Dr. Nimisha Parekh, director of UC Irvine Healthcare’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. She has completed a fellowship in hepatology and gastroenterology, and has received advanced training in the treatment of IBD. Dr. Parekh’s clinical and research interests include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, women’s issues and the role of ethnicity in disease outcomes. She sees patients at the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Disease Center in Orange and at Gottschalk Medical Plaza in Irvine.

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C. Gregory Albers, M.D. Gastroenterologist

Dr. C. Gregory Albers specializes in treating conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including IBD, gastroesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Albers, an expert in colon-cancer screening, is fellowship-trained and board-certified in gastroenterology and hepatology. His clinical and academic interests include studying the origins, progression and chemoprevention of colon cancer. He sees patients at the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Disease Center in Orange and at Gottschalk Medical Plaza in Irvine.

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Michael J. Stamos, M.D. Colorectal Surgeon

Dr. Michael J. Stamos, chief of colorectal surgery services for the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center, is an expert in minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and related conditions such as pouchitis and IBD-linked colorectal cancer. Dr. Stamos is fellowship-trained in colorectal surgery.

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Steven D. Mills, M.D. Colorectal Surgeon

Dr. Steven D. Mills is an expert in minimally invasive surgical techniques in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, colon and rectal cancer, and benign anal and rectal disorders. He also performs colonoscopies. Dr. Mills is fellowship trained and board certified in general and colorectal surgery. He sees patients at the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Disease Center in Orange and at Gottschalk Medical Plaza in Irvine.

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Mark Li-Cheng Wu, M.D. Gastrointestinal pathologist

Dr. Mark Li-Cheng Wu is a board-certified pathologist with extensive expertise in the pathology of the digestive system. A member of the multidisciplinary IBD team, he is skilled at identifying such conditions as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which may be difficult to diagnose. Dr. Wu is fellowship-trained in gastrointestinal pathology.

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Allen J. Cohen, M.D. Radiologist

Dr. Allen J. Cohen is a board-certified radiologist with special expertise in imaging the gastrointestinal and colorectal systems. Fellowship-trained in nuclear medicine, Dr. Cohen works with the multidisciplinary IBD team to help accurately diagnose and treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and related conditions.

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Dina Douglas, M.S.N., N.P.C. Nurse Practitioner

Dina Douglas is a family nurse practitioner with expertise in colorectal diseases, oncology, internal medicine and public health. She works with the multidisciplinary IBD team in the treatment and follow-up care of patients. Douglas also collects research data for the team’s ongoing clinical research studies.

 

Marianne Kenny, R.N., Nurse Coordinator

Marianne Kenny is the nurse coordinator for the IBD program at the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center (CDDC) in Orange. She assists the physicians in coordinating comprehensive and compassionate care for IBD patients. Kenny works with the IBD team on scheduling, treatment plans, medication administration and authorizations, as well as with patient education and teaching.

 

Cristina S. Martinez, R.N., M.S.N. Nurse Coordinator

Tina Martinez is a multispecialty nurse coordinator who works with IBD patients at the Gottschalk Medical Plaza facility on the UC Irvine campus. Martinez is an expert at assessing patients’ symptoms and directing them to appropriate specialists. She also facilitates treatment plans and coordinates procedure scheduling and follow-up care as well as the recommended referrals for education programs and other health needs. Martinez ensures the continuity of skilled, compassionate care that promotes the patient’s well being.

 

Lisa Dinglasan, M.S.W., M.P.A. Clinical Social Worker

Lisa Dinglasan works with IBD patients who have been admitted to the hospital for surgical procedures, providing emotional and psychological support to help them and their families cope with this complex, painful and hard-to-diagnose disease.

 

Kristin McMaster, M.S.W. Clinical Social Worker

Kristin McMaster addresses psycho-social issues patients diagnosed with IBD can encounter. She assesses patients and provides short-term counseling, psychological education and emotional support to them as well as their families. McMaster also works with UC Irvine’s IBD support group and collaborates with clinical team on research aimed at expand knowledge about this very complicated disease.

 

Herlinda Bergman Research Coordinator

Herlinda Bergman coordinates clinical research trials for the IBD team. Bergman works with patients and oversees the studies from start to finish, including compiling and managing the data as well as completing case reports.