Gastroenterology

The Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition faculty and support staff continue to care for a diverse population of patients with gastrointestinal and liver disorders. Clinical services include a comprehensive nutrition support/TPN service and pediatric liver transplant program. A total of 18 transplants were performed this past year and the 96% three-year survival rate leads the nation. There are Divisional clinical research projects in the areas of treatment of childhood hepatitis C, screening for celiac disease, chronic abdominal pain syndrome of childhood, childhood gastroesophageal reflux disease, assessment of intestinal permeability, assessment of vitamin A status in children on long-term hyperalimentation and acute liver failure. Basic research projects with NIH funding includes the study of mechanisms for bacterial translocation from the gut, and the molecular characteristics of NS2 protein of hepatitis C virus.

National and International Recognition

Michelle Pietzak, MD

• Selected as “Our Favorite Gastroenterologist”
• Sulley’s Living Without, Winter, 2001.

Dan Thomas, MD,

• Selected as one of the Best Doctors, USA, 2001.

National Key Committees

Michelle Pietzak, MD

• Member, Research Committee, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHN)

Frank Sinatra, MD

• Member, Educational Committee, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
• Member, American Board of Pediatrics

Dan Thomas, MD

• Member, editorial board, Pediatrics in Review.

Publications

Number of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals 1
Number of book chapters published 1
Number of abstracts published 5
Number of articles in non-peer-reviewed journals 4

Community Outreach Programs

Michelle Pietzak, MD
Program Chair, R.O.C.K.
(Raising Our Celiac Kids), Celiac Disease Foundation
Program Chair, Celiac Awareness Day,
Celiac Sprue Association
Frank Sinatra, MD, and Dan Thomas, MD
Medical Advisory Board, American Liver Foundation, Los Angeles Chapter.

Institutional Collaborations

Michelle Pietzak, MD

• Multicenter screening for celiac disease in USA, University of Maryland.

Frank Sinatra, MD

• Multicenter Pediatric Trial for the Treatment of Childhood Hepatitis C, USC University Hospital/Keck School of Medicine.

Dan Thomas, MD

• Multicenter Study Group for Pediatric Acute Liver Failure, University of Texas, Southwest Medical Center

Other Highlights

Michelle Pietzak, MD

• NI DDK Mentored Scientist Award, Molecular Studies of E. Coli Translocation from the Gut, $587,250, 1999-2004.

Ardath Yamaga, MD

• NIDDK Mentored Scientist Award, Molecular Studies of Hepatitis C Virus NS2 Protein, $622,350, 2001-2006.

Frank Sinatra, MD

• Director Pediatric Clerkship – Keck USC School of Medicine