Alessio Fasano, MD

What inspired you to go into medicine?

I became interested in science at a young age through spending time with my grandfather, a physicist who worked with Enrico Fermi, a physicist who created the world's first nuclear reactor. But I also wanted to do something that would make a difference directly by helping disadvantaged people. Medicine is the perfect choice because it fulfills my desire to help others and satisfies my intellectual curiosity.

What do you do as a provider at MGfC?

I am chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MGfC. I treat both children and adults with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders, including non-celiac gluten sensitivity and wheat allergy. I also treat patients with chronic gastrointestinal issues stemming from an imbalance of the gut microbiome.

What gives you the greatest joy in your profession?

The most rewarding thing for me is to bring back the smile to a child who has been ill for a long time, and then to watch that smile spread to the rest of the family. At MGfC, I am lucky to work with a critical mass of dedicated colleagues who pride themselves on providing leading treatment, which is often generated from our in-house science. In many cases, we offer a second or third opinion for an extremely sick child. Being able to implement a solution to improve the quality of life for this child and family is definitely the most enjoyable part of my job.

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