Jane Balint, MD, is a pediatric
gastroenterologist at Columbus Children’s Hospital (Ohio) with a special
interest in caring for children who have short bowel syndrome or other
intestinal problems that have necessitated the use of parenteral or enteral
nutrition at some time in their lives. She became interested in this field in
her earlier career as a pediatric nurse, then subsequently working with a
pediatric surgeon. Dr. Balint is involved with Oley because it is such a great
source of support and information for the children and families with whom she
works. Her goal is to get those in her care off parenteral and enteral nutrition
whenever possible, and if this cannot be accomplished, to help make their lives
as manageable as possible. As with others who work in this field, a more global
goal is to find a way to make the intestine work better so as to avoid the need
for specialized nutritional support.