Lusine Ambartsumyan, MD Gastroenterology and Hepatology

UWSOM APPOINTMENT: Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Washington School of Medicine
Director, Gastrointestinal Motility Program
Director, Endoscopy Program Seattle Children’s Hospital

MEDICAL SCHOOL: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
RESIDENCY: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pediatrics
FELLOWSHIP: Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Dr. Ambartsumyan is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Washington and the Director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Her time is spent caring for children with gastrointestinal motility disorders in the inpatient and outpatient settings, outreach and regional clinics, and in the multidisciplinary clinics in conjunction with Divisions of Urology and Surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ambartsumyan’s clinical interests include mechanisms of fecal continence and defecation disorders in children with anorectal malformations, post-surgical Hirschsprung Disease, spinal cord dysraphism, and intractable constipation/fecal incontinence. She also specializes in the diagnosis and management of patients with gastroparesis, pseudo-obstruction, achalasia, systemics scleroderma and aerodigestive disorders. Dr. Ambartsumyan’s research focuses on the pathophysiology and management of defecation disorders in children. Her primary research involves the study of mechanisms of functional and organic fecal incontinence (anorectal malformations, hirschsprung disease), spinal cord modulation of anorectal function (neurogenic bowel), and the physiological relationship between the anorectum and the bladder in children with and without spinal cord malformations. She is currently a principal investigator in multiple clinical research studies specifically exploring the anorectal function and predictors of successful bowel management in patients with functional and organic fecal incontinence. Dr. Ambartsumyan has active teacher and mentorship roles for medical students, residents, fellows, junior faculty and ancillary staff. National visibility is evidenced by her role in NASPGHAN Neurogastroenterology & Motility Committee and speaking engagements in multiple national venues including NASPGHAN and American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS). International visibility is evidenced by her visiting professorship and speaking engagements at the Pediatric Urology and Surgery Symposium at Arabkir Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Yerevan Armenia and Hamburg Symposium on Juvenile Scleroderma Symposium.