Dr. Haley C. Neef. MD

Media Releases

Get to know Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Haley Carmichael Neef, who serves patients throughout the State of Michigan.

Dr. Neef is a trusted pediatric gastroenterologist with a passion for medicine and a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of children and families. Over the past 15 years, she has been dedicated to providing exceptional care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions in children.

Her career has involved caring for medically complex patients, including those facing social barriers affecting their health. She is also experienced in addressing challenges related to mental illness, minority status, adherence to care, transition to adult care, and insurance limitations for off-label or trial use of GI medications not yet approved for young patients.

Pertaining to her educational pursuits, Dr. Neef graduated with her medical degree from the University of Miami in 2007, before completing her residency in pediatrics and her fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the University of Michigan in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Subsequent to her education, the doctor attained board certification in pediatric gastroenterology and pediatrics through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). The mission of the ABP is to advance child health by certifying pediatricians who meet standards of excellence and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

Early in her career, she focused on Quality Improvement (QI) in the care of patients with IBD and made significant contributions in this field, publishing research on the topic. She served as the primary physician liaison for the Pediatric GI division at the University of Michigan with ImproveCareNow, an international collaboration aiming to enhance the quality of life for individuals with IBD. Her dedication to improving patient care led her to earn two independent certifications in QI.

In 2018, Dr. Neef had the honor of pioneering a GI outreach clinic at Sparrow Hospital in East Lansing, Michigan, affiliated with the University of Michigan. Her outstanding work led to her appointment as the lead and first University of Michigan pediatrician at Sparrow, where they dedicated 60% of their outpatient practice. At both U of M Hospital and Sparrow Hospital, she provided comprehensive outpatient care and performed diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies.

During her time at the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital, her clinical practice focused on general GI problems such as functional abdominal pain, constipation, and GERD, as well as complex inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), eosinophilic and other esophageal diseases, and nutritional issues.

In search of new challenges after the pandemic, Dr. Neef left the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital in 2022. Currently, she is actively seeking new employment opportunities while engaging in remote GI consultations with primary care physicians across the United States through collaborations with AristaMD and ConferMD. Additionally, she dedicates her time to volunteer work in the community and cherishing moments with loved ones.

Pediatric gastroenterology developed as a subspecialty of pediatrics and gastroenterology. It is concerned with treating the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas of children from infancy until age eighteen. Pediatric gastroenterologists evaluate and offer treatment plans for any kind of acute or chronic gastrointestinal issues including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, failure to gain weight, feeding problems, constipation or dietary issues.

Recommended Articles

• Is it Crohn's Disease or Lactose Intolerance?

  Lactose intolerance and Crohn’s disease share several similar symptoms. It’s possible to believe you are affected by one condition and yet possess the other. Crohn’s disease is not very common. Physicians could confuse its symptoms with those of lactose intolerance. Research suggests that...

• Should I Start Eating Quinoa?

  What is quinoa?This is the right time to learn about this nutrient-rich grain, for 2013 has been declared as the International Year of Quinoa by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This pseudograin, related to beets and tumbleweed, has been chosen as the food of the...

• What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder. Our own immune system attacks our body and destroys bony tissue in the joints. Sometimes, other body parts are also affected, like skin, eyes, blood vessels, lungs, or heart, but mostly the joints are the ones which are mostly affected. It...

• Depakote Drug Interactions: What to Avoid

  Drug interactionWhen a substance affects the effectiveness of another drug due to their combined use, it is known as a drug interaction. The interaction can be either an increase or decrease in the effect of the drug, or it may cause an entirely new effect. Generally, interaction takes place between...

• Your Risk of a Heart Attack Increases While Grieving

  Mourning the death of a loved one will increase the risk of heart attack in the days immediately following the death of the loved one. The risk is elevated in the month that follows the loss, according to a new study. According to the researchers, this is the first study to see whether grieving can...

• Teen Celiac Disease Patient Starts a Kosher Gluten-Free Food Bank

  Celiac disease is a type of autoimmune disease that interferes with the absorption of nutrients while also damaging the small intestines. People with this disease cannot tolerate gluten, which is a nutrient not only found in a lot of the food found in the supermarket, but also commonly used in...