I chose the field of gastroenterology as my medical subspecialty because of my long-standing interest in cellular absorptive processes and the role of immunity in preventing and causing diseases. I have made the transition from basic scientist to full-time academic physician and find clinical practice in gastroenterology challenging, fast-paced and immensely satisfying.

I see patients as a UBMD physician at Erie County Medical Center in both inpatient and outpatient capacities, and I see patients at the UBMD Internal Medicine on Youngs Road in Amherst, NY as well. I manage the care of adult patients of all ages and backgrounds in clinical situations that range from basic gastroenterology and liver disease to specialized hepatobiliary and pancreatic problems. I am comfortable with office-based consultation and all routine endoscopic procedures as well as complicated emergent and advanced endoscopic procedures. One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is the variety of clinical problems I evaluate on a daily basis.

I also love the teaching aspect of being an academic physician, and I have been teaching and supervising medical students, residents and fellows for over 25 years. I consider academic physicians to be lifelong learners — i.e., health care practitioners who keep pace with medical advances in order to teach those who follow in our footsteps. Our constant review of the latest medical breakthroughs and the continuous and open exchange of thoughts and ideas we foster with our students allow us to stay up to date on medical knowledge and this, in turn, enhances our ability to deliver the highest quality patient care. I also mentor clinical research projects with medical residents and review manuscripts for publication in the medical literature.