At the Chao Digestive Health Institute, innovation is our hallmark. We have pioneered endoscopic procedures that are setting the standard for gastrointestinal (GI) care: organ-sparing GI surgery, the accurate diagnosis of liver diseases and more. With clinical research and technological innovation powered by UC Irvine, our patients have access to groundbreaking therapies unavailable elsewhere.
Our patients also benefit from the compassionate care provided by our highly skilled multidisciplinary teams. Our teams include gastroenterologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, dietitians, nurses, social workers and case managers. They work in concert to design a treatment plan tailored for each patient, one that optimizes care and promotes the best possible outcomes.
Our bariatric surgeons are national leaders in performing the safest and most effective weight-loss procedures. They team with dieticians, counselors and other healthcare professionals to help obese patients achieve their weight-loss goals and improve their health.
We also have Orange County’s only multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) program to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Our hepatology specialists are leaders in the treatment of hepatitis, fatty liver disease, pancreatitis and many other disorders.
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Our digestive health specialists deliver leading-edge treatment for the full range of range of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, including disorders of the esophagus, stomach, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, colon and rectum.
They are leaders in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, offering minimally invasive approaches that mean less pain and faster recovery for our patients.
Our specialists also have pioneered a treatment for patients whose reflux disease has developed into Barrett’s esophagus, when precancerous cells form in the esophageal lining. Using thin, flexible tubes called endoscopes, we deliver radiofrequency waves to eliminate abnormal cells with heat energy, allowing healthy cells to replace them.
Our physicians also use minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for a wide range of other gastrointestinal procedures. Our integrated endoscopic suite features:
- Capsule endoscopy
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Video endoscopy
- Esophageal manometry
- Radiofrequency ablation
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- 48-hour wireless pH testing
- ERCP/fluoroscopy
- Laser photodynamic therapy
- Cryotherapy
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We have been recognized as a leader in gastroenterology and GI surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Many of our physicians are regularly honored as Physicians of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association.
As physicians at Orange County’s only academic medical center, our doctors are actively involved in clinical research trials. This means our patients have access to leading-edge therapies and technologies well before they are available elsewhere. It also means that as teachers of Orange County's future GI specialists, they are on the leading edge of medical science and innovation.
At the Chao Digestive Health Institute, we are dedicated to providing the finest, most comprehensive and compassionate care to each and every patient.
The Chao Digestive Health Institute leads the way in novel techniques to detect and treat diseases of the GI tract, especially cancer.
A central focus is performing minimally invasive treatments whenever possible.
Here are just a few of the ground-breaking innovations developed at the institute:
- EUS-guided portal pressure device
Our experts also devised a revolutionary method to accurately measure blood pressure in the liver — the single best way to assess liver health. As cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease rise due to America’s obesity epidemic, this diagnostic tool has helped many UCI Health patients, such as Paula Lazarus, and has the potential to help millions more.
Please view our current clinical trials or email [email protected] for more information.
We also host the nation's largest symposium on gastrointestinal disorders and treatments, drawing hundreds of physicians and healthcare professionals each year. Along with research presentations and discussions of the latest techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of GI conditions, we offer hands-on surgical and diagnostic training.
