Digestive Health Care

Our Digestive Health Institute experts specialize in advanced care for digestive disorders and digestive diseases.

Digestive Health Care

Our Digestive Health Institute experts specialize in advanced care for digestive disorders and digestive diseases.

Clinical Trials

Participating in a clinical trial gives you access to new and promising therapies.

Find an open trial

Donations

Support our efforts to advance and innovate digestive health care.

Support Us

Cutting-Edge Treatment for Digestive Disorders

Digestive diseases and other digestive problems impact millions of people each year, diminishing health and quality of life. At the USC Digestive Health Institute, our digestive health specialists treat a broad range of chronic and acute digestive problems and concerns. Our institute’s seven centers of excellence ensure you receive world-class, comprehensive, coordinated care for your digestive health.

We specialize in all types of gastrointestinal disorders such as:

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Gastrointestinal cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Liver disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Ulcerative colitis

In addition, we provide treatment for obesity-related and metabolic conditions, offering both surgical and minimally invasive procedures that result in exceptional patient outcomes.

Our Centers

The USC Digestive Health Institute comprises seven centers of excellence that together address a broad spectrum of digestive disorders and conditions.

  • USC Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
  • USC Obesity Center
  • USC Esophageal and Foregut Disorders Center
  • USC Small Bowel Center
  • USC Colon Polyp Resection Center
  • USC Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Disease Center
  • USC Cirrhosis Center

The USC Digestive Health Institute team treats a wide range of digestive diseases and digestive disorders using advanced therapies, surgeries and treatments.

Conditions We Treat

  • Alcohol-related liver disease
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Biliary (gallbladder) disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Diverticulitis
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Gallstones
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Gastrointestinal cancer (colon cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer)
  • Gastroparesis
  • Genetic liver disease
  • Hiatal hernias
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Liver disease
  • Metabolic liver disease
  • Microscopic colitis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Small bowel tumors
  • Spleen disorders
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Viral hepatitis

Treatments We Offer

  • Bariatric surgery
  • Endoscopic ablation and resection
  • Liver cancer care
  • Liver transplant

Our Team

Stuart A. Abel, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more
Specialties
Physician Assistant, Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Saroja Devi Bangaru, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Melanoma Surgery, Gastroenterology

James L. Buxbaum, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor (Clinical Scholar)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Cynthia Cherfane, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology

Carol J. Chow, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine

Laurie D. Deleve, MD, PhD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Florinale Cuico Elorta, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Nurse Practitioner
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Allen Ghlandian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Caitlin C. Houghton, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
Minimally Invasive General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more

Rome Jutabha, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Jeffrey A. Kahn, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Liver Transplant Surgery

Ani Amirian Kardashian, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Saro Khemichian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Specialties
Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more
Specialties
Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more

Michael Lin, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Liver Transplant Surgery, Gastroenterology

John C. Lipham, MD

Accepting new patients
Chief, Division of Upper GI and General Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Foregut Surgery  View more
Specialties
General Surgery , Gastrointestinal Surgery, Physician Assistant  View more

Surinder K. Mann, MD

Accepting new patients
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Neel Kamal Mann, MD

Accepting new patients
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Luke R. Putnam, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Minimally Invasive General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Kathleen Kay Rosario, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Clinical Instructor of Medicine (Practitioner)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Ara Sahakian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Kamran Samakar, MD

Accepting new patients
Director, Bariatric Surgery Program
Specialties
General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Anisa Shaker, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Sonia Sharma, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Sarah Sheibani, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Sharon Shiraga, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Upper GI and Gen ...
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Foregut Surgery

Edy Soffer, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine/Divis ...
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Neil Kaplowitz Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Hepatology  View more

Jacques Van Dam, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Medicine (Clinical Scholar)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Liyun Yuan, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology  View more

Bing Zhang, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Kali Zhou, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Saroja Devi Bangaru, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology

James L. Buxbaum, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor (Clinical Scholar)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Cynthia Cherfane, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine

Laurie D. Deleve, MD, PhD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Rome Jutabha, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Jeffrey A. Kahn, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Liver Transplant Surgery

Ani Amirian Kardashian, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Saro Khemichian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology

Michael Lin, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Liver Transplant Surgery, Gastroenterology

Surinder K. Mann, MD

Accepting new patients
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Neel Kamal Mann, MD

Accepting new patients
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Ara Sahakian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Specialties
Hepatology, Gastroenterology

Anisa Shaker, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Sonia Sharma, MD

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Sarah Sheibani, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Edy Soffer, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine/Divis ...
Specialties
Gastroenterology
Neil Kaplowitz Professor of Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Hepatology  View more

Jacques Van Dam, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Medicine (Clinical Scholar)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Liyun Yuan, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology  View more

Bing Zhang, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology

Kali Zhou, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Melanoma Surgery, Gastroenterology

Florinale Cuico Elorta, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Nurse Practitioner
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Kathleen Kay Rosario, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Clinical Instructor of Medicine (Practitioner)
Specialties
Gastroenterology

Stuart A. Abel, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Allen Ghlandian, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery

Caitlin C. Houghton, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
Minimally Invasive General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more

John C. Lipham, MD

Accepting new patients
Chief, Division of Upper GI and General Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Foregut Surgery  View more

Luke R. Putnam, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
General Surgery, Minimally Invasive General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Kamran Samakar, MD

Accepting new patients
Director, Bariatric Surgery Program
Specialties
General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Sharon Shiraga, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Upper GI and Gen ...
Specialties
General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Foregut Surgery
Specialties
Physician Assistant, Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more

Carol J. Chow, NP-C

Accepting new patients
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery
Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery  View more
Specialties
Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more
Specialties
Foregut Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery  View more
Specialties
General Surgery , Gastrointestinal Surgery, Physician Assistant  View more

Clinical Trials

Participating in a clinical trial gives you access to new and promising therapies.

Find an open trial

Donations

Support our efforts to advance and innovate digestive health care.

Support Us

State-of-the-Art Care for Digestive Disorders

We are committed to providing personalized care. Each patient receives a plan tailored to meet their unique health needs, resulting in a better experience and better outcomes.

Our multidisciplinary team of digestive health specialists includes world-renowned tertiary and quaternary care experts who bring a wealth of experience in treating complex digestive health issues.

Our experts — gastroenterologists, general surgeons, medical oncologists, internists, endocrinologists and more — collaborate to design the most effective care plan for you.

We are a hub of innovation with access to the latest scientific innovations for preventing, detecting and treating complex digestive health issues.

Our state-of-the-art care includes novel approaches to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, expertise in minimally invasive surgical techniques and tumor profiling to personalize each patient’s treatment plan.

World-Class Leadership

Our internationally renowned physicians and clinicians are dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care. We are leaders in cutting-edge treatments, breakthrough research and exceptional outcomes.

James L. Buxbaum, MD

Executive Director, USC Digestive Health Institute

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