The Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General is a trusted leader in pediatric health care, nationally recognized for its vast expertise in managing complex childhood medical conditions with skill, compassion and consistency. Backed by a longstanding academic and clinical partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) Health Morsani College of Medicine, TGH provides patients with access to renowned specialists, advanced technologies and research-driven treatments.
The Muma Children’s Hospital is home to an exceptional Pediatric Gastroenterology Center of Excellence, which is dedicated to promoting the digestive health and nutritional well-being of patients from infancy through young adulthood. Our board-certified experts in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition work collaboratively to deliver multidisciplinary, evidence-based care in a supportive setting tailored to the unique needs of children and their families. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, we consistently achieve optimal clinical outcomes, even in the most challenging cases.
About Pediatric Gastroenterology
Pediatric gastroenterology is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating digestive issues in patients from birth through age 21. Specialists in this field address a wide range of conditions affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—which includes the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas—as well as issues related to nutrition and feeding. Common reasons for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist include chronic abdominal pain, constipation, reflux, food allergies and feeding difficulties.
Highly specialized training and experience are required to manage complex digestive conditions in young patients. Pediatric gastroenterologists must not only understand the unique physiology of developing children but also tailor their treatment to accommodate their unique nutritional needs, growth milestones and emotional development.
Why Choose Muma Children's Hospital
The Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH's Pediatric Gastroenterology Center of Excellence delivers exceptional care for infants, children and adolescents with complex gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional conditions. As part of one of Florida’s top-ranked academic medical centers, our program integrates leading pediatric expertise with sophisticated diagnostic capabilities, groundbreaking treatments and a highly personalized approach to care. Our board-certified specialists manage a wide range of conditions, from common to rare, with clinical precision and compassionate support.
Program Navigator
At TGH, we have a dedicated navigator who serves as a personal concierge and healthcare advocate available. Experienced specialists plays a vital role in coordinating care across multiple medical specialties; managing the scheduling of procedures, infusions and pre-procedural workups; arranging follow-up appointments and maintaining clear, consistent communication to ensure a seamless patient experience.
Multidisciplinary Care
Our program is further distinguished by our commitment to providing multidisciplinary, family-centered care. We know that chronic and complex digestive conditions can impact every aspect of a child’s life, which is why we coordinate closely with pediatric surgeons, radiologists, psychologists, social workers and other specialists to provide holistic support.
Precision Nutrition
At the Muma Children's Hospital, each patient sees a dietitian along with their physician, a unique aspect of our care model that many patients appreciate. From diagnosis through treatment and long-term management, each child’s care is tailored to their individual needs, with an emphasis on achieving the best possible outcome and quality of life.
Academic Medicine
Through TGH’s solid partnership with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, our patients benefit from the latest research, clinical trials and evidence-based therapies. This academic affiliation keeps our physicians firmly positioned at the forefront of pediatric gastroenterology, where they continually raise the bar, improve the standard of care and achieve outstanding treatment outcomes. One example is our prednisone-free clinical remission rate, which exceeds the national average reported by ImproveCareNow (ICN), a national quality improvement collaborative focused on improving the care of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
A Multidisciplinary Team of Experts
From the moment of initial testing and diagnosis, your child will be in the capable hands of a world-renowned team of physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and dieticians. Each aspect of their treatment is thoughtfully tailored to meet their unique needs, ensuring the best possible outcome for your child's health. At Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, we are committed to providing not just exceptional medical care but also compassionate support for you and your little one. Trust us to be your partner in their journey to better health.
Conditions We Treat
Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH's Pediatric Gastroenterology Center of Excellence evaluates and treats a full spectrum of gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional conditions in infants, children and adolescents. These include:
- Abdominal Pain
- Celiac Disease
- Constipation
- Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance
- Crohn's Disease
- Diarrhea
- Encopresis
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
- Eosinophilic Gastritis
- Failure to Thrive
- Functional Abdominal Pain
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- G-Tube Dependence
- Hepatitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- J-Tube Dependence
- Lactose Intolerance
- Malnutrition
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pancreatitis
- Pediatric Feeding Disorders
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Toddler's Diarrhea
- Ulcerative Colitis
Testing and Diagnostics
Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH's Pediatric Gastroenterology Center of Excellence, we perform a wide range of leading-edge tests and procedures to accurately identify the cause of digestive symptoms and thoroughly assess gastrointestinal conditions in children. Our team uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and techniques, including:
- Anal Sphincter Botox
- Anorectal Manometry Antral Botox
- Balloon Dilation of Esophogeal
- Biofeedback
- Breath Testing/Placement
- Bravo pH Monitoring
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Cholangioscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Cystgastrostomy / Pancreatic Necrosectomy
- Deep Enteroscopy
- Dysport Injections
- EndoFLIP
- Endoluminal Stenting
- Endoluminal Suturing
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) with Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
- Esophagastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
- Esophogeal Dilations
- Esophogeal Impedance-pH Study
- Esophogeal String Test for Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Pediatric Unsedated Transnasal Endoscopy (TNE)
- Pyloric Dilation
- Pyloric Botox
- Pelvic Floor Rehab Therapy
- Rectal Biopsy Suction
- Upper GI Series
TGH is proud to have one of the most comprehensive eosinophilic esophagitis centers in the United States. We were also the first hospital in Tampa Bay to perform sedation-free transnasal endoscopy, a safe and efficient alternative to traditional endoscopy. The TNE endoscope is narrow and flexible, allowing the physician to examine the digestive system through the nose. This state-of-the-art procedure eliminates the risks of general anesthesia and allows the patient to resume their daily activities immediately afterward.
Additional Programs and Procedures
The Pediatric GI Center of Excellence's mission is to transform the lives of children and teenagers battling Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. At our world-class Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, we pride ourselves on delivering compassionate and personalized care that puts young patients at the center of everything we do.
What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to innovation and cutting-edge treatments. As part of an esteemed academic health system, we lead the way in providing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive therapies tailored to each child's unique needs. We believe in the power of research and actively participate in groundbreaking clinical studies to shape the future of IBD care.
When you choose the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH's Gastroenterology Center of Excellence, you're entrusting your child's health to a team of dedicated specialists who understand the challenges of IBD. Together, we'll embark on a journey toward improved well-being, with comprehensive support and the most advanced medical expertise available.
Our Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Program offers expert, compassionate care to children living with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our program is dedicated to personalized care, ensuring early, accurate diagnosis and timely, effective treatment for each patient. This approach ensures improved long-term disease management and best possible outcomes for our patients. Our comprehensive evaluation methods for EoE include sedated endoscopy, esophageal string tests and unsedated transnasal endoscopies.
Our program is proud to be one of only three sites nationwide offering the esophageal string test (EST) and among a select few providing a full range of minimally invasive evaluation methods for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). In addition to EST, we offer sedated and transnasal endoscopy (TNE) as part of a comprehensive approach to EoE care.
As leaders in the field, our team of experts are committed to providing patients with the latest innovative treatments and procedures available. Treatment options include medications, biologic therapy, and diet elimination.
Our dietitians are experienced in treating patients with EoE and have received specialty training in pediatric food allergy through organizations such as Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
Watch how our partners at USF Health are making life better for children with EoE.
To learn more about this program, visit USF Health Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.
Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital is excited to announce that we now offer our patients the option of choosing Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy for the evaluation, screening, and diagnoses of conditions of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract, such as Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).
Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy (TNE) is a safe and efficient alternative to traditional endoscopy (EGD) that does not require general anesthesia or sedation. The TNE endoscope used is narrow and flexible, allowing your doctor to look at your digestive system via your nose. Sedation-free TNE eliminates any potential complications associated with general anesthesia.
The following steps will be performed in your child's Sedation-free TNE procedure:
- A numbing agent will be applied to your child’s nasal passages to help numb their nose and the back of their throat.
- The endoscope is inserted through the nose and can be advanced down through the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and part of the small intestine (duodenum).
- If needed, very small samples of tissue called biopsies may be taken through the endoscope using special forceps. Air and water may also be used to make it easier for the doctor to see.
Have more questions? Please email PediatricGI@tgh.org or call (813) 844-3876 for questions regarding risks, benefits, and if your child qualifies for TNE.
Support Services
Children with complex gastrointestinal conditions often benefit from supportive care. As a complement to medical treatment, these services are specifically designed to address the myriad physical, emotional, behavioral, social and developmental challenges that can accompany a chronic or severe illness.
At Muma Children’s Hospital's Pediatric Gastroenterology Center of Excellence, we firmly believe in the power of a strong support system, ensuring our patients have access to:
- Care coordination – Establishes seamless communication among multiple healthcare providers, streamlines appointment scheduling and fosters a unified treatment approach.
- Family support groups – Serve as an invaluable source of guidance, shared experiences and emotional support to families working through the complexities of pediatric illness.
- Nutritional counseling – Supports children with feeding difficulties, food allergies or conditions that affect nutrient absorption, helping to promote healthy growth and development.
- Occupational therapy (OT) – Assists children in developing the skills they need for everyday living, such as eating, dressing and bathing.
- Physical therapy (PT) – Improves mobility, strength, balance and coordination to support overall physical development.
- Psychological therapy – Helps children and their families cope with the emotional and mental health impacts of chronic illness, including anxiety, depression and behavioral challenges.
- Social work – Helps families access community resources, understand insurance coverage and manage the financial aspects of long-term medical care.
- Speech-language therapy – Addresses difficulties with speech, language, communication and swallowing that may result from developmental, neurological or structural conditions.
These supportive services are an integral part of TGH’s multidisciplinary care model, helping our young patients and their families navigate the challenges of complex digestive conditions with strength and resilience.
