Since May, 2012 after leaving my academic practice I opened a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC. This is primarily a consultation practice that focuses on patients with difficult to diagnose and manage gastrointestinal disorders. We utilize a patient centered model of care where optimal time is spent understanding the patient's illness and focusing on comprehensive biopsychosocial methods of care.

The center provides training and education for health care providers with emphasis on gaining communication skills, enhancing the patient doctor relationship. Content areas in particular include IBS, functional GI disorders and painful conditions. We conduct lectures and workshops in these areas and consult with clinicians about their patients including coaching and observerships. This can include a patient consultation visit with the clinician present. Opportunities for telemedicine are also available. Lectures and workshops relate to:- the diagnosis and treatment of patients having complex and co-morbid IBS and functional GI disorders- clinical trial development- epidemiological and outcome studies- teaching of communication skills for accurate diagnosis and to enhance the doctor-patient relationship- research and clinical mentoring of young investigators

Consult in the health care field to include: - academic programs in medicine, psychiatry and digestive diseases- Federal (NIH) or pharmaceutical grants as a mentor or consultant- gastrointestinal medical practices- pharmaceutical advisory boards- health care foundations- medico legal groups - non-profit health care and educational and media companies

I help direct scientific activities for that program. I have also served as chair of the scientific advisory board and for 20 years coordinated the biennial IFFGD International symposium on functional GI disorders since 1995

I founded, co-directed the Center with William Whitehead PhD. I coordinated the clinical services in functional GI disorders and ran a successful research program in assessment and treatment of these conditions. The center became recognized as one of the top 3 programs in this area of research and patient care. I continue as an advisor to the center and provide educational programs

I coordinate the biennial international conference in functional GI disorders and advise the organization in research and educational programs.

The Rome Foundation is an international non-profit program that develops diagnostic and treatment guidelines for patients with functional GI disorders including IBS. It supports educational and research activities throughout the world.

I founded the Rome Foundation an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping patients with functional gi disorders now called disorders of gut-brain interaction

I joined as an Assistant Professor in 1978 and became a Professor in 1990. After leaving UNC full time 12/31/11 I became Professor Emeritus with educational and research associations.Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Department of PsychiatryUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

I founded the center and for 18 years directed the research, educational and clinical services for my group. Our center was established as one of the top 3 in the country for studying functional GI and motility disorders

I was on the faculty at UNC in the Department of Medicine and Psychiatry and the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology for over 35 years until December, 2011. I am now focusing my efforts in bringing the skills I used in academia into the general medical and public community