Jacqueline Larson, MD

I am a pediatric gastroenterologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. I treat pediatric patients with numerous gastrointestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, eosinophilic colitis, etc.), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), and other conditions.

My passion for pediatric gastroenterology started at a very young age. I have lived with Crohn’s disease for more than 35 years and celiac disease for 15 years, which have provided me with unique perspectives, empathy, and understanding of this field and all that patients are going through. Living with IBD and celiac disease led to a love for cooking and a strong background in nutrition. My lifetime motto has been to keep my head held high, keep smiling and never give up on this adventure.

Upon graduating college, I worked as a cellular biologist for the University of Colorado. I went on to attend medical school at St. George’s University in St. George’s, Grenada and completed my pediatric residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey. As a pediatric resident I became interested in lifestyle medicine and was actively involved in several school-based wellness programs. I moved to South Florida for my pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Medical Center.

I love my work caring for and advocating for patients. I enjoy listening to patients’ stories and working with families to develop a personal care plan for their child. I take my time to listen to their symptoms and complaints, and take a stepwise approach in coming to a diagnosis and treatment plan. 

Children express their complaints differently than adults, so I engage children in a way that makes them feel comfortable and relaxed. GI concerns can affect a person in a variety of ways, so I also focus on growth, physical and emotional development, and social history. My hope is to empower patients to take control of their disease, find their own courage and strength, provide them a foundation to succeed, and guide them with my experience as both a patient and physician. 

In addition to providing patient care, I’m actively involved as a member, volunteer, speaker and committee member for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCF). I serve as a member of the Chapter Medical Advisory Committee and am involved in the patient education subcommittee. I’m also a member of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).

Related Medical Services

• Pediatric Gastroenterology