Esophageal Disorders Program

Esophageal Disorders Program

  • About
  • Approach
  • Services
  • Appointments
  • Research
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • The Esophageal Disorders Program includes more than a dozen gastroenterologists with experience treating patients with both routine and complicated esophageal disorders. Some of the disorders we focus on include achalasia, Barrett's esophagus, difficulty swallowing, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal cancer and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease that have not responded to acid-reducing medications.

    Our Approach

    We engage with other experts in allergy, behavioral health, minimally invasive surgery, nutrition, thoracic surgery, pathology and radiology. Particularly challenging cases are discussed at a monthly conference, so patients will benefit from the experience of multiple experts within and outside of gastroenterology. We take care to expedite outside referrals and to communicate with the referring physicians.

    Our program integrates consultative services and endoscopic therapy, along with patient-oriented and translational research. We aim to efficiently come to a diagnosis and management plan for individual patients with esophageal disorders while communicating effectively both with the patient and the referring physician.

    We work within the following departments:

    • Gastroenterology - including Gastroenterologist Consultation; Esophageal Therapeutic Endoscopy; Nutrition and Diet Specialists; Behavioral Health
    • Allergy
    • Thoracic Surgery
    • Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Radiology

    Appointment Information

    To schedule an appointment to discuss esophageal issues, call us at 1-888-229-7408.

    Research

    The Esophageal Disorders Program conducts ground-breaking research that is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, nonprofit foundations and industry.

    • Development and validation of a non-invasive tool for identifying patients at increased risk for Barrett's esophagus: the Michigan Barrett's Esophagus pREdiction Tool (M-BERET)
    • Novel endoscopic imaging techniques for identifying neoplastic Barrett's esophagus using specific peptide dye sprays
    • Outcomes studies in endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus
    • Randomized trials of novel therapies for gastroesophageal reflux
    • The utility of impedance planimetry in eosinophilic esophagitis and poorly characterized forms of disordered motility of the esophagus
    • Improving the classification of eosinophilic esophagitis phenotypes, which may lead to more specific therapies
    • Randomized controlled trials of therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis
    • Computer simulation modeling of strategies to control the burden of esophageal cancer
    • Assessing strategies of endoscopic treatment of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal cancer

    Locations
    • Gastroenterology Clinic | Briarwood Health Associates 325 Briarwood Cir
      Briarwood Building 5
      Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1605       Get Directions
    • Gastroenterology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
      Entrance 1, Level 2
      Brighton, MI 48116-9416       Get Directions
    • Gastroenterology Clinic | Canton Health Center 1051 N Canton Center Rd
      Floor 3 Reception D
      Canton, MI 48187-5097       Get Directions
    • Gastroenterology Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor 3 Reception D
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2435       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Joy Weiling Chang, MD

    Joy Weiling Chang, MD, MS

    Assistant Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Joan Weichun Chen, MD

    Joan Weichun Chen, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Sonja P Dawsey, MD

    Sonja P Dawsey, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    John Del Valle, MD

    John Del Valle, MD

    Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    John Yung-Chong Kao, MD

    John Yung-Chong Kao, MD

    Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Gregory Piech, MD

    Gregory Piech, MD, MPH

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Andrew Joshua Read, MD, MS

    Assistant Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Joel Howard Rubenstein, MD

    Joel Howard Rubenstein, MD

    Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Eric Dinesh Shah, MD

    Eric Dinesh Shah, MD, MBA

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Mary Sonako Takami, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

    Show All Doctors

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