A photo of Neha Santucci.

Neha R. Santucci, MD, MBBS


  • Director, Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction Program at the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Center
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

About

Biography

I’m a physician and scientist whose clinical and research activities focus on neurogastroenterology, including motility and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs).

I became a pediatric clinician and researcher because childhood illnesses take such a large toll on function, quality of life and family dynamics. I want to play a role in alleviating patient and caregiver struggles. In my clinical practice, I diagnose motility disorders, teach children and their families how to cope with chronic illness and prepare them for the eventual transition from pediatric to adult gastroenterology care. I also work closely with other pediatric specialists at Cincinnati Children’s; together we use a multidisciplinary approach to provide patient-centered care.

My research interests include irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, abdominal migraine and functional abdominal pain not otherwise specified. Because current pharmacologic treatments for FGIDs are suboptimal, we’re looking at ways to improve care using a biopsychosocial approach. To that end, I’m studying the effects of sleep and other biopsychosocial influences on pain and the effects of neurostimulation on chronic pain.

Outside of my clinical, scientific and teaching duties, I’m a member of the Center for Understanding Pediatric Pain, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), and the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS). I am also the vice chair of the NASPGHAN Integrative Medicine Special Interest Group.

MD: State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 2014.

MBBS: Seth GS Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, 2009.

Residency: General Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.

Clinic Fellowship: Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Louisiana State University, Children's Hospital of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.

Certifications: American Board of Pediatrics, 2014; Education Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), 2009.

Interests

Pediatric gastroenterology; neurogastroenterology and motility disorders; functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID)

Services and Specialties

Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders, Gastroenterology GI

Research Areas

Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition

Insurance Information

Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.

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Publications

"An urgent need for transition of care programs for adolescents and young adults with neurogastroenterology and motility disorders ". Wolfson, S; Patel, D; Toto, E; Khlevner, J; Santucci, NR. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2024; 79:1-5.

Physiology of lower gastrointestinal tract. Santucci, NR; Velez, A. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2024; 60 Suppl 1:S1-S19.

High prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders in a large cohort of patients with joint hypermobility. Sood, V; Kaul, A; El-Chammas, KI; Mukkada, VA; Sun, Q; Fei, L; Santucci, NR. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2024; 79:42-47.

Exploring Diagnostic Priorities: The Role of Colonic Manometry in Evaluating Pediatric Patients with Intractable Idiopathic Constipation Prior to Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Dorfman, L; El-Chammas, K; Singh, A; Fei, L; Mansi, S; Santucci, NR; Kaul, A. Children. 2024; 11.

Tu2042 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DISORDERS OF GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION AND COMORBID HYPERMOBILITY AS WELL AS ORTHOSTATIC SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCE SEVERE DEPRESSION, NAUSEA, SOMATIZATION, AND DISABILITY. VonAxelson, A; Li, J; Graham, K; Hardy, J; Miller, MM; Sahay, RD; Santucci, NR. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-1504.

Tu2040 SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND RELATED IMPAIRMENT IN CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN COLOMBIA. Santucci, NR; Velasco, C; Suarez, DA V; Li, J; King, C; Byars, KC; Dye, T; Saps, M. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-1503.

Sa2058 UTILITY OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE MODALITIES AMONG PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN DGBI CLINIC. Ton, HC; VonAxelson, A; Li, J; Graham, K; Sahay, RD; Santucci, NR. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-624.

Tu2044 RESTRICTIVE EATING IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORSE NAUSEA AND OTHER CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DISORDERS OF GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION. Santucci, NR; Ton, HC; Li, J; VonAxelson, A; Graham, K; Sahay, RD; Miller, MM; Romantic, E; Hitchcock, K. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-1505.

998 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DISORDERS OF GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION (DGBI) HAVE WORSE SLEEP APNEA INDICES, SLEEP AROUSALS, AND PERIODIC LIMB MOVEMENTS COMPARED TO HEALTHY CHILDREN: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY. Santucci, NR; Fessler, BK; Sahay, RD; Byars, KC; Hardy, J; Madis, E; King, C; Dye, T. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-244.

Su1645 PENFS IMPROVES WEIGHT AND OTHER ANTHROPOMETRIC OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA AND CONCURRENT AVOIDANT RESTRICTIVE FEEDING INTAKE DISORDER. Santucci, NR; Waheed, U; El-Chammas, K; Li, J; VonAxelson, A; Mansi, S; Graham, K; Hardy, J; Miller, MM; Sahay, RD. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166:s-779.

From the Blog

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Blog Rare and Complex Conditions

7 Additional Things to Know About Pediatric Gastroparesis

By Neha Santucci, MD8/3/2022

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