2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition

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The clinic is a reference centre for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in children. Research is being undertaken in collaboration with the Departments of Wroclaw Medical University:

• Department of Microbiology – antibiotic susceptibility assessment of H.pylori
• Participation in the registration of H.pylori WG ESPGHAN infections
• Department of Biochemistry – immunopathology of inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Department of Physiology – autonomic system function in selected diseases in children

In addition, the clinic collaborates with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wrocław in studies of the somatic development of children with functional disorders and organic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It participates in multicentre studies in collaboration with: the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutritional Disorders and Paediatrics of the Children's Memorial Hospital Institute in Warsaw, the Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition of the Medical University of Warsaw and the Department of Paediatrics Gastroenterology of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences. The clinic participates in the Working Group H.p. Of the European Paediatric Society for Gastrology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

In the Clinic, the following exercises and seminars are conducted as part of classes:

• paediatrics III, IV, VI of the Faculty of Medicine and English Divison

Since 1 November 2020, Agnieszka Borys-Iwanicka, MD, PhD, from the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Wroclaw Medical University, has become the new voivodeship consultant for paediatric gastroenterology.

Head of the Clinical Department:

TOMASZ PYTRUS, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor at the Clinical Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition of Wroclaw Medical University.
An academic teacher, conducts teaching in the field of paediatrics and gastroenterology for students of the Wroclaw Medical University in Polish and for students of the English Division in English.
30 years of experience in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in children.

Assistant Professors

Elżbieta Krzesiek, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor for Didactics
specialist in paediatrics, gastroenterology                                             
tel.: 71 770 30 54
 
 Anna Kofla-Dlubacz, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor for Science in English Division
specialist in paediatrics, specialist in paediatric gastroenterology                                        
tel.: 71 770 30 54
 
Krystyna Mowszet, PhD, retired Assistant Professor at the Clinical Department
Specialist in paediatrics, gastroenterology, contractual employee of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1
tel.: 71 770 30 57

Senior lecturer

Andrzej Stawarski, MD, PhD, specialist in paediatrics, gastroenterology
tel.: 71 770 30 45

Assistants

Agnieszka Borys-Iwanicka, MD, PhD
specialist in paediatrics, paediatric gastroenterology, voivodeship consultant in paediatric gastroenterology
tel.: 71 770 30 51

Katarzyna Akutko, MD, PhD
specialist in paediatrics, undergoing specialisation in paediatric gastroenterology
tel.: 71 770 30 51

Tatiana Jamer, MD, PhD
specialist in paediatrics, family medicine, in the course of specialisation in paediatric gastroenterology
tel.: 71 770 30 51

Joanna Braksator, MD
specialist in paediatrics, in the course of specialisation in paediatric gastroenterology

Dr. Paula Grębska
 Dr. Iga Stankiewicz
 Dr. Karolina Sakowicz-Wiencis
 Dr. Sonia Watras
 Dr. Magdalena Szeląg

Residents

Dr. Małgorzata Arciszewska
 Dr. Agnieszka Bury
 Dr. Paula Grębska
 Dr. Paulina Kuchalska
 Dr. Alicja Kućma
 Dr. Karolina Michalska
 Dr. Marcin Motak
 Dr. Natalia Olszak
 Dr. Iga Stankiewicz
 Dr. Karolina Sakowicz-Wiencis
 Dr. Patrycja Sputa – Grzegrzółka
 Dr. Sonia Watras
 Dr. Magda Wesołowska

Information about didactics.

Information about science.

English Division - information

History of the Clinic:

In 1950, on the basis of the 1st Clinical Department of Paediatrics headed by Prof. Hanna Hirszfeld, the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics of the Wroclaw Medical Academy was established. The first head of the Clinic became Prof. Maria Prokopowicz-Wierzbowska. The first co-workers of Prof. M. Wierzbowskiej were – Assistant Professor Z. Tesarz, MD, PhD, Assistants: Dr. H. Jaworska, Dr. I. Kaszubska-Polkowska.

At the same time, a decision was made to rebuild the former buildings of the children's clinic at ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 50/52, which had been destroyed by the acts of war. The first five years of the Department's activity were marked by the hard work of development, which was undertaken by Prof. M. Wierzbowska with the help of her closest co-workers. The following were appointed as assistants during this period: Drs.: Z. Heimrath, Z. Smykowa, A. Balcar-Boroń, Z. Morawska, J. Ostrowska-Skóra, A. Schreiber, U. Kutarba-Pietras. M. Sobolewska, MA, became head of the laboratory, followed by I. Puziewicz, MA, and the nursing staff consisted of graduates of the Szkoła Piastunek.

On 15 July 1955, the first sick children were admitted to the renovated and rebuilt premises of the Clinic at ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 50/52. The four buildings accommodate wards, outpatient clinics, dispensary, laboratory, x-ray laboratory, lecture room, dairy and general kitchen. One ward was equipped with an operating theatre and initially fulfilled the role of an ENT ward for children, then a paediatric surgery ward, which was separated as the Paediatric Surgery Clinic when the Paediatric Department was established. They were headed by Dr. R. Kostolowski and Dr. A. Michejda. All the rooms mentioned were provided for 130 sick children. Further assistants have been recruited to the clinic: Drs.: E. Bohdanowicz, J. Bogusławska-Jaworska, M. Barański, M. Wytrychowski, F. Iwańczak.

On 26 February 1964, Prof. Maria Wierzbowska died suddenly during a lecture for students. She left us as she had always wished – in the fullness of her creative powers. After her death, Doc. Wanda Klinowska, MD, PhD, became head of the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics. The clinic's scientific activities mainly focused on the following problems: nephrology, rheumatology, haematology, metabolic disorders, cardiology and community paediatrics. The initiator of research into kidney disease in children was Prof. M. Wierzbowska, who devoted many years of her work to the issue of lipid nephrosis. Prof. M. Wierzbowska presented her own views on the pathomechanism of lipid nephrosis in children, emphasising the role of autoimmune processes. This gave rise to research on protein, fat, water and electrolyte disorders in children with nephrosclerosis and other kidney diseases carried out by clinic assistants. This research was continued and extended by the team of Prof. W. Klinowska. Studies have also been conducted in children with haematological diseases, metabolic diseases and eating disorders. The number of clinical beds has been increased and new specialist clinics have been created. The clinic's teaching activities include lectures, exercises and examinations for students in the Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Dentistry and the Department of Paediatrics. In addition to students, pre- and postgraduates trained at the clinic. The clinic was also a training base for doctors throughout the Medical Academy region. Clinic staff were consultants to area children's wards, Sanatoriums, the Orphanage, and field trips were made to train young doctors.

In 1970, the Institute of Paediatrics was established. On the basis of the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, the Clinic of Paediatric Nephrology (40 beds) was separated, with Doc. Chatys-Górska, MD, PhD, as its head. The 2nd Clinic of Paediatrics changed its name to the Clinic of Infantile Nutrition Disorders (Head: Doc. W. Klinowska, MD, PhD). The Independent Clinical Analysis Laboratory (Head: Doc. J. Bogusławska-Jaworska, MD, PhD) and the Independent Paediatric Radiology Laboratory (Head: Doc. Z. Boroń, MD, PhD) were also established. In the following years, the development of paediatric haematology made it possible to establish the Clinic of Paediatric Haematology (Head: Doc. J. Bogusławska-Jaworska, MD, PhD) initially on the basis of the 1st Clinic of Paediatrics and then in a building at ul. Bujwida 44.

In 1981, following the dissolution of the Institute of Paediatrics, the Clinic of Infantile Nutritional Disorders reverted to its old name of the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, changing its name in 1994 to the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics and Gastroenterology and in 2000 to the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

On 24 March 1985, Prof. W. Klinowska died after a long illness. Prof. Franciszek Iwańczak was appointed Head of the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics.

The 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics Gastroenterology and Nutrition continued to develop issues of paediatric gastroenterology in cooperation with the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, the Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, the 2nd Clinic of Surgery, the Division of Microbiology, the Division of Pathological Anatomy, the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, the Division of Veterinary Microbiology of the Agricultural University. This period was a time of dynamic development of the clinic and the creation of a modern paediatric gastroenterology centre. The Clinic's assistants regularly took an active part in the age of paediatric gastroenterology conferences at home and abroad, and scientific and clinical research was conducted. Numerous scientific conferences of local and national scope were organised. Research was developed on new diagnostic methods and treatment for children with liver and biliary diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, visceral disease, food allergy, Helicobacter pylori infection, pancreatic diseases. New diagnostic methods such as endoscopy (gastrofiberoscopy, colonoscopy), ultrasonography, functional tests of the gastrointestinal tract (pH-metry, manometry, breathing tests), and diagnostics in allergy began to develop intensively. In 2003, a textbook was created, edited by Prof. F. Iwańczak, entitled: “Gastroenterologia dziecięca-wybrane – zagadnienia”, which has been the educational basis for the issues of gastroenterology in children for years.

In 2005, following Prof. F. Iwańczak's retirement, Prof. Barbara Iwańczak took over as head of the clinic. This period was a time of further development of the centre, the creation of new areas of activity and cooperation with centres nationally and internationally. It was during this time that the idea of organising annual scientific and educational conferences for patients and parents of children with inflammatory bowel disease was born, an idea that has continued so far and is also very popular with adult patients. In 2010, a national conference on electrogastrography was organised, which resulted in the development of guidelines for this examination, referred to as the “Wrocław Consensus.” The Clinic has been and is now very much involved in the issue of inflammatory bowel disease, and Prof. B. Iwańczak was the chair of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Section of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Child Nutrition for 2 terms. During this period, the clinic's assistants progressed through the stages of their scientific and professional careers, obtaining doctoral degrees and the title of specialist in gastroenterology and paediatric gastroenterology.

In 2019, Andrzej Stawarski, MD, PhD, who had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, became the acting head of the Clinical Department. Despite these difficult conditions, the clinic continued to develop intensively. Thanks to the support of the WOŚP, diagnostic facilities were significantly expanded with the latest equipment for the endoscopy laboratory, the latest apparatus for the motorisation laboratory was acquired, and capsule endoscopy was introduced for diagnosis. In terms of didactics, a script on paediatric gastroenterology issues has been produced for students of the Faculty of Medicine to teach in Polish and English, and a second-volume textbook on paediatrics is currently being edited. Scientific activity continues, which has resulted in a number of publications with a high IF factor, nationwide scientific projects and numerous clinical trials continue. The 70th anniversary of the Clinic was planned for 2020, which did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 15 August 2021, Prof. Franciszek Iwańczak, long-standing Head of the 2nd Clinical Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, founder of modern paediatric gastroenterology in Lower Silesia, passed away.

In 2021, Tomasz Pytrus, MD, PhD, became acting head of the Clinical Department.

The clinic is a teaching base for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year students of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, as well as English Division students, a training base for doctors and nurses and dieticians from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

During the 70-year period, 7 former and current employees have been awarded the title of associate professor, 10 the degree of doctor habilitated in medical sciences, and many doctors have been awarded the title of doctor of medicine. The achievements of the past 70 years also include the education of many thousands of students and numerous paediatricians, who are constantly improving medical care for healthy and sick children with their dedicated work.

Based on: F. Iwańczak: 50-lecie II Katedry i Kliniki Pediatrii Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu (50th anniversary of the 2nd Clinical Department of Pediatrics of the Wrocław Medical University), Nowa Pediatria 4/2000,

Tomasz Pytrus