FROM rare disorders of the digestive system to more comonly seen conditions such as colorectal cancer, viral hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn and chronic vomitting, these professionals diagnose and treat them.

They are gastroenterologists, aka GI doctors — those men and/or women who have chosen to specialise in ensuring your digestive health.

For insight into their work, Career & Education talks this week to Dr Mike Mills, a consultant and associate lecturer at the University Hospital of the West Indies, and a medical practitioner who is also engaged in private practice. At the same time, he volunteer’s weekly at the Spanish Town Hospital. 

The 37-year-old, a former student of Mona Preparatory School and graduate of Campion College, both in Kingston, earned his bachelor of medicine, bachelor of science degree from the University of the West Indies, Mona. He subsequently did his residency in internal medicine, also with UWI before pursuing specialised study in gastroenterology in Scotland.

The married father of two children is currently a member of the Association of West Indian Gastroenterologists, a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology.

Who is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist is a medical doctor who specialises in disorders of the digestive system. This includes the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and liver.

What is the value of the work that you do?

This is important as, of course, everybody uses their digestive system every day and food is life so optimum function of digestion is crucial. When we don’t digest well for whatever reason, our whole health is affected and our daily activity is disturbed. There are a lot of common and important disorders of digestion, such as gastroesophageal reflux, stomach ulcers, constipation, diarrhoea, jaundice, and stomach and colon cancer which can be managed by a gastroenterologist.

What prompted your entry into the field?

The field is interesting because it allows you to see patients, talk to them and examine them for problems, but also to do very detailed internal camera investigations called endoscopy to diagnosis conditions. Like all fields in medicine, it is always good to have someone mentor you into an area of interest. There are not a lot of doctors in this field locally, but it is growing nicely.

What are the educational requirements for entry into the field?

To do gastroenterology or GI, one needs to first get into medical school. This takes good CXCs (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects) and A levels (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination subjects) to enter straight from high school. You can also enter from university doing a first degree in the sciences or a basic medical science degree. After five years of a first medical degree and a year or two of internship, you do internal medicine for four years and then subspecialise in GI for another two years generally.

What other skills or competencies are required for entry into the field?

It is always good to be caring about other people and have an inquisitive mind to help you help them slove their problems. No other special skill is required except maybe patience.

What are the challenges that you face on the job?

Challenges mostly are due to late presentations of some common conditions which are heavily lifestyle-related like cancers. People should take steps early to eat better and exercise more to reduce the risk of GI-related problems like cancers. It would also be easier on resources if people didn’t sit home with symptoms until it is very advanced and much has to be done to try and help because it becomes costly to them and waiting times can be very long.

What do you most enjoy about the work that you do?

I enjoy seeing people with a problem understand why they have a problem and then to see them feel better with the solution we work out together.

Trained as a gastroenterologist, what sort of employment options are open to you (plural you)?

Gastroenterologists have the option of working in a hospital and /or private office. You can be attached to a university as a teacher to medical students of various levels.

How much can one make annually as a gastroenterologist?

Salary is based on how you choose to work, but you can earn upwards of $3,000,000.

Why would you encourage anyone to get into this field?

The area exposes you to a lot of different lifestyles and you get to see how lifestyle affects people. It gives you a chance to help people in a meaningful way. The tools of the trade, for example, cameras are very high tech if you are into pretty pictures of inside the body.