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Gastroenterology and Hepatology studies a wide range of disorders and diseases which affect the liver, stomach, small intestines, pancreas, colon, gallbladder, oesophagus, and rectum. These disorders can be affected by nutrition, the digestive tract, and gastrointestinal disease, and can impact on multiple organs. Diagnostic techniques and treatments can be non-invasive, minimally invasive, or surgical. Gastroenterology and Hepatology deals with both acute and chronic medical conditions and recognises the importance of education to promote good nutrition and lifestyle choices and help prevent further disease.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Jobs

Gastroenterologist and Hepatologists specialise in disorders affecting the digestive tract, liver, intestines, colon, gallbladder and pancreas. They treat conditions like bowel cancer, Crohn’s disease, polyps in the colon, liver disease, IBS, constipation, and diarrhoea. Hepatologists are a subspecialty of gastroenterologists and specialise in liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and the pancreas to treat conditions, such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. To diagnose conditions, Gastroenterologists and Herpetologists conduct physical examinations and press on areas of the stomach to listen for odd sounds or feel for masses. They may perform a colonoscopy, endoscopy or gastroscopy. They create treatment plans which can incorporate a range of therapies, education, and collaboration with surgeons for surgical interventions. These specialists consult directly with patients in outpatient clinics, provide expertise to primary care physicians and inpatient medical teams, and provide follow up and ongoing care to patients.

Registrars (Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology) are registered doctors who have completed their medical degree and pre-vocational training (internship and residency/PGY2-3). They have attained general registration with AHPRA and can now undertake specialist/or vocational training positions to broaden and refine their scope of practice and gain experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars are very important members of the integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team. They have increasing responsibility for patient care, oversee and support junior doctors and staff, participate in professional development activities and continue to receive important guidance, training, and support from senior staff. They work in a range of primary, secondary, tertiary, clinical, laboratory and acute care settings, in hospitals, private practices and community clinics. Registered doctors at this level can further their career as Hospital Doctors or Career Medical Officers or pursue a medical specialty with further training and specialist registration. Registrars who work in gastroenterology are undertaking specialised advanced training in Gastroenterology and its clinical practice. They work under Gastroenterologists/specialist consultants and develop skills, clinical expertise, and valuable work experience in providing medical care, diagnosis and treatment for patients with gastroenterology and hepatology disorders.

Nurses (General and Specialty Medical/Surgical – Gastroenterology) work in gastroenterology, colorectal and acute surgical settings in hospitals and clinics. They provide patient-centred nursing care, which may include assessment of patient needs, planning and coordination of service delivery, providing assistance to the gastroenterologist during procedures, and assisting with the integration of patient care between medical departments and in connection to rehabilitation or allied health services.