Dr. Barnes is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee after attending Furman University in Greenville, where he earned his undergraduate degree in history. He also completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee, where he served as chief resident before completing his fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Dr. Brackbill started his education at Davidson College in North Carolina and received his undergraduate degree in Bioethics with honors. Medical school followed, where he attended the University of North Carolina-School of Medicine. He then completed his internship and residency from Northwestern University Medical Center, and received the honor of being appointed Chief Resident. He decided to move to Michigan and attend the University of Michigan-Medical Center to complete his fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology…

Dr. Daves received his undergraduate degree in biology from Clemson University. He continued on with his education and graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with his M.D. degree. He decided to stay with MUSC to complete his internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology…

Dr. Christopher Fyock is a native of South Carolina, growing up in Greenwood. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Anderson College and went on to attend medical school at MUSC. Brown University is where he completed his residency, followed by his fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Florida…

Dr. Gaines received his undergraduate degree in biology from Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama. He continued with his education and graduated from the University of Alabama-School of Medicine, where he also completed his internship and residency. He was chosen to be the chief resident and instructor before deciding to pursue a fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina for gastroenterology and hepatology. He chose his fellowship because he felt he connected with patients with liver disease while he was a medical student. He enjoyed the relationships he developed with people with life-threatening illnesses and the complexity of liver disease.

Originally from Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Geist received his undergraduate degree in biology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-School of Medicine in Shreveport, LA.

Dr. David Gulley was born in Dallas, Texas, but in his early childhood moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Microbiology. He then went on to complete his medical doctorate degree at UT College of Medicine in Memphis.

Dr. Greg Holt first started his college career by attending Valparaiso University, where he graduated with his B.S. in Chemistry and Biology. He then proceeded on to the University of Illinois to complete his M.D. degree. He finished up his internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology all at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in North Carolina.

Dr. J. William Holt first started his college career by attending Princeton University in New Jersey, where he graduated with his B.A. He then proceeded on to Columbia University to complete medical school. He finished his internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology all at the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Jones grew up in Columbia, SC and attended Auburn University in Alabama. After working in a hospital setting for several years following graduation, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He received his doctorate at USC School of Medicine in Columbia, then moved to Winston-Salem, NC, for further training. He completed his internal medicine residency and GI fellowship at Wake Forest. In the year in between residency and fellowship, he was appointed a faculty position in the internal medicine department at Wake Forest. He enjoys all aspects of gastroenterology but has particular interests in inflammatory bowel disease, bile duct disorders, and advanced endoscopy.

Dr. Kim decided to become a physician after witnessing the dedication her father showed towards his work and his patients. She started her education at Brown University and received her undergraduate degree in Human Biology. Dr. Kim attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and proceeded with her residency at the University Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Afterwards, she moved to Georgia to begin her fellowship in gastroenterology at Emory University in Atlanta, which she completed in 1993.

Dr. LeBel received his undergraduate degree in Cognitive Studies from Boston University. He then attended the University of Tennessee for medical school. His internship and residency were completed at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) before he moved to Michigan to complete a fellowship in gastroenterology from the Henry Ford Hospital System.

Dr. Mazanec began his education at the University of Notre Dame, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. Medical school followed, where he earned his masters degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Ohio. His internship and residency were completed at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, before he finished with a fellowship in gastroenterology from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Dr. Merchant obtained his medical degree from Dow Medical College/University of Karachi. After moving to the United States in 1983, he completed a three year residency in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University Affiliated Hospitals in Detroit, MI and then a three year fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at State University of NY at Stony Brook in Long Island. He has been in practice in Greenville since 1991 and on medical staff at both Greenville Memorial and Saint Francis Hospitals. Dr. Merchant is Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He currently serves as a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Greenville County Medical Society, South Carolina Gastroenterology Association, and South Carolina Medical Association. When he finds time away from patient care, teaching and continuing medical education, he enjoys vacations with his family and time spent with his two sons.

Dr. Naas began his college career by attending Rhodes College Memphis in Tennessee, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He then received his master’s degree from the University of Louisville-School of Medicine. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology all at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Dr. Palma is originally from Syracuse, New York. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Wheaton College in Illinois and returned to Syracuse to attend SUNY Upstate Medical University where he graduated in 2004. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, then completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Florida.

Dr. Rickoff attended college at the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in gastroenterology all at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Dr Saha recently moved to Greenville with her husband Aniket Saha who is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and their two young daughters. She decided to settle in the upstate after having traveled much and having lived about a decade in India, a decade in Atlanta and a decade in New York. She believes that finding Greenville is like finding a diamond in the rough. She has fallen in love with the people here, the landscape, the proximity to her parents and her in-laws, and how progressive the city is. In a few short months she has made wonderful friends and her practice has grown rapidly given her warm and friendly personality and the fact that she is only the third female gastroenterologist in Greenville.

Dr. Vallabh is originally from southeastern Kentucky. He began his college career at the University of Kentucky where he graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He then received his doctorate of medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. He returned to Kentucky to complete his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center.

Dr. Yarborough was encouraged to become a physician by his father who steered him into the medical field. After graduating from the Citadel, he attended the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital in 1987. He left the Greenville area for a 2-year fellowship at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. He returned to the Greenville area and joined Gastroenterology Associates in 1989.

Eric Carandang, PA-C received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Georgia State University and then completed his Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the Medical University of South Carolina. He has been certified with a South Carolina Physician Assistant’s license as well as the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Other training includes basic and advanced cardiac life support. Eric is also affiliated with the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (SCAPA) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

Julie H. Hammond, APRN-C first became a nurse in 1989 after graduating from the University of South Carolina, and decided to advance her education. She completed her Master of Science degree in Nursing- Family Nurse Practitioner from the Clemson University. She also received certifications in advanced practice registered nurse, ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner, and from the State of South Carolina. She is a proud member of the American College of Nurse Practitioners, The Honor Society of Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International.

Chandler K. Hunt, PA-C attended Clemson University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, then decided to pursue her Physician Assistant degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She also became certified in American Heart Advanced Cardiac Life Saving (ACLS) and American Heart Basic Life Saving (BLS). Chandler is a participant with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), American Association of Allergy, American College of Allergy and Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), and the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (SCAPA). She has been with Gastroenterology Associates since 2007.

Tracy Luther, APRN-C attended Missouri Western State College, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She was later appointed her Master of Science degree in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner from the East Tennessee State University. She has obtained certifications in advance practice rheumatology, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric oncology and chemotherapeutics, oncology nursing, and chemotherapy. She is also certified with the ANCC and trained as a CPR instructor.

Nikki Morgan, APRN-C was born and raised in the upstate, but moved away in 2003 to Alaska after marrying her husband. They lived in Alaska for 6 years, where she was able to attend and graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2006 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She and her husband then relocated to Atlanta, GA, in 2008 where she pursued her Master of Science degree in Nursing at Emory University. She worked as a step-down ICU nurse at Emory full time while attending Emory University. Nikki has also been certified in advanced cardiac life support, basic life support, and with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Allyson Naylor, PA-C attended the Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry. She moved forward with her education and completed her Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the Wingate University in North Carolina. She has since been certified in both advanced cardiac and basic life support.

Ellen A. Norman, PA-C went to undergraduate school at Francis Marion University in Florence, SC, where her focus was psychology. She went on to attend the Medical University of South Carolina, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies. She is certified in basic life support, advanced cardiovascular life support, and with the NCCPA. Ellen is a proud member of the South Carolina Association of Physician Assisting (SCAPA) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

Sabrina Raja, PA-C received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina in both Biology and Psychology. She then went on the complete her Physician Assisting degree at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Sabrina is certified in both advanced cardiac and basic life support, and is affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), North Carolina Association of Physician Assistants, and the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (SCAPA).

Shelly Snow, APRN-C, is a lifelong upstate South Carolina resident who obtained her Biology and undergraduate degree from USC Upstate and her graduate nursing degree from USC Columbia. She is a member and certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Teresa Truman, APRN-C is a lifelong upstate South Carolina resident who obtained both her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from Clemson University. She is certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (SCAPA).