Child Gastroenterology Services

Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases Affecting the Alimentary Tract, Pancreas and Liver

Gastroenterology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the alimentary tract, pancreas and liver. Our physicians provide a patient-centered, holistic care plan that focuses on diseases prevention and treatment goals for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome and swallowing disorders. 

We hold special expertise in endoscopic procedures. This includes all aspects of therapeutic endoscopy including cholangioscopy, argon plasma coagulation for control of gastrointestinal bleeding, and stenting for benign and malignant biliary and alimentary tract disease. Our physicians' research interests include swallowing disorders, severe liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, atypical chest pain, and Hepatitis C.

Treatments

• 
  Capsule Endoscopy
• Colitis
• 
  Colonoscopy
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
• Esophageal Dilation
• Esophageal Stricture
• FibroScan
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
• Gallbladder Disease
• Gastritis
• Hematemesis
• Hemorrhoid Banding
• Liver Disease
• Nausea
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Rectal Bleeding
• 
  Upper Endoscopy

Locations

Providers

Ligia M. Alfaro Cruz, M.D.

Dr. Ligia Alfaro Cruz earned her M.D. from the Universidad Dr. Jose Matias Delgado ECFMG in Merliot, El Salvador. She completed her pediatrics residency at the  Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She then completed her fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Texas Children's Hospital in  Houston, Texas.

Anjali Malkani, M.D.

As a physician, Dr. Malkani enjoys interacting with kids and their families. She believes that listening to the parents and the child is vital, because even a small piece of information might be crucial to their care, diagnosis and treatment. Above anything else, she finds joy in becoming a part of a child’s life as he or she heals and grows.

Gopinathan Nambiar, M.D.

Dr. Gopinathan Nambiar earned his M.D. from People's Friendship University in Moscow, Russia. Dr. Nambiar completed both a pediatric residency at Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences in Loni, India, and a pediatric residency at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, pancreatology and nutrition at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

Courtney Murphy, F.N.P.

 

Why ETSU Health?

Comprehensive Care and Support
The unique training that gastroenterologists complete provides them with the ability to provide high quality, comprehensive care for patients with a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments. Gastroenterologists perform the bulk of research involving gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures as well as the interpretation of results and are considered experts in the field.

Studies have shown that gastroenterologists perform higher quality colonoscopy examinations and comprehensive consultative services when compared to other physicians. This translates into more accurate detection of polyps and cancer by colonoscopy when performed by gastroenterologists, fewer complications from procedures and fewer days in the hospital for many gastrointestinal conditions managed by trained gastroenterology specialists.

It is this ability to provide more complete, accurate, and thorough care for patients with gastrointestinal conditions, which distinguishes gastroenterologists from other physicians that provide some similar services.

Manage Your Health with MyETSUHealth

View test results, make appointments, request prescription refills, and message your doctor from any Web-enabled device by using our secure online portal, MyETSUHealth. Our technology also allows anyone on your care team to securely access your health information, making sure you always get care that's right for you and based on the latest evidence.