Description

Top 10 Gastroenterologists in Los Angeles for Digestive Issues

Digestive problems can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and sometimes difficult to diagnose. Persistent heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, or changes in bowel habits may seem like minor issues at first, but recurring symptoms can interfere with work, sleep, travel, and everyday life.
If you are searching for the top gastroenterologists in Los Angeles, you have access to several major digestive health centers, including UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck Medicine of USC.

These institutions provide care for common gastrointestinal conditions as well as complex disorders involving the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and biliary system. Cedars-Sinai, for example, says its general gastroenterology program treats more than 100 routine and complex GI conditions.
This guide highlights 10 gastroenterologists and digestive-health specialists in the Los Angeles area based on their listed specialties, areas of expertise, institutional affiliations, and available provider information. It is designed to help you understand what each doctor focuses on, where they practice, and what to consider before booking an appointment.

 

1. Dr. Kevin A. Ghassemi, MD – UCLA Health

Overview
Dr. Kevin A. Ghassemi is a gastroenterologist at UCLA Health and serves as Clinical Chief for Westwood and Beverly Hills at the Melvin and Bren Simon Digestive Diseases Center. UCLA lists him as the Medical Director of Clinical Programs for the Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health.
His background makes him a potentially strong option for patients looking for specialized evaluation of gastrointestinal and esophageal problems.
Services Offered
* General gastroenterology care
* Evaluation of digestive symptoms
* Esophageal health and disorders
* Diagnostic gastrointestinal procedures
* Management of ongoing gastrointestinal conditions
Why Choose Him
Patients looking for a gastroenterologist connected with a major academic digestive diseases program may consider Dr. Ghassemi. His leadership roles at UCLA also make him particularly relevant for patients dealing with esophageal concerns.
Location
100 Medical Plaza, Suite 205, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
Website
UCLA Health – Kevin A. Ghassemi, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 310-208-5400. UCLA currently lists him as accepting new patients.
Serving Areas
Westwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, and surrounding Los Angeles communities.
 

2. Dr. Simon K. Lo, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Simon K. Lo is a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai with expertise extending beyond general digestive care. His listed experience includes interventional gastroenterology, pancreatic and biliary diseases, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, and pancreatic cancer screening. He is also listed as Director of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Director of the Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases Program.
Services Offered
* General gastroenterology
* Gastrointestinal endoscopy
* Interventional gastroenterology
* Pancreatic and biliary disease evaluation
* Pancreatic cancer screening
* Digestive and liver disease care
Why Choose Him
Dr. Lo may be especially relevant for patients whose digestive concerns involve the pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder-related systems, or complex endoscopic evaluation.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Pancreatic Biliary, 8720 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Building, Lower Level, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Simon K. Lo, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 310-423-6082. Cedars-Sinai currently lists him as accepting new patients.
Serving Areas
Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, Mid-City, Hollywood, and surrounding areas.
 

3. Dr. Bianca W. Chang, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Bianca W. Chang is a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai whose listed experience includes general gastroenterology and gastrointestinal motility. GI motility is particularly relevant to patients experiencing problems involving how food and digestive contents move through the gastrointestinal tract.
Services Offered
* General gastroenterology
* GI motility evaluation
* Digestive and liver disease care
* Assessment of chronic digestive symptoms
* Gastrointestinal disorder management
Why Choose Her
Patients experiencing persistent bloating, bowel irregularities, or other symptoms potentially related to gastrointestinal motility may want to discuss whether a motility-focused evaluation is appropriate.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Gastrointestinal (GI) Motility, 8720 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Building, Lower Level, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Bianca W. Chang, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 1-800-233-2771. Cedars-Sinai currently lists her as accepting new patients.
Serving Areas
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and nearby communities.
 

4. Dr. Gobind N. Sharma, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Gobind N. Sharma is a gastroenterologist practicing with Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology in Beverly Hills. His listed area of experience includes digestive and liver diseases and general gastroenterology.
Services Offered
* General gastroenterology
* Digestive disease evaluation
* Gastrointestinal symptom management
* Diagnostic GI care
* Long-term digestive health management
Why Choose Him
Dr. Sharma can be an option for patients looking for general gastroenterology care in the Beverly Hills area. Cedars-Sinai currently lists him as accepting new patients.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology – Beverly Hills, 8536 Wilshire Blvd., Le Doux Medical Plaza, Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Gobind N. Sharma, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 310-248-8200.
Serving Areas
Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, Century City, Culver City, and surrounding Westside communities.
 

5. Dr. Jane E. Lim, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Jane E. Lim is a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai with a listed focus on gastrointestinal motility. Her provider profile also indicates board certification in gastroenterology and internal medicine.
Services Offered
* GI motility evaluation
* General gastroenterology
* Digestive disorder diagnosis
* Evaluation of chronic GI symptoms
* Gastrointestinal disease management
Why Choose Her
For people whose digestive symptoms appear related to gastrointestinal movement or function, a motility-focused gastroenterologist can be worth considering.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Gastrointestinal (GI) Motility, 8720 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Building, Lower Level, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Jane E. Lim, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 310-423-6143. Cedars-Sinai currently lists her as accepting new patients.
Serving Areas
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and surrounding communities.
 

6. Dr. Ali Rezaie, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Ali Rezaie is a gastroenterologist associated with Cedars-Sinai's gastrointestinal motility services. His profile highlights digestive and liver diseases and GI motility. Cedars-Sinai currently lists him as accepting new patients.
Services Offered
* Gastroenterology consultation
* GI motility evaluation
* Digestive disorder management
* Evaluation of chronic bowel symptoms
* General digestive health care
Why Choose Him
Dr. Rezaie may be particularly relevant for patients with persistent or complicated digestive symptoms where gastrointestinal motility is being considered as part of the evaluation.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Gastrointestinal (GI) Motility, 8720 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Building, Lower Level, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Ali Rezaie, MD
Contact Details
Phone: 1-800-233-2771.
Serving Areas
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and nearby areas.
 

7. Dr. Kavya M. Reddy, MD – Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Kavya M. Reddy is an internal medicine and gastroenterology physician at Cedars-Sinai. Her listed locations include the Cedars-Sinai Primary Adult Care Clinic and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center.
Services Offered
* General gastroenterology
* Inflammatory bowel disease care
* Digestive disease evaluation
* Chronic GI condition management
* Gastrointestinal consultations
Why Choose Her
Patients with ongoing digestive symptoms or inflammatory bowel disease concerns may find the combination of gastroenterology and IBD services useful when selecting a specialist.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Primary Adult Care Clinic, 8723 Alden Dr., Spielberg, Suite 290, Los Angeles, CA 90048; and Cedars-Sinai Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, 8720 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Website
Cedars-Sinai – Kavya M. Reddy, MD
Contact Details
Phone:  310- 423-2811. 
Serving Areas 
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Mid-City, and surrounding communities.
 

8. Dr. Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD – Keck Medicine of USC​​​​​​​

Overview​​​​​​​
Dr. Nipaporn Pichetshote is a gastroenterologist at Keck Medicine of USC with a specific focus on esophageal and foregut disorders. The Keck provider directory also lists GI motility among her areas of focus.
Services Offered​​​​​​​
* Gastroenterology
* Esophageal disorder evaluation
* Foregut disorders
* GI motility care
* Digestive disease management
Why Choose Her​​​​​​​
If symptoms center around the esophagus, swallowing, reflux-related concerns, or other upper digestive tract issues, a specialist with an esophageal and foregut focus may be a useful option.
Location
GI Liver Clinic, 1510 San Pablo St., HC1 – Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Serving Areas
Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, USC/University Park, and surrounding communities.
 

9. Dr. Cynthia Cherfane, MD – Keck Medicine of USC

Overview
Dr. Cynthia Cherfane is a Keck Faculty Physician specializing in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and inflammatory bowel disease. Her listed focus includes Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, celiac disease, and other immune-related gastrointestinal conditions.
Services Offered​​​​​​​
* Gastroenterology
* Crohn's disease care
* Ulcerative colitis management
* Inflammatory bowel disease care
* Celiac disease evaluation
* Immune-related gastrointestinal disorders
Why Choose Her
Patients dealing with suspected or diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease may benefit from choosing a gastroenterologist whose listed practice specifically includes IBD.
Location
GI Liver Clinic, 1510 San Pablo St., HC1 – Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90033. She is also listed at the Los Angeles Colorectal Surgery location.
Website
Keck Medicine of USC – Gastroenterology Search
Serving Areas
Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, USC area, Pasadena, and nearby communities.
 

10. Dr. Sarah Sheibani, MD – Keck Medicine of USC

Overview
Dr. Sarah Sheibani is a Keck Faculty Physician specializing in gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease. Keck lists IBD as her area of focus and identifies Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital among her hospital affiliations.
Services Offered
* Gastroenterology
* Inflammatory bowel disease care
* Crohn's disease evaluation and management
* Ulcerative colitis care
* Digestive disorder consultations
Why Choose Her
For patients specifically looking for an IBD-focused gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, Dr. Sheibani is an option worth discussing with a primary care physician or insurance provider.
Location
Los Angeles – Colorectal Surgery, 1450 San Pablo St., HC4 – Suite 6200, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Website
Keck Medicine of USC – Sarah Sheibani, MD
Serving Areas
Downtown Los Angeles, USC area, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and surrounding communities.
 

What Does a Gastroenterologist Treat?
A gastroenterologist specializes in the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.
Common reasons to see a gastroenterologist include:
* Persistent heartburn or acid reflux
* Abdominal pain
* Chronic bloating
* Constipation or diarrhea
* Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
* Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
* Crohn's disease
* Ulcerative colitis
* Celiac disease
* Difficulty swallowing
* Rectal bleeding
* Unexplained changes in bowel habits
* Liver and pancreatic disorders
* Need for colonoscopy or upper endoscopy
Cedars-Sinai's general gastroenterology program, for example, lists abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastritis, GERD, esophageal disorders, and pancreatitis among the conditions it treats.
 

Benefits of Seeing a Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to several large academic medical centers and specialized digestive disease programs. UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck Medicine of USC all offer dedicated gastroenterology services and specialist programs. UCLA's digestive diseases team includes specialists across general gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease, interventional gastroenterology, transplant hepatology, and other areas.
Access to Specialized Care
A major benefit is the ability to find a doctor whose expertise closely matches your symptoms. Someone with chronic reflux may need a different specialist from someone with Crohn's disease or a pancreatic condition.
Advanced Diagnostic Procedures
Depending on your symptoms, a gastroenterologist may recommend tests such as colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, imaging, laboratory testing, or specialized motility studies.
Coordinated Treatment
Academic medical centers can make it easier to coordinate gastroenterology with surgery, radiology, oncology, nutrition, hepatology, or other specialties when necessary. Keck Medicine, for example, describes its digestive health program as providing coordinated care through multiple centers of excellence.
Long-Term Disease Management
Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, GERD, IBS, and chronic liver disease may require ongoing monitoring rather than a one-time appointment.
 

How to Choose the Best Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles

Choosing the right gastroenterologist is about more than finding someone with a high online rating. Your symptoms and the doctor's specialty should be a good match.
1. Match the Doctor to Your Symptoms
Start by identifying your primary concern. Reflux, swallowing problems, bowel irregularities, IBD, liver disease, and pancreatic conditions can require different expertise.
2. Check Board Certification and Training
Look for physicians who are board-certified in gastroenterology and verify their training through the provider's official profile or medical institution.
3. Consider Hospital Affiliation
A doctor affiliated with a major medical center can be helpful if you need advanced testing, procedures, multidisciplinary care, or specialist referrals.
4. Verify Insurance
Insurance coverage varies by plan and provider. Always confirm whether the doctor and facility are in-network before your appointment.
5. Check Location and Appointment Availability
Los Angeles traffic can turn a short appointment into a major time commitment. Consider choosing a gastroenterologist near your home or workplace if you expect regular follow-ups.
6. Ask About Diagnostic Procedures
If you may need a colonoscopy, endoscopy, motility testing, or another procedure, ask whether it is performed through the same practice or facility.
7. Consider Communication Style
Digestive symptoms can sometimes be embarrassing to discuss. Choose a physician who listens carefully, explains findings clearly, and gives you enough opportunity to ask questions.
 

When Should You See a Gastroenterologist?

Not every stomachache requires a specialist. However, persistent or recurring symptoms deserve attention, especially when they interfere with daily life.
Consider talking with a healthcare professional if you have ongoing abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea or constipation, frequent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, repeated vomiting, blood in your stool, or significant changes in bowel habits.
Some symptoms can represent urgent medical problems. Severe abdominal pain, significant gastrointestinal bleeding, fainting, severe dehydration, or other rapidly worsening symptoms should receive prompt medical attention rather than waiting for a routine specialist appointment.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is a physician specializing in diseases and disorders of the digestive system. This includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and related structures.
2. What are the most common reasons to see a gastroenterologist in Los Angeles?
Common reasons include chronic heartburn, GERD, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, IBD, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, swallowing problems, abnormal liver tests, and the need for colonoscopy or endoscopy.
3. Do gastroenterologists perform colonoscopies?
Many gastroenterologists perform colonoscopies, although the exact procedures offered vary by physician and facility. Ask the office when scheduling.
4. Should I see a gastroenterologist for acid reflux?
If acid reflux is frequent, persistent, severe, or not improving with appropriate treatment, discussing the symptoms with a healthcare professional may be appropriate. A gastroenterologist can evaluate whether further testing is necessary.
5. Can a gastroenterologist treat IBS?
Yes. Gastroenterologists commonly evaluate and manage digestive disorders such as IBS. Depending on the symptoms, treatment may involve dietary changes, medications, behavioral approaches, testing, or referral to another specialist.
6. What is the difference between a gastroenterologist and a hepatologist?
A gastroenterologist treats a broad range of digestive disorders, while a hepatologist focuses primarily on liver diseases. Some physicians specialize in both gastroenterology and hepatology.
7. How do I find a gastroenterologist near me in Los Angeles?
Start with major health systems and physician directories, then filter by location, specialty, insurance, appointment availability, and your specific digestive concern. UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck Medicine of USC all maintain online physician-search resources.
8. Do I need a referral to see a gastroenterologist?
That depends on your insurance plan and healthcare system. Some insurance policies require a primary-care referral, while others allow direct specialist appointments. Confirm this with your insurer before scheduling.
 

Conclusion
Finding the best gastroenterologist in Los Angeles starts with understanding your symptoms and identifying the type of digestive care you may need. The city offers a broad choice of specialists through major institutions such as UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck Medicine of USC.
For general digestive concerns, a general gastroenterologist may be appropriate. Patients with specific problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, esophageal disorders, GI motility issues, or pancreatic and biliary conditions may benefit from looking for a physician with focused expertise in that area.
The 10 physicians featured in this guide represent a range of gastroenterology specialties and practice locations across Los Angeles. Before making a decision, compare each doctor's specialty, location, insurance participation, appointment availability, hospital affiliation, and experience with your particular condition.
Most importantly, don't ignore persistent digestive symptoms. Getting the right evaluation can help identify the underlying cause and put you on a more informed path toward better digestive health.

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