Having recently joined the University of Arizona as division chief, I am excited by the potential for growth and advancement within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Most important, we are investing in our people. The division is currently reviewing faculty applicants that can continue to improve our delivery of health care to increasing numbers of patients that seek us out for treatment of a variety of liver related disorders...

Juanita L. Merchant, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Read More

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology provides comprehensive resources for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. These include disorders of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, gall bladder, liver and bile ducts. We are committed to excellence in patient care, education and research in digestive diseases (gastroenterology) and liver disorders (hepatology).

Our division has an outstanding group of renowned physicians and researchers with expertise in diseases of the esophagus, liver, pancreas and colon. Our primary clinical teaching facilities are the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South hospitals. The division is involved in liver transplantation and works closely with the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center in the state, to provide innovative, cutting-edge treatments for cancers of the gastrointestinal system.

Also within the college is the Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute, which is dedicated to the advancement of liver-related research. The institute provides a foundation from which physician-scientists can do basic and translational research related solely to liver disorders. The hepatology residents and fellows are mentored by experienced faculty within the institute.  Disciplines represented in the center include biomedical engineering, nursing, pharmacology, endocrinology, pathology, pharmacy, surgery, molecular biology and radiology.

In our Endoscopy Lab, we perform both routine and advanced procedures that are not offered by others in the region. We function as a center for the development of new and advanced imaging techniques, working closely with some of the best biomedical researchers and optical engineers in the nation.

With our diverse research activities and our dedication to the education of future physicians in this field, we are able to provide a breadth of expertise that is unparalleled in the region. As we expand our services, we will create new centers of excellence that will not only provide state-of-the-art care but also facilitate new discoveries.

News

[A collage image of Billie Bixby, MD, Monica Hinestroza Jordan, MD, and Julia Jernberg, MD]
Three from DOM elected to Pima County Medical Society Board

Interventional Pulmonology program director Billie Bixby, MD, Infectious Diseases Fellowship associate program director Monica Hinestroza Jordan, MD, and geriatrician Julia Jernberg, MD, who heads the Ambulatory Clerkship Program, are among five new members picked for local society’s board. See who else from U of A is represented.
[With Association of American Cancer Institutes PCLI and CTI logos below their portraits, from left, Bhavana Bhatnagar, DO; Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO; Michael E. Hurwitz, MD, PhD; Barbara Ma, MD, MS; and Erin Winters, BSN, RN, BMTCN.]
Dr. Rachna Shroff elected to AACI steering committee

The DOM Division of Hematology & Oncology chief and interim clinical affairs director and associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center joins the Association of American Cancer Institutes’ Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative Steering Committee.
[GI fellows gather to celebrate the program's winter festival event, with a flyer for the division's 2024 Holiday Photo Booth overlayed on the image.]
GI brings back Holiday Photo Booth for reprise on sharing seasonal cheer

The Division of Gastroenterology is reprising its Holiday Photo Booth, which made its debut last year as a way to add a lighter moment of joy during the end-of-year holiday season. All in the Department of Medicine are welcome to come shoot selfies and share them – or just keep them for personal pleasure. Sharing’s been made easier via a simple app accessible with a QR code.

More News