Webinar Preview: Hot Topics in Pediatric Gastroenterology

The Pulse | Thursday, May 23, 2019

You’re likely familiar with a number of gastroenterological issues found in adult patients, but how much do you know when it comes to pediatric patients? SGNA recently spoke with Jeremy Middleton, MD, to get a preview of his upcoming webinar, “Hot Topics in Pediatric Gastroenterology.” Middleton discusses why children should not be treated as smaller adults, why this is an important topic for the community and what attendees can expect to learn from his webinar.

Can you tell us what you do and how you became involved in pediatric gastroenterology?

I am currently an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia. I am a general pediatric gastroenterologist who sees the gamut of children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver conditions. That being said, I am also heavily involved in our neonatal population, as well as children with aerodigestive issues and […] children requiring liver transplant.

Although I have always been interested in taking care of children, I decided to return to fellowship after three years as a general pediatrician so I could be more involved with children who have chronic medical conditions, in a subspecialty that is procedure-oriented and has both inpatient and outpatient exposure.

Another reason I went back to fellowship is my interest in medical education and my desire to work with trainees at the medical student, resident and fellow level.

Why is this topic important for GI nurses and associates to know more about?

Pediatric gastrointestinal issues are becoming more and more common. It is important to recognize similarities and differences in how some of these common gastrointestinal issues present themselves and are treated in children versus adults.

Why did you choose this topic for your webinar?

I work in what is called a “free leaning” children's hospital. That means our children's hospital is in the main hospital, allowing us to interact closely with our adult gastroenterology colleagues.

Many of our endoscopy cases occur in the adult endoscopy suite, and I find that our nurses and technicians are quite well versed in adult gastroenterology issues, but are less comfortable with pediatric gastrointestinal problems. I hope this webinar will shed some light on some of the common problems that we see in pediatric gastroenterology and identify how caring for children is often different than in adult patients.

What should attendees expect to learn in your webinar?

My goal is to not only talk about common gastrointestinal problems that are encountered in my day-to-day clinic, but to concentrate on the differences in presentation and treatment of celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and eosinophilic esophagitis in children.

There is a huge need for additional nurses to become more involved in the care of pediatric patients with gastrointestinal problems and I would urge those interested to make that leap into the world of pediatrics.

SGNA webinars allow you to gain a deeper understanding on hot topics and provide an opportunity to get contact hours in your own home. Learn more about the June 13 webinar and others here. SGNA is a community of nurses, technicians, medical assistants, industry representatives and other GI professionals. Members join to stay up-to-date on industry trends and evidence-based practice, receive free and discounted education, network with others passionate about gastroenterology and to feel pride in their profession. Join SGNA today!