Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) is pleased to announce the addition of Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Samir Softic, MD, who recently joined the pediatric medical staff at the Mettu Children’s Hospital.

In recent years, Pikeville Medical Center has celebrated many accomplishments in pediatric medicine, as PMC has diligently and passionately worked to increase services for this population. On January 2nd, PMC reached yet another milestone, welcoming Dr. Softic, a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Eastern Kentucky. Dr. Softic has trained at some of the nation’s top institutions such as Boston’s Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and is excited to offer his vast experience to the region.  PMC is honored to announce the addition of this specialty service in Pikeville, allowing pediatric patients the opportunity to receive care without having to travel, which is a huge part of PMC’s mission.

“I have seen many patients from this region at my previous practice in Central Kentucky,” explained Dr. Softic. “I saw firsthand the hardships placed on families because they had to travel more than two hours for their child to receive medical care. This was one of the main reasons I decided to come to Pikeville. By doing this, I know I can alleviate at least one burden from their shoulders.”

Dr. Softic specializes in treating fatty liver disease in children and adolescents as well as inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergies, abdominal pain and other pediatric GI conditions. Dr. Softic is well known throughout the pediatric medical community for establishing the nation’s first fatty liver disease clinic for children and teenagers and hopes to help develop a similar service at the Mettu Children’s Hospital at PMC.

“In Eastern Kentucky, there are more instances of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the pediatric population than anywhere else in the country,” explained Dr. Softic. “Now that I have officially begun seeing patients at the Mettu Children’s Hospital outpatient clinic, I look forward to helping change the outcomes for children battling this and other related conditions.”

Dr. Softic’s sentiment was echoed throughout Pikeville Medical Center’s administration and board of directors.

“The addition of Dr. Softic is another monumental step forward in our mission to elevate the level of pediatric services Pikeville Medical Center provides,” explained PMC Chairman, President and CEO Donovan Blackburn. “Adding a pediatric gastroenterologist to our medical staff at the Mettu Children’s Hospital will allow many more children and teenagers to receive specialized medical care close to home.”

Parents or guardians with children exhibiting GI symptoms should talk with their child’s pediatrician about a referral. To schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Softic, call 606-430-2120.

Additionally, Pikeville Medical Center has an agreement with UK Healthcare’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital to provide pediatric specialists in plastic surgery, pulmonology, genetics, cardiology, endocrinology, BMI Clinic and adolescent psychiatry via telehealth.

For more information about the Mettu Children’s Hospital at Pikeville Medical Center, visit www.pikevillehospital.org/mch.