Functional GI and Motility Disorders Clinic
Established and directed by Dr. Doug Drossman, the Functional GI and Motility Disorders Clinic at UNC Hospitals is the premier site, both nationally and internationally, for referral of patients with functional GI and motility disorders (FGID). The clinic’s unique multi-disciplinary, patient-centered approach integrates medical, physiological and psychological factors in the evaluation, understanding and treatment of patients with these disorders. The clinic also serves as a leading tertiary referral site for patients who have difficult-to-diagnose illnesses or challenging disease/disorder management issues. The clinic’s services and educational activities have expanded over the last few years with the addition to Dr. Yehuda Ringel as a faculty member at UNC. Dr. Ringel’s clinic is a referral service for patients with functional upper GI symptoms (e.g., dyspepsia, non-cardiac chest pain, chronic nausea, vomiting) and/or complicated motility disorders (e.g., gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, intractable constipation), in addition to IBS and other functional bowel disorders. Other FGID Clinic staff include Christine B. Dalton, PA-C; Danielle Maier, PA-C, MA PAS; Charles K. Burnett, PhD, DrPH; and Stephan Weinland, PhD. We also recruiting Tom Abell, MD, a well known gastroenterologist specializing in severe vomiting disorders, to join our Center and participate in our clinical services.
On some afternoons, the clinic is also staffed with a Fellow (gastroenterologist in training), who is supervised by Dr. Drossman. The Center’s clinical personnel are also routinely involved with consulting on patients at UNC Hospitals with severe functional GI or motility disorders and with physicians who call for advice regarding their patients. The clinic often has visiting gastroenterologists and trainees from other states and countries who are interested in learning more about the clinical approach, diagnosis and treatment of FGID patients. They also learn how to improve their interviewing and patient skills (see Visiting Scholars).
A new service now being provided to the Functional GI and Motility clinic is the electrogastrogram (EGG). This clinical and research tool provides information on the electrical activity of the stomach and is helpful for evaluating patients with nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting and other functional GI and motility disorders that involve the stomach.
Clinical Case Conference
An important part of improving patient care is the Clinical Case Conference, held every Thursday morning in the FGID Clinic. Clinicians have the opportunity to present difficult cases and exchange ideas regarding patient evaluation and treatment. Participants in the Clinical Case Conference address the physical, social and psychological factors that are relevant to a specific case, utilizing the group’s overall expertise to maximize the impact on patient care. This weekly forum also provides a learning opportunity for resident fellows, investigators, and others interested in the clinical aspects of caring for patients with functional GI and motility disorders. Visiting gastroenterologists and trainees from other states and countries also attend the Clinical Case Conference.
Clinic Staff
Douglas A. Drossman, MD, is the director of the Functional GI and Motility Disorders Clinic. Based on his long-standing interest in the evaluation of GI disorders that are difficult to diagnose and treat, he helps patients develop effective disease management and coping strategies, so they can regain a sense of control over their symptoms. Depending on the clinical case, he either sees patients on a one-to-one basis or in collaboration with a GI fellow or the Center's PAs (Christine Dalton or Danielle Maier).
Y. Ringel, MD, is an experienced internist and gastroenterologist with a special interest in functional GI and motility disorders. He incorporates knowledge and skills from his research on mechanisms of intestinal function and sensation, along with the psychosocial aspects of GI illness, into his clinical practice.
Christine B. Dalton, PA-C, generally sees patients first and then collaborates with Dr. Drossman in the patient's ongoing care. She also handles telephone calls from patients, including ongoing medication management, addressing new or worsening symptoms, and other concerns. Her primary interests include management of treatment-resistant situations, and the care of patients who have experienced chronic GI symptoms for many years with little or no relief or understanding of their condition.
Lynn Eckert, PA, works with Dr. Drossman in addition to seeing patients on her own in the Functional GI & Motility Disorders Clinic. She evaluates patients in the clinic, performs a history and physical examination, formulates a differential diagnosis, and creates a diagnostic and treatment plan appropriate for the patient.
Danielle Maier, PA-C, works closely with Drs. Drossman, Ringel and Webb. Having completed intensive training in biopsychosocial care, Ms. Maier is now seeing follow-up patients on her own. Ms. Maier also handles calls from patients with regard to ongoing medication management, addressing new or worsening symptoms, and other concerns.
Established and directed by Dr. Doug Drossman, the Functional GI and Motility Disorders Clinic at UNC Hospitals is the premier site, both nationally and internationally, for referral of patients with functional GI and motility disorders (FGID). The clinic’s unique multi-disciplinary, patient-centered approach integrates medical, physiological and psychological factors in the evaluation, understanding and treatment of patients with these disorders. The clinic also serves as a leading tertiary referral site for patients who have difficult-to-diagnose illnesses or challenging disease/disorder management issues. The clinic’s services and educational activities have expanded over the last few years with the addition to Dr. Yehuda Ringel as a faculty member at UNC. Dr. Ringel’s clinic is a referral service for patients with functional upper GI symptoms (e.g., dyspepsia, non-cardiac chest pain, chronic nausea, vomiting) and/or complicated motility disorders (e.g., gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, intractable constipation), in addition to IBS and other functional bowel disorders. Other FGID Clinic staff include Christine B. Dalton, PA-C; Danielle Maier, PA-C, MA PAS; Charles K. Burnett, PhD, DrPH; and Stephan Weinland, PhD. We also recruiting Tom Abell, MD, a well known gastroenterologist specializing in severe vomiting disorders, to join our Center and participate in our clinical services.
On some afternoons, the clinic is also staffed with a Fellow (gastroenterologist in training), who is supervised by Dr. Drossman. The Center’s clinical personnel are also routinely involved with consulting on patients at UNC Hospitals with severe functional GI or motility disorders and with physicians who call for advice regarding their patients. The clinic often has visiting gastroenterologists and trainees from other states and countries who are interested in learning more about the clinical approach, diagnosis and treatment of FGID patients. They also learn how to improve their interviewing and patient skills (see Visiting Scholars).
A new service now being provided to the Functional GI and Motility clinic is the electrogastrogram (EGG). This clinical and research tool provides information on the electrical activity of the stomach and is helpful for evaluating patients with nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting and other functional GI and motility disorders that involve the stomach.
Clinical Case Conference
An important part of improving patient care is the Clinical Case Conference, held every Thursday morning in the FGID Clinic. Clinicians have the opportunity to present difficult cases and exchange ideas regarding patient evaluation and treatment. Participants in the Clinical Case Conference address the physical, social and psychological factors that are relevant to a specific case, utilizing the group’s overall expertise to maximize the impact on patient care. This weekly forum also provides a learning opportunity for resident fellows, investigators, and others interested in the clinical aspects of caring for patients with functional GI and motility disorders. Visiting gastroenterologists and trainees from other states and countries also attend the Clinical Case Conference.
Clinic Staff
Douglas A. Drossman, MD, is the director of the Functional GI and Motility Disorders Clinic. Based on his long-standing interest in the evaluation of GI disorders that are difficult to diagnose and treat, he helps patients develop effective disease management and coping strategies, so they can regain a sense of control over their symptoms. Depending on the clinical case, he either sees patients on a one-to-one basis or in collaboration with a GI fellow or the Center's PAs (Christine Dalton or Danielle Maier).
Y. Ringel, MD, is an experienced internist and gastroenterologist with a special interest in functional GI and motility disorders. He incorporates knowledge and skills from his research on mechanisms of intestinal function and sensation, along with the psychosocial aspects of GI illness, into his clinical practice.
Christine B. Dalton, PA-C, generally sees patients first and then collaborates with Dr. Drossman in the patient's ongoing care. She also handles telephone calls from patients, including ongoing medication management, addressing new or worsening symptoms, and other concerns. Her primary interests include management of treatment-resistant situations, and the care of patients who have experienced chronic GI symptoms for many years with little or no relief or understanding of their condition.
Lynn Eckert, PA, works with Dr. Drossman in addition to seeing patients on her own in the Functional GI & Motility Disorders Clinic. She evaluates patients in the clinic, performs a history and physical examination, formulates a differential diagnosis, and creates a diagnostic and treatment plan appropriate for the patient.
Danielle Maier, PA-C, works closely with Drs. Drossman, Ringel and Webb. Having completed intensive training in biopsychosocial care, Ms. Maier is now seeing follow-up patients on her own. Ms. Maier also handles calls from patients with regard to ongoing medication management, addressing new or worsening symptoms, and other concerns.
