Gastroenterologist Mouen Khashab specializes in therapeutic endoscopy, and he oversees this group of practitioners across the Johns Hopkins enterprise. Nationally and internationally known in the field of interventional endoscopy, Dr. Khashab has contributed immensely to the field’s advancement as a minimally invasive means to treat gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary disorders. Dr. Khashab earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, and subsequently completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Indiana University. He then completed a two-year fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital before joining the faculty in 2011. A busy researcher, Dr. Khashab has published more than 600 papers in peer-reviewed journals. In 2013, he described the procedure called gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (known as G-POEM) and was able to disseminate and teach it all over the world. Other procedures that he expanded include peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), peroral endoscopic myotomy with fundoplication (POEM-F), Zenker’s peroral endoscopic myotomy (Z-POEM) and full thickness resection. In 2022, he received the Master Endoscopist Award from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for his numerous contributions to the field. His procedural expertise includes endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), interventional EUS, submucosal endoscopy, POEM/achalasia, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, luminal stenting, large polyp resection and Barrett’s therapy, among others. Dr. Khashab is involved with multiple gastrointestinal societies and has served on many committees, including the ASGE Standards of Practice Committee, which is in charge of formulating guidelines for the practice of endoscopy. He has also served as an associate editor for the journal Endoscopy, a premier journal in the field. Khashab is a highly sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, and he has participated in multiple live endoscopy conferences. Outside of academic medicine, Dr. Khashab is an entrepreneur. His major interest is in new technology and medical devices, and his goal is to disrupt the field by introducing technology that makes endoscopic procedures safer, easier, efficient and more scalable. Dr. Khashab is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Achalasia, Pancreatic Pseudocyst, Bile Duct Obstruction, Endoscopy, and Gastric Bypass.

Thomas Abernathy is a Gastroenterologist in Catonsville, Maryland. Dr. Abernathy is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Lactose Intolerance, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Hemorrhoids, Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy.

Allen Banegura is a Gastroenterologist in Catonsville, Maryland. Dr. Banegura is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Angiodysplasia of the Colon, Esophagitis, Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy.

Lee Akst, M.D., specializes in treating the larynx (voicebox), in particular the treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. He is a leading laryngologist in office-based procedures such as vocal fold injection augmentation, pulsed KTP laser treatment, and laryngeal botox injection. In the operating room, Dr. Akst specializes in phonosurgery for the treatment of vocal cord disease, with emphasis on voice restoration and improvement. A strong focus of his practice involves the use of pulsed angiolytic lasers, which allow for subspecialized care of laryngeal papillomas, laryngeal dysplasia, and early vocal cord cancers while preserving the quality and strength of the voice. Dr. Akst is a national leader in the field of laryngology and serves in leadership roles for the American Laryngological Association, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He lectures extensively on the treatment of laryngeal disease, teaching other physicians how to care for patients with voice and swallowing concerns. His research interests include the development of robotic laryngeal surgery, the study of voice and swallowing complaints in the elderly, and the advancement of pulsed lasers for the treatment of laryngeal diseases with a focus on leukoplakia. This provider is registered with the Florida Department of Health to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Dr. Akst is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.

Marcia (Mimi) Canto, M.D., M.H.S. is a Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is also the Director of Endoscopy at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Canto received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Philippines in Manila in 1981 (summa cum laude). She received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1985 from the University of the Philippines and completed her training in Internal Medicine from State University of New York Sciences Center in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Canto completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Gastroenterology-Hepatology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and received a Master of Health Science in Clinical Epidemiology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1993. Dr. Canto came back to Johns Hopkins after spending three years at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for advanced endoscopic training. Her primary clinical interests include endoscopy, particularly the use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in detecting early pancreatic cancer and its precursors. She has recently shown that endoscopic ultrasound can be used to detect asymptomatic precancerous lesions in patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Canto is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Her top areas of expertise are Barrett Esophagus, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Loc Le is a Gastroenterologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Le is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Barrett Esophagus, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy.

Kester Crosse is a Gastroenterologist in Columbia, Maryland. Dr. Crosse is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hiatal Hernia, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy.

Elizabeth Bower is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Ellicott City, Maryland. Dr. Bower is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Her top areas of expertise are Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Xanthoma, Cirrhosis, and High Cholesterol.

Marcelino Albuerne is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Catonsville, Maryland. Dr. Albuerne is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Glycine Encephalopathy, Anemia, Familial Hypertension, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

James Tansinda is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Catonsville, Maryland. Dr. Tansinda is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Gangrene, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Hypertension, Endoscopy, and Pancreatectomy.

Rubina Alvi is a primary care provider, practicing in Geriatrics in Elkridge, Maryland. Dr. Alvi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Her top areas of expertise are High Cholesterol, Vitamin D Deficiency, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Familial Hypertension.

Gina Adrales, M.D., M.P.H., joins the Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery as Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Training and Innovation Center, and Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. Her areas of clinical expertise include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallbladder disease, achalasia, splenectomy (spleen removal), benign gastric and intestinal surgery, bariatric surgery, and open and laparoscopic hernia repair (inguinal, ventral, incisional, umbilical, hiatal, paraesophageal). Dr. Adrales has been named an associate member of the American College of Surgeons' Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Awardees are recognized for having devoted their careers to surgical education and are considered premier leaders in their respective fields. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Adrales was on faculty at Dartmouth where she directed the Surgery Clerkship, the Hernia Surgery Center, and the Bariatric Surgery Program. During her tenure at Dartmouth, she earned her Masters of Public Health at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her medical degree from the University of Virginia. She completed her residency at the Carolinas Medical Center and a research and clinical fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Kentucky before her first faculty appointment at the Medical College of Georgia. A national leader in hernia surgery, Dr. Adrales serves on the Executive Council of the Americas Hernia Society and previously served on the Executive Council of the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative to improve the safety and quality of hernia surgery. She is actively involved in a number of committees for the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons including various roles in surgical education, the development of the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery and an innovative interactive hernia surgery education module. Dr. Adrales’ research interests include health services research, clinical outcomes and quality improvement in minimally invasive foregut surgery, bariatric and metabolic surgery, and abdominal wall reconstruction. She has presented her work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Adrales is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Her top areas of expertise are Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, Gastroparesis, Gastrectomy, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Sean Karp is a Gastroenterologist in Columbia, Maryland. Dr. Karp is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Diverticular Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, and Endoscopy.

Marvin Lawrence is a Gastroenterologist in Columbia, Maryland. Dr. Lawrence is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Swallowing Difficulty, Painful Swallowing, Berdon Syndrome, Diverticular Disease, and Endoscopy.

Dr. Rai was awarded the “TOP DOC” in Gastroenterology award by Baltimore Magazine for 2016. Dr. Rai is a Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, with over 22 years of experience in this field. He is the Medical Director of Gastro Center of Maryland & Cascades Endoscopy Center and has served on the Medical Faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for many years, starting in 1997. He has been in many leadership positions in the Johns Hopkins Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, including as the Medical Director, Adult Liver Transplantation and Director, Clinical Effectiveness. He completed his Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in 1996 and completed an additional year of Advanced Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Transplant Hepatology and Biliary Disorders. Dr. Rai is considered a national thought leader and expert in the field of Gastroenterology and Liver disease and presents regularly at national and regional meetings. He has received many awards including Excellence in Clinical Research Award from the American College of Gastroenterology, Passano Clinician Scientist Award from Johns Hopkins University, Industry Research Scholar Award & Astra-Merck Award from the American Digestive Health Foundation, among others. He has published dozens of scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored many chapters for medical textbooks. He has performed over 50,000 procedures in this field and pioneered new and innovative medical techniques. Dr. Rai is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Gastric Dysmotility, Colitis, Colonoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Priti Bijpuria is a Gastroenterologist in Columbia, Maryland. Dr. Bijpuria is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Her top areas of expertise are Gastric Dysmotility, Bacterial Gastroenteritis, Indigestion, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and Gastrectomy.

Steven Epstein is a Gastroenterologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Epstein is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Cronkhite-Canada Disease, Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy.

Dr. Onwueme graduated with Distinction from Yale University with dual BSc/MSc degrees in chemistry and received MD and PhD degrees from Weill Cornell Medical College. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Clinical Fellow Harvard Medical School) and his Gastroenterology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is currently the Director of clinical trials at Woodholme Gastroenterology and has an ardent interest in the role of microbial metabolites in gut diseases. Dr. Onwueme prizes commitment to quality and compassionate patient care to which he devotes his practice. He has expert knowledge in gut microbiology and a special interest in diarrheal diseases, disordered gut motility, autoimmune and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Onwueme is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Gastric Dysmotility, Diverticular Disease, Diarrhea, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Eric Blum is a Gastroenterologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Blum is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Diverticular Disease, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Viral Gastroenteritis, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy.

Ernest Tsao is a Gastroenterologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Tsao is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). His top areas of expertise are Hepatitis, Gas Bloat Syndrome, Hepatitis C, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.