The Pediatric Gastroenterology Division at MU Children's Hospital offers the only pediatric gastroenterologists in Missouri outside of St. Louis and Kansas City. Our center provides comprehensive outpatient, inpatient and laboratory services to evaluate and treat infants, children and adolescents with gastrointestinal disorders.

Clinical Expertise

Our specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating both rare and common gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic and nutrition disorders in children. Additionally, Children's Hospital houses 26 pediatric sub-specialties. As a part of that specialist network, our pediatric gastroenterologists have access to the full range of pediatric sub-specialists to assist with each patient's specific needs.

Caring for Kids

Our team is specially trained to diagnose and treat illnesses that are unique to children. They also realize that other gastrointestinal disorders can exhibit different symptoms in children than in adults and are able to recognize those differences to make a correct diagnosis. Additionally, or physicians are aware of the different growth and developmental needs of children and are able to treat kids while attending to those needs. 

Some Common Disorders We Treat

• Celiac Disease
• Constipation
• Crohn's Disease
• Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
• Duodenitis
• Dysphagia
• Esophagitis
• Failure to thrive
• Functional Vomiting Disorders
• Gastritis
• Gastroenteritis
• Gastroesophageal Reflux
• GI Bleed
• G-tube maintenance
• Hematochezia
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Infant Rumination Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Infant Colic
• Lactose Intolerance
• Melana, Nausea
• Ulcers
• Ulcerative colitis

Some Rare Conditions We Treat

• Anal fissure
• Barrett's Esophagus
• Chemical burn-esophagus
• Cholecystitis
• Diverticulitis
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Esophageal varices
• Dumping Syndrome
• Hepatomegaly
• Hiatal hernia
• Hirschsprungs
• Hyperbilirubinemia
• Jaundice
• Lymphonodular hyperplasia
• Malabsorption
• Mallory-Weiss Tear
• Meckel's diverticulum
• Obstuction, Pancreatitis
• Portal hypertension
• Protein losing enteropathy
• Rectal prolapse
• Rumination
• Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
• Splenomegaly, Strictures

Helpful Links

GI Kids

Who We Are

Alex Ramirez, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Division Director
Jeff Kantor, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Where We Are

Children's Hospital Specality Clinic
402 Keene St., Suite 101
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 882-6921