CRC Member: Professor Geoff Davidson

Professor Geoffrey Davidson, a leader and member of the Diabetes, Gut and Obesity Program in the Children's Research Centre, is a Senior Staff Specialist at the Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Gastroenterology, CYWHS and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide.  

Professor Davidson began his paediatric training in Adelaide, and spent several years in Melbourne and Canada obtaining broad clinical and research experience.  Upon returning to Adelaide, in 1978 he started the first Gastroenterology Unit at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital.  There are now four paediatric gastroenterologists in this centre, and Geoff has developed a State wide sub-speciality clinical service that also provides outreach to the Northern Territory, Western Victoria and Broken Hill.  Over the past four years, with the aid of a South Australian Government Grant, Geoff has also developed a Home Nutrition Service that provides home care for children requiring enteral or parenteral nutrition.  This service is unique in Australia and serves as a national and an international resource.

In addition to his clinical practice, Professor Davidson has been an active educator of medical and research students.  He has been a member of the University of Adelaide Department of Paediatrics since 1980 as Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Clinical Professor and has taught fifth and sixth year medical students, postgraduate students and allied health professionals including nurses, dieticians and pharmacists.  In addition, he has been involved in examinations for undergraduate medical students and for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (including organisation of national examinations in Adelaide). Most recently he was involved in the development of the sub-speciality component of the new medical school curriculum for the University of Adelaide. Geoff has also been an external postgraduate examiner in paediatric medicine for the University of Malaysia.  Professor Davidson has been a supervisor for MSc, MD and PhD students and Honours Science students over a 20-year period, and has developed educational videos for students, patients and parents on topics such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, infectious diarrhoea and gastrostomy feeding. 

Professor Davidson's regularly speaks at international conferences; recent presentations include delivering the Swift Memorial Lecture at the Women and Children’s Hospital, as the William Marshall Lecturer at the 9th Asian Pan-Pacific Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and at the 2nd World Congress for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.  He has also held multiple esteemed professional positions.  He is currently scientific advisor to Northfield Laboratories, Oakden (SA), a council member of the Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee (Solvay Cystic Fibrosis International Travelling Fellowship) Solvay Pharmaceuticals and a member of the Nutritional Products Working Party, Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.  

Professor Davidson has a strong publication record dating back over 30 years.  A full list of Geoff's peer-reviewed publications can be found be searching on PubMed under 'Davidson GP'; recent representative papers include the following:

• Omari T, Haslam R, Lundborg P, Davidson GP.  Effect of Omeprazole on Acid Gastroesophageal Reflux and Gastric Acidity in Preterm Infants with Pathological Acid Reflux. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007; 44(1): 41-4. 
• Omari T, Davidson G, Bondarov P, Naucler E, Nilsson C, Lundborg P. Pharmacokinetics and acid-suppressive effects of esomeprazole in infants 1-24 months old with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007 Nov; 45(5): 530-537.
• Davidson G, Elliott E, Kirkwood K, Pearce R. Preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis: Do you have the facts? J Pediatr Child Health. 2007; 43: 564-567.
• Van Wijk M, Benninga MA, Dent J, Lontis R, Goodchild L, McCall LM, Haslam R, Davidson GP, Omari T. effect of body position changes on triggering of postprandial gastroesophageal reflux and gastric emptying in the premature neonate. J Pediatr. 2007; 151(6): 585-90.
• Rommel N, Davidson G, Caine T, Hebbard G, Omari T. Videomanometric evaluation of pharyngo-eosophageal dysmotility in children with velo-cardio-facial syndrome. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008; 46(1): 87-91.
• Omari T, Haslam R, Lundborg P, Davidson GP. Authors’ Response to Letter by Indrio et al., ‘Gastro-esophageal reflux in preterm infants: how acid should it be.’ J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008; 46(1): 96-98.
• Chapman MJ, Fraser RJ, Bryant K, Vozzo R, Nguyen NQ, Tam W, Zacharakis B, Davidson G, Butler R, Horowitz M. Gastric emptying and the organization of autron duodenal pressures in the critically ill.  Neurogastroenterol Motil 2008; 20; 27-35.
• Kemp AS, Hill DJ, Allen KJ, Anderson K, Davidson GP, Day AS, Heine RG, Peake JE, Prescott SL, Shugg AW, Sinn JK. Guidelines for the use of infant formulas to treat cows milk protein allergy: an Australian consensus panel opinion. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 109-112.
• Cummins AG, Catto-Smith AG, Cameron DJ, Couper RT, Davidson GP, Day AS, Hammond PD, Moore DJ, Thompson F. Crypt fission peaks early during infancy and crypt hyperplasia broadly peaks during infancy and childhood in the small intestine of humans. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008; 47: 153-157.
• Loots CM, Benninga MA, Davidson GP, Omari TI. Addition of pH impendence monitoring to standard pH monitoring increases the yield of symptom association analysis in infants and children with gastroesophageal reflux. J Pediatr Volume 2009 154 (2): 248-252. 
• Southcott E, Tooley KL, Howarth GS, Davidson GP, Butler RN. Yogurts containing probiotics reduce disruption of the small intestinal barrier in Methotrexate-treated rats. Dig Dis Sci 2008; 53: 1837-41.

Recent book chapters include the following:

• Davidson GP, Butler RN.  Breath analysis.  In:  Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease.  Physiology, Diagnosis, Management.  4th Edition.  Ed: Walker WA, Goulet O, Kleinman RE, Sherman PM, Schneider BL, Sanderson IR.  C Dekker Inc, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  2004; 73:1831-1838.
• Davidson GP.  Gastro-oesophageal reflux and Helicobacter pylori infection in Practical Paediatrics 6th Edition.  Eds: Roberton DM, South M Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. 2007, p.741-750.
• Davidson GP, Butler RN.  Breath Analysis in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease 5th Edition: Ed: Walker WA et al, BC Dekker Inc. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2008; 1411-1418.
• Davidson GP, Kritas S, Butler R.  Stressed mucosa in nutrition support for infants and children at risk.  Eds: Cooke RJ, Vandenplas Y, Wahn U.  Nestlé Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program.  Vol 59, pp133-146, Nestlé Ltd., Vevey/S Karger AG, Basel, 2007.