The Role of a Medical Pancreatologist

Medical pancreatologists are board-certified gastroenterologists who have completed advanced subspecialty training in medical pancreatology or have focused their clinical practice exclusively on the care of patients with pancreatic disorders.

A pancreatologist’s expertise is in the management of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatic cysts, neuroendocrine tumors, autoimmune pancreatitis, and complications following pancreatic surgery. Several recent studies have demonstrated that patients who are referred to pancreatologists have improved adherence to medical treatments, decreased hospitalizations, and improved outcomes^{1, 2}.

Despite the prevalence of pancreatic disorders, many patients do not receive specialized care from pancreatologists as they would for other complex GI conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or liver disorders. Acute pancreatitis is the second most common GI cause of hospitalization, but there are fewer than 20 formally trained pancreatologists in the United States and patients rarely receive referrals to pancreatic specialists. Fortunately, this situation may be improving; over the last few years, the number of advanced pancreatology fellowship programs has increased and there are currently 7 fellowship programs in the US.

The management of pancreatic disorders requires a multidisciplinary approach to care which involves thoughtful input from pancreatologists, interventional gastroenterologists, pancreatic surgeons, diagnostic and interventional radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists. This care is often coordinated by pancreatologists in large academic centers. The National Pancreas Foundation recognizes Centers of Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatitis. As part of this recognition, the presence of a collaborative and multidisciplinary team is a requirement to ensure the highest level of care for our patients.

References:

¹ Srivoleti, et al. Provider type influences adherence to lifestyle changes in chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2021;21(1):42-45.

² Srivoleti, et al. Does provider type affect bone health surveillance in chronic pancreatitis? Dig Dis Sci. 2021;66(7):2235-2239.