Baptist Memorial Health Care to welcome pediatric GI specialist

MEMPHIS, Tenn., - On Dec. 1, Dr. Walter Ifeadike will join Baptist Medical Group-Pediatric GI specialists, an affiliate of Baptist Memorial Health Care, as the hospital system’s first pediatric gastrointestinal specialist.

In addition to seeing patients at his clinic, he will perform surgeries at the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital, which opened its 10-bed emergency department in late January 2015.

Ifeadike is one of several new pediatric specialists who have recently come on board to complement Baptist’s pediatric services, according to hospital leadership. In August 2016, Baptist Children’s Hospital added Dr. Adrianne Myers Webb to its team of pediatric surgeons, which already includes Drs. Fawn Lewis and John Sandoval.

Dr. Walter Udaughan was hired as the Baptist system’s second pediatric intensivist. He will assist Dr. Mark Heulitt in treating patients in Baptist Children’s Hospital’s newly opened pediatric intensive care unit.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ifeadike as the newest addition to our growing roster of pediatric specialists,” said Kevin Hammeran, administrator and CEO of Baptist Children’s Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. “Baptist Children’s Hospital is steadily becoming a strong and viable option for pediatric care, and we must offer a wide gamut of services to meet patient needs.”

Board-certified in pediatric and gastroenterology, Ifeadike underwent his undergraduate studies, medical school, internship and surgical residency in Nigeria. He completed a pediatric residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he served as chief resident. Ifeadike concluded his fellowship training in gastroenterology, nutrition and hepatology at Emory University in Atlanta where he has remained until his recent appointment at Baptist.

His interests include general pediatric gastroenterology especially treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis). Ifeadike is formally trained in advanced endoscopic procedures in pediatric patients and has mentored residents and fellows in complex endoscopic procedures at Emory University for the last two decades.

For more information about the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital, please visit baptistonline.org/childrens. To find out more about Baptist, please visit baptistonline.org.