Page 3 - Best gastroenterologists: TOP 172 doctors

Dr. Laura Masalaite is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist at VUL Santaros Clinics and Kardiolita Clinics. She became Acting Head of the Organ Transplantation Coordination Centre in 2024. From 2007 to 2024, she served as Senior Specialist. She has been an Associate Professor at Vilnius University since 2024.

She completed a PhD in Medicine in 2014 (2010–2014). She finished a gastroenterology residency in 2010 (2006–2010). She is a licensed gastroenterologist (MPL15909; 2010-06-30). Her advanced training includes liver transplantation in Vienna (2023–2024) and Warsaw (2010). She also trained in endoscopy and ultrasound in Wuppertal and completed UEG courses. She obtained GCP certification in 2023.

She has published in Cancers, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, and Hepatology International. Her work covers national 5-year colorectal screening and EUS for predicting variceal recurrence. She has also studied adenoma detection rate, Zenker diverticulotomy, portal vein flow in pancreatitis, diastolic dysfunction in cirrhosis, and early outcomes after liver transplantation.

Dr. Vilius Kontenis is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist. He trained at Vilnius University and earned his MD in 2014. He completed his gastroenterology residency in 2018. Since then, he has worked at Mažeikiai Hospital as a gastroenterologist and endoscopist. He also practices at Kardiolita Clinics in Vilnius as a gastroenterologist.

His work includes a systematic review and meta-analysis on inflammatory bowel disease. He has studied liver fibrosis, comparing FibroScan with routine tests. He has also published on dysphagia in older adults, pediatric diarrhea, and food allergy. He has presented on chylous ascites and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. He edited issue No. 1 of Gastroenterologija. He attended the 35th GEEW in 2017. He is a member of the Lithuanian Gastroenterology Association and the World Gastroenterology Organisation.

Dr. Sebastian F. Schoppmann is an expert in general and visceral surgery. He has focused on upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery since 2007. He leads the Gastroesophageal Tumor Unit (CCC-GET) at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna. He is also an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna.

Dr. Schoppmann has published over 240 peer-reviewed articles. He serves as a consulting or associate editor for several leading surgical and oncology journals. He is the General Secretary of the Austrian Society of Surgical Oncology. He has also held important leadership roles in surgical oncology organizations. His work has helped advance upper-GI cancer surgery.

Dr. Martin Schindl is a senior consultant at the University Hospital of Surgery, Vienna General Hospital. He specializes in surgery of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. He also focuses on surgical cancer therapy. Dr. Schindl leads the surgical outpatient clinic for pancreatic and biliary diseases. He coordinates the interdisciplinary pancreatic cancer group at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna.

He founded the ABCSG Pancreas Working Group. Dr. Schindl reviews articles for international surgical journals. He is a member of several national and international surgical societies. He also serves on the ethics committee of the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Schindl has made important contributions to cancer therapy research and patient support programs.

Dr. Mustafa Aydın is an Internal Medicine specialist. He graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2009. He provides evidence-based care for adults, including diagnosis and treatment. He communicates in English.

His clinical focus includes chronic disease management, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and thyroid disorders. He treats gastrointestinal problems, including reflux, gastritis, ulcers, and liver diseases, and respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. He manages infectious diseases. He provides preventive care with routine screenings, risk assessments, and personalized health plans.

In 2007 he joined the Costa del Sol Hospital and left this position when he obtained an international scholarship that would take him back to San Francisco. In 2010 he moved to Japan to complete his training in the submucosal endoscopic dissection technique that he would later on introduce in Andalusia in 2011, thus becoming one of the pioneers in the performance of this technique in Spain. In 2011 he became the first medical professional in the world to use the 15-mm AXIOS stent in pancreatic fluid collection drainage. In 2018 he began to perform gastroenteroanastomosis with luminal apposition stent in patients with pancreatic cancer and bowel obstruction, thus becoming a pioneer in Andalusia to perform such technique.

He is a coauthor of the reference guides of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on the endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis and non-variceal gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Professional Experience

Over 24 years' experience

1999 - Degree in Medicine and Surgery. Malaga University, Spain.

2003 to 2006 - Medical Residency in the Digestive System at the Virgen Macarena Hospital in Seville, Spain.

2006 - International Scholar at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, USA.

2007 – Digestive System Specialist at the Costa del Sol Hospital, Marbella. Spain.

2008 - California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, USA.

2009 - Top Reviewer Award received from the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Journal.

2011 – Pioneer in Spain in the introduction of the submucosal endoscopic dissection technique.

2011 – First professional in the world to use the AXIOS (15mm) stent for pancreatic fluid collection drainage.

2016 - Gold Medal of the Andalusian Society for Digestive Disease (SAPD, in its Spanish abbreviation).

2017 - Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG).

2018 - Pioneer in Andalusia to perform gastroenteroanastomosis with luminal apposition stent to treat bowel obstruction.

2019 - Fellow of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE).

The Digestive System Unit of the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital offers a patient service portfolio that includes all the clinical aspects of gastroenterology, hepatology, biliary duct and pancreatic disease, as well as the diagnostic and treatment techniques used in this speciality such as abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy and other functional tests.

Our specialists have solid professional backgrounds and the team is highly qualified for the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases such as conditions related to acidity (gastric ulcers, helicobacter pylori, gastroesophageal reflux disease), enteropathies (Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis; coeliac disease...), viral hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, pancreatic disease...

The Digestive System Unit of the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital is a pioneer in the implementation of a specific check-up programme for digestive disease with special attention to the diagnosis and treatment of colon precancerous lesions.

Diseases, treatments and techniques:

• Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound

• Endoscopic resection techniques (mucosectomy/submucosal dissection)

• Submucosal or third-space endoscopy (POEM and variants)

• Bariatric endoscopy (Apollo Method)

Education & Expertise

1995 to 2001 | Ege University Faculty of Medicine – Medical Education

2001 to 2006 | Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine – Internal Medicine Specialization

2008 to 2011 | Göztepe Training and Research Hospital – Gastroenterology Subspecialty

2014 | Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital – Associate Professor of Gastroenterology

2021 | University of Health Sciences – Professor

Professional Experience

2007 | Nusaybin State Hospital – Internal Medicine Specialist (Civil Service Obligation)

2011 to 2014 | Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital – Gastroenterology Specialist

2014 to 2017 | Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital – Associate Professor of Gastroenterology

2017 to 2021 | Health Sciences University – Associate Professor of Gastroenterology

2015 to 2021 | Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital Gastroenterology Clinic – Clinic Chief

2021 to 2022 | University of Health Sciences – Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology

2015 to 2022 | Genomic Laboratory (GLAB) Coordinator, Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate

2014 to 2021 | Northern Clinics of Istanbul Journal (indexed in WoS and PubMed) – Founding Editor

2021 to Present | Turkish Liver Research Association – Board Member

2022 to Present | Hepatology Bulletin Journal – Editor

2019 to Present | Hepatology Forum Magazine – Editor

2016 to Present | World Journal of Hepatology – Editor

International Experience

1999 | Trainee Doctor, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

2000 | Trainee Doctor, Cardiology Unit, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK

2005 | Assistant Doctor, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

Professional Memberships

Turkish Gastroenterology Association

Turkish Liver Research Association

EASL – European Association for the Study of Liver

APASL – Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver

AAAS – American Association for the Advancement of Science

Awards & Recognitions

2013 | Liver Fibrosis Pathways in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Comparative Proteomic Study – Gilead Fellowship Award

2014 | Liver Fibrosis Pathways in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Comparative Proteomic Study – Viral Hepatitis Fight Association Project Support Award

2014 | The Relationship between Spontaneous Seroconversion and Toll-Like Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Hepatitis B Infection – Turkish Gastroenterology Association, Best Poster Second Prize

2015 | Research on Damage Pathways in Liver Tissue in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Comparative Proteomic Study – Turkish Gastroenterology Association, Best Oral Presentation Third Prize

2016 | Investigations of the EGF and Its Receptor EGFR Gene Variants in Ulcerative Colitis – XV Euroasian Congress of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Best Oral Presentation Third Prize

Dr. Fernando Azpiroz Vidaur is a highly experienced gastroenterologist with over 35 years of experience in gastrointestinal research, gut disorders, gut motility, visceral sensitivity, and intestinal gas dynamics. He has received medical degrees from the University of Valladolid and San Carlos University Hospital in Madrid, a fellowship from Mayo Clinic's Gastrointestinal Research Unit, and numerous awards for his clinical research. He is also the President of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and a Councilor of the International Motility Group.

Professor Kyu Taek Lee is a top gastroenterologist from South Korea, specializing in the management of pancreatic, bile duct and gallbladder cancers. He is a Gastroenterology specialist at Samsung Medical Center and has degrees from Hanyang University College of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital. He is also a member of The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and The Korean Society of Gastroenterology.

Prof. Jong Kyun Lee is a highly experienced gastroenterologist specializing in the management of pancreatic, bile duct and gallbladder cancers, pancreatitis, and gallstones. He has worked at Samsung Medical Center and holds degrees from the Seoul National University College of Medicine and the University of California. He is a member of several organizations, including The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, The Korean Society of Gastroenterology, and The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association.

Education and Expertise

• 1979 - DR - ANKARA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE
• 1984 - SPECIALIST DR. - EGE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE INTERNAL DISEASES
• 1992 - SUB-BRANCH SPECIALIST DR. - EGE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE GASTROENTEROLOGY CLINIC
• 1994 - ASSOC. PROFESSOR - EGE UNIVERSITY
• 2000 - PROFESSOR DR. - EGE UNIVERSITY

Diseases

• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease)
• Large Intestine Diseases
• Liver Diseases
• Liver Inflammation
• Liver Cancer
• Fatty Liver
• Stomach Diseases
• Pancreatitis
• Pancreas Cancer
• Digestive System Diseases
• Digestive system cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Diseases of the Esophagus

Treatment Methods

• Balloon Stent Applications in Achalasia
• Spark Plug Applications
• ERCP
• Endoscopic Treatments for Digestive System Canal Strictures
• Endoscopic Treatment of Digestive System Polyps
• Stent 

Education and Expertise

• 2023 BAKIRÇAY UNIVERSITY ÇİĞLİ TRAINING AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL (ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR)
• 2021 EGE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE GASTROENTEROLOGY DEPARTMENT
• 2017 EGE UNIVERSITY INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT
• 2010 EGE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Diseases

• Liver Diseases
• Digestive System Diseases

Treatment Methods

• Endoscopy
• Endoscopic mucosal resection – EMR
• Endoscopic Obesity Treatment (Intragastric Botox, Intragastric Balloon)
• Endoscopic Polypectomy
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography (ERCP)
• Liver Transplant
• Colonoscopy
• Peroral Cholangioscopy

Experience

• Diyarbakir 112 Emergency Health Services Chief Physician (2010-2011)
• Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (2012-2017)
• Ayvalik State Hospital (2017-2018)
• Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology (2018-2021)
• Burdur State Hospital (2021-2022)
• Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital (2022-2024)

Professional Memberships

• 1.Turkish Gastroenterology Association (ERCP working group)
• 2. Turkish Liver Research Association
• 3. Turkish Medical Association

Dr. Ozlem Saygili Yonem is a gastroenterology specialist at Memorial Bodrum Hospital. She previously worked at Sivas Medicana Hospital. From 2007 to 2023, she was a faculty member in the Department of Gastroenterology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University.

Dr. Saygili Yonem completed her gastroenterology subspecialty training at Hacettepe University. She also holds a specialization in internal medicine from Sivas Cumhuriyet University. She is a member of the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology, the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society, and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Association.

She has advanced training in endoscopic ultrasonography, motility studies, and hepatology. She also gained international experience at Johns Hopkins University with a scholarship from the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology.

Prof. Selin Kapan has been a Professor of General Surgery since 2017. She is currently with Istanbul Aydın University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery (2022–present). She previously worked at Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital as a Specialist and Associate Professor. She also served as Educational and Administrative Supervisor at Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital. In addition, she was Medical Coordinator and General Surgeon at Istanbul Surgery Hospital.

She has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Her research covers hernia repair, perianal fistula, pilonidal disease, hepatic hydatid disease, laparoscopic surgery, and gastrointestinal surgery. Her work has been published in journals such as Digestive Surgery, Hernia, Techniques in Coloproctology, and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. She is a member of the Turkish Surgical Association, the National Trauma and Emergency Surgery Association, the Hernia Society, the Turkish HPB Surgery Association, the Stem Cell and Cellular Therapies Association, and the Gastroesophageal Reflux Association.

Education

Studied at the Medical School of the University of Giessen, Germany (1996 - 2003)

Specialization in Pathology (2009)

Specialization in Gastroenterology (2012)

Professional Experience

Resident in Special Pathology at Klinikum Offenbach, Germany (Jul 2003 - Aug 2009)

Resident in Gastroenterology at Klinikum Offenbach, Germany (Aug 2009 - Dec 2012)

Commissioner of the Gastroenterology Clinic at Klinikum Offenbach, Germany Apr 2010 - Aug 2014 (Director: Prof. Dancygier Apr 2010-Mar 2014, Prof. Ell Apr 2014 - Aug 2014)

Senior Attending Physician (Deputy Director) at the Department of Gastroenterology, Kreiskliniken Darmstadt-Dieburg Hospital, Germany Sep 2014 - Dec 2020 (Director Dr. Dotzel)

Director of the Gastroenterology Department at the German Oncology Centre in Limassol, Cyprus (Jan 2021 to date)

Professor Gerhard Prager is a highly experienced bariatric surgery specialist with over 3,000 operations for obesity treatment. He is the head of the Obesity Outpatient Clinic in Vienna General Hospital and head of the Metabolic Surgery Center in Confraternitaet Private Hospital. He is a member of several organizations such as the IFSO-European Chapter, the Austrian Obesity Association, the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, the Austrian Society of Surgery, the Austrian Society of Bariatric Surgery, and the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

Dr. Omer Burcak Binicier is a gastroenterology specialist with strong medical training. He earned his medical degree at Ege University. He completed his internal medicine and gastroenterology specialization at Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Binicier has over ten years of clinical experience. He has held key positions at SBÜ Tepecik Training and Research Hospital and İzmir Bayraklı City Hospital. He also gained international experience at Korea University.

Dr. Binicier diagnoses and treats a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. His expertise includes early colon and stomach cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases, liver and pancreatic disorders, and digestive system cancers. He uses advanced endoscopic techniques such as EMR, ESD, ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound. He is also skilled in minimally invasive obesity treatments. His clinical skills are built on years of hands-on work in top medical centers.

Dr. Arnulf Ferlitsch is a specialist in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and hepatology. He completed his medical studies in Vienna in 1998. He continued his training at top institutions, including UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania. From 2000 to 2010, he focused on internal medicine, gastroenterology, hepatology, and intensive care.

Dr. Ferlitsch has received several research awards, such as the UEGW Best Abstract Award (2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012), the Ferring Prize, and the Skoda Prize. He founded the hepatic hemodynamics laboratory and the liver cirrhosis outpatient clinic at the Medical University of Vienna. Since 2018, he has led the Department of Internal Medicine I at the Hospital of the Barmherzigen Brüder in Vienna.

Dr. Sebastian Schoppmann is an expert in general and visceral surgery. He specializes in upper gastrointestinal procedures. He leads the Gastroesophageal Tumor Unit at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna. He also heads the gastric and esophageal surgery team at the Medical University of Vienna.

Dr. Schoppmann has published over 240 scientific articles. He is the General Secretary of the Austrian Society of Surgical Oncology. He has served as editor or associate editor for several respected medical journals. He is known for his achievements in surgical oncology and cancer research.