barrett’s esophagus by enhancing our understanding of its progression and implementing innovative treatment approaches.

A unique aspect of the Digestive Health Institute (DHI) is our robust Interventional Gastroenterology Program. The Interventional Endoscopy Program at Northwestern Medicine is among the largest and most comprehensive in the U.S., performing over 5,500 interventional procedures annually. Over the past year, we have positioned top advanced interventional GI physicians throughout the Chicagoland area, reducing the need for patient transfers.

Our advanced endoscopy center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and supported by a skilled team. Dr. Rajesh Keswani, a nationally recognized expert in interventional endoscopy, serves as both the system director of Endoscopy and the director of Quality for NM DHI. Through his involvement with various national gastroenterology and oncology associations, he helps establish clinical practice guidelines and endoscopy training standards. His research on healthcare quality is widely published in leading journals and presented at national conferences. Dr. Aziz Aadam is renowned for his expertise in gastrointestinal oncology, particularly regarding complex pancreatic and biliary disorders. He is an internationally recognized authority on third-space endoscopy and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and he also serves as the Medical Director of International Health at NM, expanding our GI practice globally. Dr. Jasmine Sinha specializes in minimally invasive procedures for diagnosing and treating complex gastrointestinal disorders, including cancers and pancreatic diseases, collaborating with NM physician leaders in the northern suburbs. Dr. Komanduri, as mentioned before, is well-known for his work on Barrett's esophagus, large colon polyps, early gastrointestinal malignancies, and endo bariatrics.

In addition to our center and leaders in the city, we are in the process of building the Center of Advanced Endoscopy in the west suburbs of Chicago at NM Central DuPage Hospital (CDH). The Center for Advanced Endoscopy will be a state-of-the-art center unlike any other in the Midwest. The center will be equipped with the latest technology, such as artificial intelligence and an innovation lab focused on endoscopic robotics.  We will provide patients with access to ground-breaking clinical trials and technology where they live to reduce health care disparities. Additionally, the center will provide a smooth transition of care within the DHI at NMH for patients with the most advanced and complex cases facilitating high-quality care and greater access to vital services. Finally, we proudly host the annual international symposium, Chicago Live, featuring global leaders for live-streamed case reviews.

Another unique aspect of the DHI is our focus on the brain-gut connection, highlighted by the largest Behavioral Medicine program within a gastroenterology program. Our program integrates behavioral interventions into the management of chronic gastrointestinal disorders and serves as a training hub for gut-directed therapies. Our psychologists are at the forefront of healthcare delivery, having been among the first to implement telemedicine in this field.

The Behavioral Medicine program has engaged in numerous National Institutes of Health-sponsored studies on interventions for esophageal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our program is integral to the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Program led by Dr. Darren Brenner, who specializes in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our program addresses complex issues, including IBS, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and severe constipation, and serves as a national referral center for physiologic testing.

The NM Hepatology team, which collaborates closely with our Liver Transplant surgeons, is one of the largest and busiest programs in the Chicagoland area. In recent years, we have achieved record liver transplant volumes at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) since establishing a community liver transplant hub at NM Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) in the western suburbs. At CDH, our dedicated Hepatology team treats patients with complex liver diseases and conducts the necessary pre- and post-transplant evaluations. This facility, along with our network of over 15 satellite locations, extends access to patients throughout Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana, all under the leadership of Dr. Sean Koppe.

In addition to Dr. Koppe, our nationally recognized hepatology team includes Dr. Laura Kulik and Dr. Joshua Levitsky. Dr. Kulik is well-known for her expertise in managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver transplantation, and she has made significant contributions to advancing treatment options and improving outcomes for liver cancer patients. Dr. Levitsky, recognized for his work in liver transplant immunology and post-transplant care, leads large-scale NIH trials focusing on immunosuppression and tolerance, making him a world authority in post-transplant management. Additionally, our liver program emphasizes basic science research; Dr. Richard Green leads an active laboratory dedicated to studying liver and biliary pathophysiology.

TRAINING and EDUCATION

A major component, and something I’m proud of, is our faculty’s dedication to training the next generation of leaders in digestive diseases via our fellowship program. Through philanthropic support, we have established the Michael A. Ruchim Educational Endowment, honoring Dr. Michael Ruchim who is recognized educator that has participated in the training of over 75 gastroenterology fellows and over 600 medical students and residents. This endowment allows us to support our fellowship leader, Dr. Leila Kia, as well as her partners who oversee our multiple advanced fellowship programs.  

As a comprehensive curriculum that blends extensive clinical training with cutting-edge research opportunities, our fellows engage in diverse clinical rotations across various specialties, including advanced endoscopy, hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, and motility disorders. Our program prioritizes hands-on experience using the latest technologies and techniques, such as artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic tools and minimally invasive procedures. Mentorship from nationally recognized faculty is integral in fostering a collaborative learning environment that encourages academic inquiry and professional development. Our fellowship also emphasizes interdisciplinary care, incorporating behavioral medicine and nutrition into treatment plans. Furthermore, opportunities for involvement in clinical trials and translational research allow our fellows a method to contribute to the advancement of gastroenterology while enhancing their skills as future leaders in the field. Regular workshops, conferences, and multidisciplinary case discussions promote ongoing education, ensuring that our fellows are well-prepared to address the complexities of gastrointestinal health and patient care in an evolving medical landscape.

THE FUTURE

In addition to the above accomplishments in clinical care, research and training, our program is one of the first in gastroenterology that has fully embraced artificial intelligence and machine learning through our pioneering program of Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics in GI (AIM-GI).  This program was established 5 years ago through a generous donation from the Digestive Health Foundation.  The program has focused on developing physic-hybrid diagnostics and creating virtual in-silico models of gastrointestinal function.  This work is supported by the NIH and we envision being able to utilize our virtual organs to perform simulated clinical trials to test both medical and surgical interventions.  Our team has also developed our own endoscopic AI platforms to assess colonoscopy quality and we have developed the first upper endoscopy AI predictor of achalasia.  We continue to expand our portfolio across all diagnostics in gastroenterology.

In addition, we are also training the next generation of healthcare leaders through our work with the I AM ABEL foundation which seeks to empower underrepresented students who want to become physicians.  The Digestive Health Institute partnered with the foundation to start an MCAT Prep course 4 years ago to help inner city Chicago students prepare for the test.  The MCAT remains one of the biggest hurdles for underrepresented students and the course is headquartered at Northwestern within the division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 

Our success would not be possible without the help of our leadership at Northwestern Medicine and the Feinberg School of Medicine.  We are also grateful for our colleagues across the other specialties as Northwestern Medicine is truly a special place to practice medicine, perform cutting edge research and educate our trainees.