Our GI Team
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Ronald D. Szyjkowski, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, is a graduate of Siena College and received his MD degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. He performed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. He completed a Gastroenterology fellowship at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has special competency in disease of the esophagus, endoluminal plicator placement, photodynamic ablation therapy of gastrointestinal and biliary tumors, and endoscopic ultrasound. He has been a leader in the development and teaching of endoscopic ultrasound techniques and advanced endoscopy techniques. Dr. Szyjkowski is a Major in the United States Army and has received several awards. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is also a diplomat of the American Board in Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Szyjkowski serves as Medical Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He also serves as the Director of the Endoscopy Unit at University Hospital and Director of the newly-emerged University Gastroenterology outpatient and procedure practices in Syracuse, NY. |
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Philip G. Holtzapple, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a Gastroenterology fellowship at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania an dChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia.. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has special competency in caring for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and motility disorders.
Dr. Holtzapple is an active member of the American Federation for Clinical Research, Society for Pediatric Research, American Gastroenterological Association, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the Gastroenterology Research Group, the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, the Northeast Group on Medical Education, the Group on Education Affairs, the American College of Physician Executives, the American College of Physicians, and the American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Holtzapple is also currently the Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education at University Hospital. |
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Renee Williams, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine is a graduate of New York University School of Medicine 2001. She completed an Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at New York University/Bellevue Hospital. In between Residency and Fellowship, Dr. Williams worked as a primary care provider within the New York Harbor Healthcare System. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, and board certified for Gastroenterology. Dr. Williams is an active member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. |
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Praveen Kumar Sampath, MBBS, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine is a graduate of Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, India. He completed an Internal Medicine residency, Chief residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at SUNY Buffalo Hospital. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Sampath is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Neurogastroenterology and motility society as well as the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal disorders. |  |
Sekou R. S. Rawlins, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine is a graduate of Howard University College of Medicine 2001. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City before serving for one year as a Chief Medical Resident at the Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. He then worked in the Division of General Internal Medicine as a hospitalist and Assistant Professor of Medicine for four years before completing a Gastroenterology fellowship - all at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, and Gastroenterology. Dr. Rawlins is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. |
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Savio John, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, is a graduate of St. John's Medical College in Bangalore, India. Dr. John completed his Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Following this, Dr. John did an additional fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, and board certified for Transplant Hepatology. Dr. John is an active member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Gasroenterology and Massachusetts Medical Society.. |
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Jad Bou-Abdallah, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, is a graduate of the American University of Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Bou-Abdallah completed his Residency in Internal Medicine, in addition to a fellowship in Geriatrics that was followed by a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, and board eligible for Geriatrics Medicine. Dr. Bou-Abdallah is an active member of the American Gastroenterological Association and has a special interest in treating the elderly population with various gastrointestinal diseases. |
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Nivedita Pandey, MBBS, 3rd Year Fellow graduated Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India. She completed her Internship @ Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India and Residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Dr. Pandey is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). |
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Nassser Hajar, MBChB, 2nd Year Fellow graduated from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at United Health Services, Johnson City, NY. Dr. Hajar is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and Medical Society of the State of New York. |
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Divey Manocha, MBBS, 1st Year Fellow, graduated from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. He completed his Internship @ Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India and Residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. |  |
Osman Arif, MBBS, 1st Year Fellow, graduated from Aga Khan Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Dr. Arif is a member of American College of Gastroenterology. |
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Kimberly Amodio, PA Kimberly Amodio, PA is a graduate of LeMoyne College Physician Assistant Program and possesses a B. A. in Psychology. Ms. Amodio has worked with University Gastroenterology since 2003 and continues to actively work with Dr. Levine evaluating and treating patients with liver disease and hepatitis C. Ms. Amodio is an active member of the New York State Society of Physician Assistants and is certified by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Shortly after her arrival, Ms. Amodio was awarded and completed a NP/PA AASLD Hepatology one-year fellowship which included advanced training in liver disease. In addition to working in our new outpatient facility, she performs work at the Clinical Research Center and the Methadone Clinic evaluating and treating patients with liver disease. |
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Suzette Trovato, NP, is a graduate of Community General Hospital Nurse Practitioner Program. She is certified both as a Nurse Practitioner and a Physicians Assistant. Ms. Trovato has worked with University Gastroenterology since 2002 and has specialized competency in anoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, hemorrhoidal banding, and general gastroenterology. In addition to her responsibilities at University Gastroenterology, Ms. Trovato actively works at the Clinical Research Center on research protocols. Ms. Trovato is a member of the National Commission of Certified Physician Assistants, of the New York State and the local Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, and of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. |
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Elizabeth Dillon, RN, has worked as an RN for the Endoscopic Division of University Hospital for the past 15 years. During this time she functioned as a Endoscopy staff nurse and clinical manager. She is currently working as Endoscopy Clinical Manager. |
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Shioban Reilley, RN worked as a RN for the Gastroenterology Division at University Hospital for 6 years. Shioban graduated from Onondaga Community College in 2000 and worked as an ICU/ER nurse. Shiobban is currently working as a Nurse Administrator for University Gastroenterology at the Philip G. Holtzapple Endoscopy Center, newly certified in August 2012 as an Ambulatory Surgery Center. |
University Gastroenterology (Hill Medical Building)
Clinical Research Center
Division of Gastroenterology, Endo Suite (UH)