Types of Providers

Our practice utilizes physicians who hold degrees in either Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). All of our physicians are fellowship trained and are Board Certified in Gastroenterology.   

We also utilize both Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP)& Physician Assistants (PA) to see patients.  Most of our physicians have an ARNP or PA to help provide quality and timely healthcare to our patients.  We are confident in our advanced practitioners'’ ability to provide top quality health care and we know you will be confident in them as well for all of your Gastroenterology needs.

Below you will find information on the scope of practice and educational background for all types of providers.

A Medical Doctor (MD) is a degree that means the physician has successfully completed a four-year accredited medical school. Following the awarding of the MD, physicians who wish to practice in the United States are required to complete at least one internship year and pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam.  In order to receive Board Eligible or Board Accredited status in a specialty of medicine such as internal medicine, they then undergo additional specialized training in the form of a residency. Those who wish to further specialize in areas such as Gastroenterology, they then complete a fellowship. Depending upon the physician's chosen field, residencies and fellowships involve an additional three to eight years of training after obtaining the MD.

A Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) is a degree that means the physician has successfully completed a four-year accredited medical school. The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or DO degree is the only other legal and professional equivalent to the MD degree in the United States and Canada.  Requirements for admission to the respective programs (DO--MD) and the programs themselves are equivalent.  The major differences between the MD and the DO degrees lie in the distinctive osteopathic philosophy and osteopathic manipulative treatment.

A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional licensed to practice medicine with supervision of a licensed physician. A physician assistant is concerned with preventing, maintaining, and treating human illness and injury by providing a broad range of health care services that are traditionally performed by a physician. Physician assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.

Physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making as determined by their supervising physician. Physician assistants are not to be confused with medical assistants, who perform administrative and simple clinical tasks with limited college-level education in hospitals and clinics under the direct supervision of physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, or nurse practitioners.

An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) who has completed graduate-level education (either a Master's or a Doctoral degree). All advanced practice nurses are Registered Nurses with additional education and training. To become licensed to practice, Nurse Practitioners hold national certification in an area of specialty (family, women's health, pediatrics, adult, acute care, etc.), and are licensed through state nursing boards rather than medical boards. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. Another focus is educating patients about their health and encouraging them to make healthy choices. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities.

Nurse Practitioners treat both physical and mental conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, physical therapy, and ordering tests and therapies for patients within their scope of practice. NPs can serve as a patient's primary health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their designated scope of practice.