WGO Divisions - Gastroenterology

While, in the strictest sense, the term gastroenterology encompasses all aspects of the diagnosis and management of digestive disorders and, thus, incorporates all of the divisions or disciplines described herein, in the division of gastroenterology within WGO we focus on non-malignant disorders of the luminal gastrointestinal tract: diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine. The disorders included within this division are among the most common encountered throughout the world and feature such important conditions as infectious diarrhoeas, gastrointestinal infestations, the many manifestations of helicobacter pylori infection (gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis and gastric malignancies), acid-peptic disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease, in particular, disorders that result in malabsorption, such as celiac disease and the full spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease. Even more prevalent and truly global are the, so-called, functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and dyspepsia; disorders whose expression can range from a minor discomfort to severe disability and which, collectively, result in many physician consultations and are a major cause of health care expenditure as well as other socio-economic costs due to loss of time from work and education.

There is a considerable gap in societal appreciation of the collective importance of all these conditions and, even among the medical community, a considerable lack of understanding of progress that has been made in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of many of these conditions; progress, which if uniformly applied would significantly improve quality of life, as well as survival, for many across the globe.

The major goals of this division are to promote, through our educational and training programs, a thorough understanding of gastrointestinal disorders relevant to each and every corner of the globe and, through the application of our guidelines, encourage optimal, yet feasible, management strategies.

Read WGO's Comprehensive Guide to Standards in GI Training, here ( )

WGO Programs: