The Gastrointestinal Motility, Esophageal, and Swallowing Disorders Program is a specialized program located within Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
The Program is staffed by a team of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, allied health professionals, who have specialized training in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with motility disorders.
Motility disorders may be defined as disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in which the muscle and nerves do not function correctly. Motility disorders are quite common, affect women and men of all ages, and are diagnosed in people of all ages, nationalities, and races. Although we have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all varieties of motility disorders, some of the most common motility disorders referred for evaluation include the following:
- Achalasia
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dyspepsia (discomfort in your upper abdomen)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Fecal incontinence
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastroparesis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Pelvic floor dysfunction (also called pelvic floor dyssynergia)
Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory
The Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory is equipped to evaluate and diagnose patients with suspected motility disorders using a number of different specialized tests administered by highly trained registered nurses. These tests include:
- Assessment of gastric (stomach) function using gastric emptying scans
- Assessment of pelvic floor function using 3D high-definition anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion testing, and magnetic resonance defecography
- Assessment of small bowel and colon transit using the Smartpill
- Evaluation for bacterial overgrowth using hydrogen and methane breath tests
- Measurement of esophageal function using esophageal manometry
- Measurement of esophageal pH using the BRAVOpH capsule
- Measurement of esophageal reflux 24-hour combined pH/multichannel intraluminal impedance testing
Referring patients for direct-access motility studies
Providers, please use our direct-access referral form (PDF) to refer a patient for motility studies in our GI Motility Laboratory.
Meet our interim program director
Motility Program Team
Our team includes physicians, psychologists and registered dietitians.
- Nicole M. Calvino, DNP, APRN
- Katrina S. Hacker, PhD
- Jessica A. Perrone, MPAS, PA-C
- Richard Rothstein, MD
- Jessica K. Salwen-Deremer, PhD
- Jamie Sanchez, MSN, APRN
- Anna Thorburn, APRN
Additional team members
- Catherine Gigure-Rich, RD, LD, CNSC
- Kathleen Cross, RDN
Medical educational opportunities
We are committed to educating medical trainees in the evaluation and management of patients with motility and functional disorders. For gastroenterology fellows wishing to have dedicated training in motility disorders the Gastrointestinal Motility Program has a month-long elective rotation and year-long advanced fellowship.
Appointments and referrals
Please visit our Appointments and Referrals page for information about making an appointment.