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Focusing on You: GI Motility Lab at University of Miami Health System

3 min read  |  March 24, 2020  | 

Dr. IL Joon Paik, neuro-gastroenterologist and motility specialist at University of Miami Health System, discusses the advanced diagnosis and treatment options offered at UHealth’s GI Motility Lab for common conditions including acid reflux, heartburn and GERD.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Narrator: Focusing on you, innovations in modern medicine from your team of experts at UHealth, the University of Miami Health System.

Pam Giganti: For as long as he can remember, Howard Gitlow has suffered from debilitating heartburn. Myriad over the counter and prescription medications never fixed the problem. Finally, he came to UHealth.

Dr. Il Joon Paik: He underwent esophageal manometry that looks at the pressure of the esophagus, and we were able to diagnose dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Pam Giganti: Uhealth neurogastroenterologist and motility specialist Dr. Il Joon Paik told Howard his heartburn was a symptom, not a proper diagnosis of the real issue. He referred Howard for endoscopic surgery to repair his esophagus.

Dr. Il Joon Paik: A lot of our patients, once we’re able to provide adequate treatment will have a dramatic change in lifestyle.

Howard Gitlow: It was actually life-changing. For the first time in 20 years, I could drink a beer.

Pam Giganti: Using advanced technologies, GI specialists here at Uhealth are better able to diagnose the root causes of common conditions such as acid reflux and heartburn.

Dr. Il Joon Paik: Each patient is different. Some patients have a high esophageal sensitivity and they feel each acid reflux episode. Some patients will not even feel problems in the esophagus like heartburn and regurgitation and [inaudible 00:01:18] feel in their throat, for example. Some patients will have chronic voice issues. So in terms of the technology, we pinpoint the problem and recommend a targeted treatment.

Howard Gitlow: To find Dr. Paik to me was like getting a new lease on life.

Pam Giganti: With the expansion of Uhealth’s GI Motility Program an additional lab, new diagnostic tools, and minimally invasive treatment procedures will now be available in Miami and Coral Gables at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center.

Dr. Il Joon Paik: There are only a few laboratories in motility certified by the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society in the United States, and we’re one of five in Florida. Not a lot of GMO providers are able to provide minimally invasive treatment, not just doing the diagnostics, but actually doing the treatment. We’re trying to work as a multidisciplinary group, so we partner with a lot of our surgeons, ENT and pulmonary doctors to provide a multidisciplinary approach.

Tags: Dr. Il Joon Paik, gastroenterology, gastrointestinal, GERD, GI motility, Miami gastroenterologist

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