Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/373900
+ failure to thrive + eosinophilic esophagitis + gastrointestinal dysmotility, and more "Akron Children's wanted to establish a comprehensive pediatric gastroen- terology program, and this was a great opportunity to add new technologies, expand the team and add new services," says Reinaldo Garcia, MD, who joined Akron Children's last October. Dr. Garcia assumed the role of Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology which had previously been held by Dr. John Fyda, who has an established practice in the community. A graduate of Javeriana University Medical School in Colombia, Dr. Garcia completed a Pediatric residency at Hospital Episcopal San Lucas in Puerto Rico and a Pediatric Gastroenterology fellowship at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. Prior to joining Akron Children's, Dr. Garcia was Director of Pediatric Endoscopy at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland. He has been an assistant professor of Pediatric Gastroenterolog y at Case Western Reserve University since 2005. Besides Dr. Garcia, Akron Children's recently recruited two additional pediat- ric gastroenterologists and two advanced practice providers. The hospital also developed a non-invasive GI lab, installed advanced endoscopy equipment and established multidisciplinary alliances to treat complex GI-related conditions. As a result, the gastroenterology division now offers diagnostic tests and treatments that are new to the region. New Physicians As Akron Children's considered how to expand the GI team, Dr. Garcia says the hospital made a strategic decision to recruit locally. "We were fortunate to recruit two nurse practitioners and a fellow who already knew the area and the pediatricians," he says. The fellow was Sirvart Kassabian, MD, who joined Akron Children's as the group's second pediatric gastroenter- ologist in December 2013. A graduate of St. Matthew's University School of Medicine in Sa n Pedro, Belize, Dr. Kassabian completed her pediatric residency at MetroHea lth Medical Center in Cleveland. She also holds a master's degree in Health Sciences Ad m in ist rat ion f rom St. Joseph 's University of Maine. "I found this was a wonderful place with a great need," says Dr. Kassabian. "It was a great opportunity to increase access to pediatric gastroenterologists for area families and for me to be part of an expanding program." Dr. Reinaldo Garcia is Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Akron Children's. 2 0 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ S E P T E M B E R /O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4