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40, or at least 10 years younger than their first degree relative's age at diagnosis. + Patients with blood in their stool or iron deficiency anemia should be screened "now." + Patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease should have yearly colonoscopy after 10 years of the disease. Regular surveillance is recommended for patients who have had cancer or polyps. In addition, she recommends that patients with GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, narrow stools, constipation or diarrhea, 'gas' or distention, or a family history of GYN, breast or GI cancer should be referred for consultation. As one of several female gastroenter- ologists and colorectal surgeons within UH Digestive Health Institute, Dr. Thomas believes diversity offers patients choices. "We have many women throughout the UH hospitals and community health centers that provide general and advanced procedures, so patients can see the doctors with whom they'll feel most comfortable," she explains. "Gastrointestinal physicians are generally very understanding and empa- thetic, but some patients – both women and men – prefer to see a woman." Specialized Surgical Care For conditions requiring surgery, the GI team works closely with UH surgical colleagues like colorectal surgeon Harry Reynolds, Jr., MD. Dr. Reynolds is Director of the Section of Colorectal Cancer Surgery at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Surgery, CWRU School of Medicine. "I think we are especially good at putting together multidisciplinary teams including gastroenterologists, radiation and medical oncologists, pathologists, various surgical specialties, hepatobiliary, plastic surgeons, etc., and coming up with a comprehensive plan to take care of complicated patients, particularly those with locally advanced and recurrent tumors," he says. Dr. Reynolds and his colleagues treat a range of GI disorders and malignancies from hemorrhoids and abscesses to fistulas, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, and cancer. Advanced procedures include intraopera- tive radiation therapy with the Mobitron device for recurrent colorectal cancer, intraperitoneal chemotherapy and debulk- ing for patients with metastatic disease, use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as an alternative to open surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction, which can be particularly important for patients with complex hernias from previous surgeries. The colorectal surgeons at UH have extensive experience and excellent out- comes with laparoscopic colectomy and proctectomy for both benign and malignant disease, according to Dr. Reynolds. The same is true with their minimally invasive approaches to removing large polyps that might otherwise require colectomy. "We may operate alone or in conjunction with another surgeon, such as a hepatobiliary surgeon, to perform multiple procedures at once," he explains. This minimizes surgical time and trauma and expense for the patient. "At UH, we spend a lot of time with every patient, from those with IBD to those with cancer, to put together a comprehensive care plan," says Dr. Reynolds. "We are very strong at collaboration all across the board. This is the secret to our great outcomes." For m ore inf or m at i on a b out U H Digestive Health Institute's Community Gastroenterology & Quality Center, visit www.UHhospitals.org/Digestive. To refer a patient, call 1-866-UH4-CARE (866-844-2273). ■ PHOTO © SMITHBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH CANTON Dr. Harry Reynolds, Jr. is Director of the Section of Colorectal Cancer Surgery at UH Case Medical Center. As such, he works closely with all of the gastroenterologists affiliated with UH Digestive Health Institute. 1 6 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 4