Gastroenterology: Human Digestion and You

It’s a mouthful to say: gastroenterology is the field of medicine concerned with the human digestive system. Including the stomach, the esophagus, and more, doctors in the field are well versed in handling illnesses and ailments which might cause interruption and problems with the digestive process. As they are doctors, their initial education path is not different in any meaningful way from any other medical doctor. They must attend medical school and follow that up with a residency in their chosen specialty.

Doctors of gastroenterology are among the highest paid professions in the United States (though this can be said of nearly any medical doctor). The average salary in the field is just over $160,000 when taking all of the country’s data into account. According to sources such as the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth in this field is expected to prosper, growing upwards of 15 percent between 2006 and 2010.

As specialists in the field of digestion, doctors of gastroenterology are called upon to both diagnose and treat conditions, illnesses, and diseases which affect the human body’s digestive system. This may include some preliminary diagnosis of certain cancers of the stomach and esophagus, though these may be treated more fully by a more specific doctor of oncology (who may be a gastroenterologist himself). As with any medical doctor, most individuals in this field can expect to work long hours and to be on call for much of their leisure time in the event of an emergency.

In addition to their work with patients, those doctors who choose to go into private practice must wear a second hat: that of a business professional. A practice is sometimes difficult to get up off the ground and it requires not only a knowledge of how to run a business, but how to promote it as well. This, in addition to their regular duties in the field of gastroenterology. Because of the enormous strain this can put on a doctor, they often make it one of the primary goals to hire someone who can run the business side of the practice.

If you need to schedule an appointment with a doctor of gastroenterology, make it your first goals to find someone who is respected and well liked in the community. With the advent of the internet and review sites, this shouldn’t be too difficult. Find out what people are saying about the various doctors in your area and get a referral from your primary physician if you can.