Newswise — Amar S. Naik, MD, a gastroenterologist who specializes in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, has joined Loyola University Health System.

Dr. Naik earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency and fellowships in gastroenterology and hepatology at Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

He joins Loyola from the Medical College of Wisconsin where he also served as assistant professor of medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Dr. Naik is a member of several professional organizations, including The American Gastroenterological Association, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America and the American Medical Association.

As well as overseeing the clinical operation of Loyola’s inflammatory bowel disease program, Dr. Naik has a strong interest in clinical research. He focuses on patient-oriented outcomes research with goals to improve long-term patient care and health-related quality of life. He is well-published in peer-reviewed journals, and has more than 50 abstracts accepted for presentation in numerous national and international workshops/conferences.

“I am happy to join a fine institution like Loyola that has a strong commitment to providing excellent state-of- the-art medical care. I believe the impact of digestive diseases upon people is significant,” says Naik. “I look forward to working at Loyola to help develop novel treatment plans, especially in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, it is exciting to join the medical community in the area where I was born and raised.”

Gastroenterology and nutrition services at Loyola University Health System provide high- quality care in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal system, which includes the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines and liver. Conditions routinely treated include inflammatory bowel disease; peptic ulcer disease; esophageal disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Barrett’s esophagus; nutrition-related disease; and liver, biliary and pancreatic diseases. The team is composed of physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and research staff.