The rapid growth of knowledge and and the multiplicity of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods are forcing the internal medical specialty apart and compelling us to specialize. One exponent of this development is gastroenterology. With the introduction of fiberoptics, gastroenterological diagnosis was revolutionized. Endoscopic biopsy methods are dominating diagnosis, radiological examination of the digestive tract is mainly used for supplementation. Operative endoscopy with its diagnostic and therapeutic importance forces us to closer cooperation with pathologists and surgeons. The immediate objective most likely to do justice to the development is the gastroenterological department or center which permits optimal cooperation. The gastroenterologist of the future must be trained in pathological anatomy, surgery and internist gastroenterology.