Emmala Waduge, NP

“Helping children get and stay healthy has always been a priority for me, and I love watching my patients grow and develop. Addressing both patient-specific and family-centered care is a passion of mine.”

Waduge is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She specializes in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. She has a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease and percutaneous gastrostomy (a procedure in which a tube is inserted into a patient’s stomach to provide nutrition).

She is the project coordinator for ImproveCare Now, a quality and research collaborative for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. She is past president of the Association of Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses and serves as a staff coordinator for the Caregivers Connection Group at Atrium Health.

Waduge has taken part in several research studies that focus on diet and care for patients with IBD and participated in research about disparities in healthcare.

She received her master’s degree in nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Outside of work, she loves to exercise, spend time outdoors and read. Her husband is a pilot and they love to travel. They also enjoy watching their blended family of 5 kids at their sporting and school events.