What is a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the digestive system. This includes symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract including difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, ulcer problems, heartburn, and problems with the bowels such as constipation, diarrhea, passage of blood, etc. The digestive tract includes diseases involving the esophagus, the stomach, and the intestines including the colon, the liver, the pancreas and the gallbladder. Screening for colorectal cancer is important and commonly dealt with by gastroenterologists as well as internists.