Mission Statement

The Joint Penn-CHOP Center for Digestive, Liver and Pancreatic Medicine

Follow this link to view CHOP-Penn Transition Program

Directors:  Anil K. Rustgi, MD and David A. Piccoli, MD
Co-Directors: Gary Wu, MD and Petar Mamula, MD
Administrators: Kim Meyers-McCombs and Alison Marx

This Center was established based upon a rich history and tradition of interaction, collaboration and productivity between Penn GI and CHOP GI spanning back to the 1980s. It is truly unique in the country.

The overall mission of the Joint Center is transitional medicine, helping adolescents take the step from Pediatric care to Adult care. Our goal is to establish joint clinics, where physicians from CHOP and Penn meet jointly with transition age patients to discuss medical histories and future treatment options. With the help of clinical coordinators, we  make the transition process seamless for patients and their families.

The transitional medicine focus of the Joint Center has great emphasis in research and in education. Research integrates basic, translational and clinical approaches, and has achieved success through the garnering of new interdisciplinary NIH grants. There is a deep commitment to the training and education of the next generation of leaders - students, residents and fellows.

The integrated programs in the Joint Center include the following diseases:

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
2. Medical Genetics/Liver disease (inherited predisposition to benign and malignant digestive disorders and diseases)
3. Autoimmune diseases (eosinophilic esophagitis, celiac sprue)
4. Nutrition

Directors:

Anil K. Rustgi, MD T. Grier Miller Professor of Medicine and Genetics Chief, Division of Gastroenterology Director, NIH Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive & Liver Diseases University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine	David A. Piccoli, MD Fred and Suzanne Biesecker Professor of Pediatrics Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Director, Biesecker Pediatric Liver Center Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine