St. Luke’s pediatric gastroenterologists treat digestive disord – Times News Online

Published on April 5, 2022 13:42

Healthy digestion of food allows your child to develop physically and mentally. But sometimes a digestive disorder can prevent a child from getting the nutrition they need to gain weight, grow taller and reach physical and mental milestones.

St. Luke’s Pediatric Gastroenterology is here to help.

St. Luke’s Pediatric Gastroenterology, dedicated to helping children thrive, hired fellowship-trained pediatric gastroenterologists Jonathan Beri, MD, and Hassan Abdullah, MD.

They have joined pediatric gastroenterologist David Blanco, MD, and nurse practitioners Susan Holecz, CRNP, and Lorileen Bautista, CRNP, and dietitian Colleen Kandt, RD, CSP, LDN.

As pediatric gastroenterology providers, they diagnose, treat, and manage conditions that involve the digestive tract and the organs that support it, including the liver and pancreas.

Parents should consider having their child evaluated by a pediatric gastroenterologist when digestive problems begin to interfere with their child’s life, growth or development on a regular basis.

Our team of healthcare providers works with a collaborative approach and sees patients from newborns to their teens.

“As a pediatrician and as a parent, I recognize that a healthy childhood is the foundation of healthy adulthood,” said Dr. Abdullah. “With that in mind, I find a tremendous sense of reward in the quest to help patients during the most transformative time of their lives.”

drs. Abdullah and Beri said the diversity of pediatric gastroenterology drew them to the specialty. Their patients can have a wide variety of conditions, ranging from common conditions to life-threatening conditions.

dr. Abdullah is particularly interested in the environmental factors of inflammatory bowel disease in children and the impact of COVID-19 on inflammatory bowel disease in children.

dr. Beri’s clinical interests include treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic disease and celiac disease.

Common conditions they treat include:

• Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract

• Lactose intolerance

• Food allergies or intolerances

• Severe or complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as reflux

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Eosinophilic esophagitis

• Liver diseases

• Acute or chronic abdominal pain

• Vomit

• Chronic Constipation

• Chronic or severe diarrhea

• Pancreatic insufficiency and pancreatitis

• Nutritional problems (including malnutrition, stunted growth and obesity)

• Nutritional Disorders

“The majority of children will have a GI problem at some point in childhood, such as reflux or constipation,” said Dr. beri. “Parents can make an appointment with us if their child regularly misses daycare, school or has persistent or severe symptoms. We are doing everything we can to see that child as soon as possible.”

In line with ease of access, St. Luke’s Pediatric Gastroenterology also understands the challenges families and caregivers may face when seeking specialized care for children.

We’re bringing care closer to home with locations in the Lehigh Valley, including Wind Gap, and in Center Valley at the new St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Center. As the newest pediatric health facility in the region, the three-story St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Center is completely dedicated to pediatric care and exceptional service.

dr. Abdullah said he would rather work in a medium-sized community than in a large academic system in a city. He is very grateful to patients from rural areas, who previously had to drive two to three hours to receive special care.

“I enjoy building relationships with his young patients and their parents,” said Dr. beri. “I enjoy getting to know my patients and their families personally. “I look forward to seeing them grow and mature as I help them through some of their biggest challenges. It’s worth it, and I get high-fives and hugs from 5-year-olds.”

Jonathan Berry

Hassan Abdullah |

Pediatric gastroenterologists can help children with digestive problems. METROGRAPHY

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