Gastroenterology
At Atrium Health, our gastroenterology team cares for the full digestive system – from your esophagus and stomach to your intestines, pancreas, gallbladder and liver.
With more than 40 years of experience, we use advanced technology and proven treatments to prevent, diagnose and manage a wide range of digestive conditions.
Our specialists bring deep expertise to every visit, helping you get answers and the right care as quickly as possible – so you can feel healthier and live better.
Are you at risk for colon cancer?
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. Our colorectal health quiz determines your estimated lifetime risk of colon cancer and gives you an idea of what to do next based on your results.
What is the GI tract?
The GI (gastrointestinal) tract is a long, hollow tube made of muscles. It helps your body digest food, absorb of nutrients and remove waste. It also plays a key role in your immune system and supports overall health. From beginning to end, the GI tract includes:
- Pharynx (part of the throat)
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine (colon)
- Rectum
- Anus
What other organs are in the digestive system?
Along with the GI tract, the digestive system includes other organs and structures that help your body break down food and stay healthy. These include:
- Pancreas
- Biliary ducts
- Gallbladder
- Liver
Why choose Atrium Health?
- Multidisciplinary care: Guided by our Center for Digestive Health and Surgery, our team includes highly trained gastroenterologists, hepatologists, endoscopists, surgeons and mental health professionals who work together to ensure you receive complete care.
- Top-rated cancer care: If needed, our team works in collaboration with the GI cancer experts at Atrium Health Levine Cancer – the largest cancer program in the Carolinas
- Personalized approach: We tailor care plans to meet your specific needs and goals, using the most cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options that are less invasive and help you recover faster.
- Research and clinical trials: Backed by the nationally recognized expertise and innovation of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, we use the latest knowledge to guide your care. Plus, we offer clinical trials that may give you access to new treatments before they become widely available.
- Integrative GI and nutrition support: We offer whole‑person care to help you feel your best – from brain‑gut therapies with Charlotte’s only clinical GI psychologist and in‑house acupuncture to personalized nutrition plans created by our GI specialists and dietitians to support symptom relief and long‑term digestive health.
Conditions we manage
Our experts diagnose and treat the full range of digestive health conditions, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders
- Barrett’s esophagus and related complications
- Bloating and belching syndromes
- Cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions of the digestive system, including esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer
- Celiac disease
- Chronic nausea
- Colorectal polyps
- Crohn’s disease
- Disorders of gut-brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
- Esophageal strictures
- Functional dyspepsia
- Fecal incontinence
- Gallstone disease
- GI infections
- GI fistulas, perforation and leaks
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)/heartburn
- Gastroparesis
- Hemorrhoids
- Liver disease
- Pancreatitis, including autoimmune and chronic pancreatitis
- Pancreatic cysts
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
- Pseudo-obstruction
- Slow transit constipation
- Ulcerative colitis
- Zenker’s diverticulum
Services and treatments
From routine screenings to ongoing care for chronic conditions, we’re here to support your digestive health with a wide range of diagnostic tests and treatment options.
GI diagnostic services
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) to check the inside of the large intestine (colon and rectum). It’s used to screen for and prevent colorectal cancer as well as to evaluate a range of GI symptoms.
- Upper GI endoscopy: After you’re under anesthesia, an endoscope is guided down the throat to look at the esophagus, stomach and upper intestine. This helps identify issues like ulcers or tumors.
- Advanced motility testing: Led by internationally recognized experts in digestive movement disorders, these tests evaluate how well your GI tract is working. They help us pinpoint causes of swallowing or digestion problems, nausea syndromes, abdominal pain, severe constipation and pelvic floor disorders
Complex endoscopic procedures
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): Using an endoscope, fluid is injected under a polyp to lift it, making it safer to remove. EMR is used to treat large polyps and Barrett’s esophagus by removing pre-cancerous tissue
- Endoscopic ablation therapy: Techniques such as heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) destroy unhealthy tissue in the esophagus, stomach and rectum to treat Barrett’s esophagus and other conditions.
- Endoscopic submucosal dissection: This procedure removes certain polyps and early cancers in one piece, which can improve cure rates – especially when standard EMR isn’t possible.
- Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM): Using an endoscope, the doctor creates a small tunnel in the wall of the GI tract to cut tight or abnormal muscle without any external incisions (cuts). This procedure can be used to treat conditions like achalasia, Zenker’s diverticulum and some forms of gastroparesis.
- Submucosal tunneled endoscopic resection (STER): Similar to POEM, this procedure removes growths that start deep in the GI wall – offering an alternative to surgery or lifelong monitoring.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Combining real-time X-ray and a specialized endoscope, ERCP is the standard for treating problems in the bile ducts and pancreas, such as stones or blockages.
- Endoscopic ultrasound: An ultrasound device on the endoscope creates detailed images and allows biopsies of areas in or near the GI tract, including the pancreas and liver. It can also guide treatments like draining pancreatic fluid buildup, easing pain from pancreatic cancer, and treating some precancerous pancreatic in patients who are not good candidate for surgery.
- Gastrointestinal stenting and bypass: A stent can be placed to open or bypass a blocked area in the GI tract, helping restore swallowing or digestion.
- Bariatric-metabolic endoscopy: For certain patients, these non-surgical procedures support weight loss or help address weight regain after gastric bypass. Options include endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and transoral outlet reduction.
Colonoscopy frequently asked questions
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the inside of the colon to check for abnormalities, such as polyps. During a colonoscopy, a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) is passed through the rectum into the colon (large intestine). The tube has a tiny camera that allows the doctor to view this area and identify, test or remove any polyps or other abnormalities. Removing polyps helps to prevent colon cancer.
Most people choose to be under sedation during the procedure and don’t remember any of it when they wake up. Sometimes people experience a bit of gas pain afterwards from having air inserted into the colon during the procedure, but that’s usually it.
A polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are noncancerous, but over time some types can become cancerous. Removing polyps is the best way to prevent cancer from developing. Polyps typically don’t cause symptoms, which is why it’s so important to have regular colonoscopy screenings.
If cancerous polyps or masses are diagnosed and your gastroenterologist determines that a colorectal operation is needed to remove cancerous tissue, they’ll refer you to a colorectal surgeon. Learn more about colorectal surgery.
Everyone is at risk. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women and is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. You're at higher risk if you:
- Have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- Are between the ages of 45 to 75
- Have a family history of colon cancer or precancerous polyps
To understand your risk, talk to your health care provider or take our quick, free online health assessment. Take the assessment.
Symptoms may not appear until the later stages of colon cancer. But when it’s detected early, colon cancer is much more treatable. Plus, pre-cancerous polyps of the colon can be found and removed during a colonoscopy, before they even have a chance to become cancer. That’s why regular colonoscopy screenings are so important.
Most Americans should have a colonoscopy starting at age 45 to screen for colorectal cancer. This may occur earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer or if you have certain conditions. Ask your health care provider about the right screening plan for you.
Colonoscopy prep and GI procedure instructions
Preparing for your procedure is an important step in helping your care team get the most accurate results. Below, you’ll find detailed colonoscopy preparation instructions, along with guidance for upper endoscopy (EGD) and flexible sigmoidoscopy procedures. If you have questions at any point, your care team is here to support you.
For Referring Providers
When you refer a patient to us for gastrointestinal care, our experts work with you and your patient to provide the highest level of care. We keep you informed and involved throughout treatment and transition your patient back to your care when treatment is complete.
To make a referral, please call XXX-XXX-XXXX.
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