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Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pancreatology, and Nutrition

Aliye Uc, MD
Division Director


The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pancreatology, and Nutrition is committed to providing the highest available level of care to children with disorders of the digestive system, liver, and pancreas. Accomplishments within the division have to a high ranking by the U.S. News and World Report's Best Children’s Hospitals survey and that we are part of the larger success of the entire University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s hospital enterprise. Ten physicians and four nurses are accessible and responsive to patient needs.

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pancreatology, and Nutrition provides a broad range of expertise to evaluate and treat all digestive health problems of childhood. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Chronic diarrhea and malabsorption
  • Congenital problems of the bowel
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Bleeding
  • Peptic ulcers
  • Vomiting
  • Food allergies and intolerances
  • Disorders of feeding and swallowing
  • Short bowel syndrome
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis
  • Constipation
  • Problems with continence (stool leakage)
  • Pancreatitis and pancreatic insufficiency
  • Liver transplantation
  • Other diseases of the liver
    • Acute and chronic viral hepatitis
    • Autoimmune hepatitis
    • Metabolic liver diseases
    • Liver failure and cirrhosis

The division provides a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy services, offering these when necessary to manage children's health issues.

The division makes several services available to Iowa communities through easy access to care. Division clinics are located in Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Cedar Falls. The division also offers consultation and learning opportunities for daycare centers, schools, hospitals, clinics and interest groups throughout the state. Clinicians are available to help families with referrals to other specialists and service providers as required. The division also provides advocacy for the patient population to support availability of medications and services in a changing health care environment.

Families of children with digestive diseases need to understand their child’s problem. One of the division's most important functions is to provide families with the information they require. At every clinic visit, patients and families are informed, giving them the power to truly understand their problem and to assist in its management.

As part of the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, we are actively involved in teaching medical student, physician assistant students, and advanced trainees (pediatric and family medicine residents, pediatric gastroenterology fellows) every day. Faculty and staff are also available to travel around the state to give lectures to physicians and community groups.