What is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist is a physician who specialises in diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system. This includes problems affecting the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tree. A gastroenterologist is also highly trained in endoscopic procedures, such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and gastroscopy, which enables direct evaluation and treatment of many gastrointestinal ailments.