Division of Gastroenterology
About Us
Physicians in the Division of Gastroenterology, specializing in diseases of the gastrointestinal system and liver, are located at the University of Alberta Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The division is based at the state-of-the-art Zeidler Ledcor Gastrointestinal Health Centre, Canada's first multidisciplinary clinic facility dedicated solely to gastroenterology patient care and research. Division members treat conditions ranging from ulcers to irritable bowel syndrome, to Crohn's disease and colitis. A subset of gastroenterologists in the division specialize in the care of patients with liver diseases and liver transplantations.
Alberta has one of the highest rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the world. Because patients with these conditions have a high medical need, inflammatory bowel disease remains a core activity of the division. Special inflammatory bowel disease clinics, including the use of advanced nurse practitioners, provide multi-faceted, multidisciplinary care.
As a major referral centre, the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Alberta Hospital has a highly specialized consultation and advanced therapeutic endoscopy facility, a state-of-the-art in-patient unit, and highly skilled Gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal scientists. Today, the Division has clinical specialists and teachers at each major Edmonton hospital, performs more than 25,000 advanced endoscopic surgical procedures annually and has developed internationally recognized programs in inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, liver failure and liver transplantation, viral liver disease and human nutrition.
Founding the University of Alberta Division of Gastroenterology
Clinics
Research Groups
Our History
In 1964 Dr. Richard Sherbaniuk and Dr. Ronald Wensel were instrumental in founding the Division. Together, their leadership established the medical specialty of gastroenterology in Alberta. Since then, Edmonton has led Canada in gastrointestinal patient care, research and teaching.
The Division is now one of the largest in Canada and manages a leading-edge research program involving 45 graduate and undergraduate students, over 3 million dollars in basic and clinical research funding annually, and recently received a prestigious 22 million dollar research award to establish a Center of Excellence in Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research.
The Zeidler Gastrointestinal Health Centre
The Zeidler Gastrointestinal Health Center leads innovation. The building of the Center has helped to propel the Division of Gastroenterology onto an international stage and has led to recruitment and retention of outstanding Gastroenterologists and scientists from Edmonton and around the world.
The University Hospital Foundation and the Division of Gastroenterology acknowledges with gratitude the outstanding contributions from Edmonton philanthropist, Midge Zeidler.
Long term support by Midge Zeidler and her family has played a significant role in advancing gastrointestinal health and research programs at the University of Alberta Hospital. They were instrumental in supporting the Gastrointestinal Health Centre from its inception and in providing the funding that made the Centre and the Building a reality. This contribution will now serve to advance the clinical care, teaching and research of gastrointestinal health for patients and their families far into the future.
Contact Information
Divisional Director
Executive Administrator
Lisa McFaull
Email: eagastro@ualberta.ca
Phone: 780-492-9840
Medical Education Program Coordinator
Raelin LightfootEmail: medndgi@ualberta.ca
Central Mailing Address
Division of Gastroenterology
Zeidler Ledcor Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2X8
Central Fax: 780-492-9271