Melissa Fernandes, MD, MA, is a pediatric gastroenterologist with a special interest in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IBD refers to diagnoses such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which cause chronic inflammation of the GI tract, leading to diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue.
Dr. Fernandes became interested in pediatric gastroenterology during medical school.
“I did a pediatric GI rotation and loved the group I worked with. I saw the continuity of care they had with patients,” she says. “During a clinic day, I was able to see kids with a diverse range of issues.”
Dr. Fernandes particularly enjoys working with children with pediatric IBD because they are being seen every few months for visits.
“It’s wonderful to develop relationships with the kids and their families. When a child is first diagnosed, the family is thankful to know what is going on, but then they often feel overwhelmed and we work with them through it,” she says. “I like to spend a lot of time in the exam room with them and hear their story.”
Dr. Fernandes also treats children with general GI concerns including constipation, feeding and growth issues, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and generalized belly pain.
