The 20 Best Acute Pancreatitis Doctors near Chapel Hill, NC

As a pancreatologist, I primarily focus on pancreatic disorders such as acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), and pancreatic cysts as well as see patients who are at high risk for pancreatic cancer in clinic. My primary goal is to provide you with a comprehensive evaluation and build a therapeutic relationship to improve your quality of life in a multidisciplinary fashion. As your doctor, I value your opinion and am committed to advocating for you. Dr. Kothari is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hereditary Pancreatitis, Chronic Pancreatitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

I treat patients with benign and cancerous conditions of the bile duct and pancreas. I specialize in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic stenting and the removal of large, complex colon polyps. I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of performing these procedures. However, the most gratifying parts of my work are interacting with patients, relating to them on a personal level and providing compassionate care. Dr. Burbridge is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Choledocholithiasis, Bile Duct Stricture, Cholestasis, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy.

After completing a general gastroenterology fellowship as well as an additional advanced endoscopy fellowship at Duke, I joined the talented faculty. This opportunity allows me to continue my clinical focus on caring for patients with complicated pancreas and biliary tree disorders. Outside of the hospital I enjoy spending time with my wife and young daughter. Dr. Spaete is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Pancreatitis, Hereditary Pancreatitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Todd Baron is a Gastroenterologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Baron is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Bile Duct Obstruction, Cholestasis, Cholecystitis, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy.

My specialty focuses on diseases of the pancreas, diseases of the bile duct, as well as therapeutic endoscopy procedures for complicated GI problems that may not be provided in the community such as treatment of malignant obstruction, Zenker’s diverticula, fistulae or endoscopic removal of premalignant or malign lesions of the GI tract. I’ve been at Duke for over 25 years, and the thing that has kept me here all these years has been the opportunity to provide care for patients that need these advanced services and the wonderful people I work with. I very much enjoy working with colleagues who want to provide the best possible care for our patients and the opportunity to train the future leaders in gastroenterology. We have a great facility, great technology, but most importantly my colleagues and the people I work with share the same vision and values. You take this for granted until you go somewhere else. I wouldn’t be able to provide what I hope is excellent care without the assistance of great nurses, physicians and staff at Duke. I hope you will have this same experience when you come to Duke University Health System. Dr. Stanley is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Bile Duct Stricture, Bile Duct Obstruction, Cholestasis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Jennifer Serfin is a General Surgeon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Serfin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Ogilvie Syndrome, Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Gastrointestinal Perforation, Gallbladder Removal, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Serfin is currently accepting new patients.

Hans Herfarth is a Gastroenterologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Herfarth is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Viral Gastroenteritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Ileostomy, and Colonoscopy.

Theodore James is a Gastroenterologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. James is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Hereditary Pancreatitis, Cholecystitis, Endoscopy, and Gastric Bypass.

My practice centers on the care of adult patients with digestive disorders. My particular interests include colorectal cancer screening and prevention, treatment of colon polyps, gastroesophageal reflux, and Barrett's esophagus.Procedures I perform include upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and small bowel enteroscopy. Dr. Feiler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Cronkhite-Canada Disease, Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

My interest in digestive and gastrointestinal disease began as a medical student and only grew over the subsequent years. I have trained at Duke Health within the field of gastroenterology and have a focus in advanced endoscopic techniques and pancreatic and biliary disorders, benign and malignant conditions. I enjoy providing care for all patients within the clinical setting as well as at the time of procedure in order to ensure delivery of the best quality care. I hope to provide a partnership with my patients by getting to know each individual and their family and by serving as an advocate for their care. Last, but not least, I enjoy working with and learning from all of my colleagues at Duke Health. Each member of the Duke team enriches my day at work and also provide continuous opportunities for learning. Dr. Johnson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Cholestasis, Bile Duct Stricture, Bile Duct Obstruction, Endoscopy, and Pancreatectomy.

I’m a general surgeon that specializes in operating on the upper abdomen as well as treating complicated abdominal wall problems like large hernias. The benefits of getting treatment at Duke are the extensive resources available that providers like myself can use. When necessary, we collaborate with other specialists and research experts at Duke in a seamless way, so the patient will get the benefit of all that we have to offer. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three daughters. Dr. Pappas is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (GEP-NET), Umbilical Hernia, Appendectomy, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, I grew up mostly on the east coast of the United States. I went to college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and medical school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I did my post-graduate training in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, and Madison, Wisconsin. I took my first academic position at Boston University and the Boston Medical Center during which I rose to the position of Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of Surgical Critical Care. I was recruited back to the University of Wisconsin in 2012 where I became Division Chief of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, Burn, and Surgical Critical Care. My wife, three daughters, and I are happy to meet the friendly people of the area and explore everything that North Carolina has to offer. Dr. Agarwal is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Retroperitoneal Inflammation, Ogilvie Syndrome, Hypovolemic Shock, Hernia Surgery, and Gastrostomy.

I am thrilled to return to Duke Health after my recent retirement to provide much-needed part-time endoscopy services and improve access to colon cancer screening and surveillance. I first came to Duke from Kansas in 1989 and loved the pine trees and people so much that I never went back. I was the first female gastroenterologist (and 20 weeks pregnant) when I started private practice in Raleigh in 1994. After nearly 30 years of uninterrupted service to my beloved patients in central North Carolina, I retired in January 2024. It was difficult to give up my passion for gastroenterology, colonoscopy, and patient interaction. I am eager to return with a schedule that allows me to travel more with my husband. I enjoy meeting patients and easing their anxiety through rapport and detailed explanations. A little humor and hand-holding also help. I love safely removing large polyps.I have two grown children; my daughter is a physical rehabilitation PA in RDU, and my son is a game quality control specialist in Austin, Texas. My passions include crosswords, concerts, Broadway shows, sporting events, and traveling. Dr. Hutzenbuhler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Diverticular Disease, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy.

I am a cancer surgeon who specializes in treating patients with pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions of the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, stomach, and adrenal glands. I initially trained and practiced at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. During this time, I served one year on a forward surgical team in Iraq. Following this service, I practiced for 13 years as a surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. In 2018, I joined the faculty at Duke University and now serve as the chief of surgical oncology for Duke Health. I enjoy getting to know my patients and delivering the highest quality of cancer care. I am dedicated not only to treating and curing your cancer, but also providing you with the highest quality of life. Operations for cancers within the abdomen are a serious undertaking, and I am committed to making sure that they are performed with the highest level of expertise. Dr. Allen is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Pancreatic Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatectomy, and Hepatectomy.

Kevin Naresh is a General Surgeon and a Surgical Oncologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Naresh has been practicing medicine for over 19 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Ampullary Cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumor, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, Pancreatectomy, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

I’m a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist who specializes in the surgical management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies—including soft tissue sarcomas and pancreas, colorectal and gastric cancers. Many of my patients have advanced malignancies and I am always amazed at their resilience. Their determination to fight inspires me to aggressively pursue every surgical option and to study novel techniques to improve surgical outcomes. One of the most important reasons for patients to be treated at Duke is the emphasis on a team-oriented approach to every patient. Nearly every surgical cancer patient is discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor conference in order to assure state of the art care. When I am not in the hospital, my wife and I can be found chasing our two young children or running with our dog. Dr. Blazer is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma, Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatectomy, and Small Bowel Resection.

Rodger Liddle is a Gastroenterologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Liddle is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hereditary Pancreatitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Gallstones, Vagotomy, and Endoscopy.

As an abdominal transplant surgeon, I perform transplants of the liver, kidney, pancreas and small bowels. I also do general abdominal procedures like hernia repairs. The most rewarding part of my job is the satisfaction and happiness I get when I see my patients’ faces after their transplant. I don’t want transplant patients to feel like we are putting them in a bubble. We expect them to live normal, happy lives, and enjoy the new organ once it’s given to them. Each patient comes to us with a unique challenge, but the best part of my job is the way the patient comes through obstacles and recovers. I decided to focus my training in abdominal transplant surgery after practicing general surgery in India and desiring a new challenge. I came to the U.S. to complete my surgical fellowship at Duke. Dr. Rege is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Kidney Transplant, and Liver Transplant.

Kelly Hathorn is a Gastroenterologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Hathorn is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. Her top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Watermelon Stomach, Esophageal Varices, Endoscopy, and Gastric Bypass.

Nicholas Piazza is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Piazza is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Childhood Pancreatitis, and COVID-19.