The 20 Best Swallowing Difficulty Doctors Near Me in Santa Cruz, CA

Find the Top Swallowing Difficulty Experts and Specialists

The 20 Best Swallowing Difficulty Doctors near Santa Cruz, CA

Last Updated: 02/22/2026

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MediFind found 30 doctor with experience in Swallowing Difficulty near Santa Cruz, CA. Of these, 28 are Experienced and 2 are Advanced.

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30 providers found
    Joseph B. Palascak
    Advanced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Advanced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Pamf - Sc Gi

    1662 Dominican Way, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Joseph Palascak is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Palascak is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Turcot Syndrome, Gardner Syndrome, Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Palascak is currently accepting new patients.

    Advanced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Advanced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Monterey Bay Gastroenterology

    1505 Soquel Dr, Ste 12, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.6 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Justin Bennet is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Bennet is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Gastritis, Gardner Syndrome, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Bennet is currently accepting new patients.

    David Anjelly
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Gastroenterology - Dignity Health Medical Group - Santa Cruz, CA

    1595 Soquel Dr, Suite 350, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients
    Offers Telehealth

    I started out in the engineering and IT industries and later decided to switch to medicine as it afforded me the ability to implement my longstanding interests in science and technology towards directly and meaningfully improving the lives and health of those entrusted to my care.  During a stint as a gastroenterology research coordinator--prior to starting medical school--I got to experience, firsthand, the fascinating array of pathologies and variety of practice settings (clinic, inpatient work, endoscopy) which make GI such a fun and 'hands-on' specialty, ultimately leading me to pursue a career as a gastroenterologist.  In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with my family, DIY projects and exploring my new home state of California.Diagnosing and managing gastrointestinal disease is not always straightforward due to the vague and nonspecific nature of many presenting symptoms. I always strive to gain an understanding of the 'whole' patient (body, mind, and spirit) in developing a therapeutic alliance to best facilitate care. Dr. Anjelly is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Gardner Syndrome, Turcot Syndrome, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

    Learn about our expert tiers
    Thanh N. Vu
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine | Internal Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine | Internal Medicine

    Dignity Health Medical Foundation

    1595 Soquel Dr, Suite 400, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients
    Offers Telehealth

    Dr. Thanh Vu is a licensed medical professional who specializes in internal medicine. Dr. Vu is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Enlarged Liver, Familial Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Hypertension.

    Kourosh F. Ghassemi
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Santa Cruz Gastroenterology

    1662 Dominican Way, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients
    Offers Telehealth

    Kourosh Ghassemi is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Ghassemi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Esophagitis, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Childhood Pancreatitis, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Ghassemi is currently accepting new patients.

    Kuntal M. Thaker
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Pamf - Sc Gi

    1662 Dominican Way, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients
    Offers Telehealth

    Kuntal Thaker is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Thaker is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Diverticular Disease, Turcot Syndrome, Colonoscopy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Thaker is currently accepting new patients.

    Paul E. Krause
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology

    Pamf - Ent

    2950 Research Park Dr, 
    Soquel, CA 
     (3.5 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Paul Krause is an Otolaryngologist in Soquel, California. Dr. Krause is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Ruptured Eardrum, Otitis, and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP). Dr. Krause is currently accepting new patients.

    Douglas G. Hetzler
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology

    Pamf - Ent

    2950 Research Park Dr, 
    Soquel, CA 
     (3.5 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Douglas Hetzler is an Otolaryngologist in Soquel, California. Dr. Hetzler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, DFNB1, Ruptured Eardrum, and Jones Syndrome. Dr. Hetzler is currently accepting new patients.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Monterey Bay Gastroenterology

    1505 Soquel Dr, Ste 12, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.6 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Dominican Hospital has a medical staff of about 400 physicians, and is a dual-campus network of quality-focused comprehensive care serving the health care needs of the Monterey Bay region. Dr. Majuk is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Stomach Cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Esophagitis, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Pamf - Sc Gi

    1662 Dominican Way, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Geoffrey Bernstein is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Bernstein is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Gardner Syndrome, Turcot Syndrome, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Bernstein is currently accepting new patients.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine

    Dignity Health Medical Group -Dominican

    1595 Soquel Dr Ste 400, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (4.7 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Accepting New Patients

    Robert Keet is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Keet is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia, Meige Disease, Lymphangiectasis, and Lymphedema. Dr. Keet is currently accepting new patients.

    Jennifer L. Kelly
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine

    Orthopedics & Family Medicine - Dignity Health Medical Group - Santa Cruz, CA

    2018 Mission St, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (1.2 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Offers Telehealth

    Jennifer Kelly is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Kelly is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. Her top areas of expertise are Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), Swallowing Difficulty, Hypothyroidism, Autosomal Dominant Partial Epilepsy with Auditory Features, and Intrauterine Device Insertion.

    Beata Mach
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine

    Santa Cruz Center

    2025 Soquel Avenue, Floor 4, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (1.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Offers Telehealth

    Beata Mach is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Mach is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. Her top areas of expertise are Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Atypical, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Supranuclear Ocular Palsy, and Supranuclear Ophthalmoplegia.

    Nicole Sudduth
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Internal Medicine

    Santa Cruz Center

    2025 Soquel Avenue, Floor 4, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (1.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English
    Offers Telehealth

    Nicole Sudduth is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Sudduth is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. Her top areas of expertise are Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia, Folate Deficiency, and Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency.

    Scott C. Montgomery
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty

    Pamf - Ent

    2950 Research Park Dr, 
    Soquel, CA 
     (3.5 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Scott Montgomery is an Otolaryngologist in Soquel, California. Dr. Montgomery is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Low Nasal Bridge, Nasal Septal Hematoma, and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP).

    Kevin L. Wang
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Otolaryngology

    Palo Alto Foundation, ENT Santa Cruz Division

    2950 Research Park Dr, 
    Soquel, CA 
     (3.5 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Kevin Wang is an Otolaryngologist in Soquel, California. Dr. Wang is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Mikulicz Disease, Infant Hearing Loss, Palatopharyngeal Incompetence, and Anosmia.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine

    County Of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency Pharmacy

    1080 Emeline Ave, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (1.4 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Linda Lou is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Lou is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. Her top areas of expertise are Swallowing Difficulty, Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Hypertension.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Family Medicine

    Dominican Hospital

    1555 Soquel Dr, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.7 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Karen Lynch is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Lynch is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. Her top areas of expertise are Painful Swallowing and Swallowing Difficulty.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    Gastroenterology

    Pamf - Sc Gi

    1662 Dominican Way, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (2.8 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Aly Mohamed is a Gastroenterologist in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Mohamed is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Fecal Impaction, Hemorrhagic Proctocolitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    General Surgery
    Experienced in Swallowing Difficulty
    General Surgery

    Stephen J Halpern & Jack Watson MDS

    550 Water St Ste A, 
    Santa Cruz, CA 
     (3.1 miles away)
    Languages Spoken:
    English

    Marc Seftel is a General Surgeon in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Seftel is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Swallowing Difficulty. His top areas of expertise are Tinnitus, Infant Hearing Loss, Jones Syndrome, and DFNB1.

    Showing 1-20 of 30

    Last Updated: 02/22/2026

    What is the definition of Swallowing Difficulty?

    Difficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This problem is also called dysphagia.

    When should I see a Swallowing Difficulty doctor near Santa Cruz, CA?

    There are various reasons why you may want to see a specialist, such as: 

    • Your primary care provider recommends it. 
    • Your condition requires expert knowledge and specialized care. 
    • Your symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment. 
    • You need specialized testing or procedures. 
    • You want a second opinion.  

    What should I consider when choosing a Swallowing Difficulty doctor near Santa Cruz, CA?

    It’s important to see a provider with expertise in your specific condition. Each provider profile in MediFind’s doctor database includes information on which conditions they treat, years of experience, research contributions, languages spoken, insurance plans accepted, and more.  

    How does MediFind rank Swallowing Difficulty doctors near Santa Cruz, CA?

    MediFind’s rankings are based on a variety of data sources, such as the number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials and industry conferences, as well as the number of patients that provider sees for a given condition. Note that MediFind’s provider database is not based on user reviews, and providers do not pay to be included in the database. 

    What types of insurance are accepted by Swallowing Difficulty doctors near Santa Cruz, CA?

    Most profiles in MediFind’s doctor database include a list of insurance plans accepted by that provider. However, it’s a good idea to contact the provider’s office to make sure they still accept your insurance, then doublecheck by contacting your insurance plan to confirm they’re in network. 

    How can I book an appointment online with a Swallowing Difficulty doctor near Santa Cruz, CA?

    MediFind offers direct scheduling for certain providers using the “Request Appointment” button on that provider’s profile. If the schedule option is not available for a provider, tap the red “Show Phone Number” button on their profile to get their contact information. If you prefer to find providers who offer online scheduling, select “Schedules online” under the “Availability” category of the filter feature on the left side of the Swallowing Difficulty doctor search results page. 

    Why is it important to get a second opinion from a different Swallowing Difficulty doctor?

    Second opinions are an opportunity to confirm a diagnosis and its root cause, learn about alternative treatment options, or simply gain peace of mind. Many people, especially those with serious diagnoses, get second opinions so they can understand all their options and make informed decisions, so don’t hesitate to get one if you have any doubts or need more information or clarification regarding your care. Note that some insurance plans require second opinions, while others don’t cover second opinions, so be sure to confirm with your insurance provider first.   

    How can I prepare for my appointment with a Swallowing Difficulty doctor near Santa Cruz, CA?

    Prepare for your appointment by gathering the following items: 

    • Copies of medical records (dating back at least one year) 
    • Your medical history, including illnesses, medical conditions, surgeries, and other doctors you see 
    • Family history of disease 
    • List of current prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal remedies or supplements including names and doses 
    • Allergies to medications, food, latex, insects, etc.  
    • List of questions and concerns 
    • Your insurance card 

    You might also contact the provider’s office to see if they offer transportation or childcare services or if you’re allowed to bring a loved one for support or to take notes during your visit. 

    What questions should I ask my Swallowing Difficulty doctor?

    Here are some sample questions: 

    • Can you explain in simple terms what this condition is and how it’s treated? 
    • What symptoms or side effects should I watch for? 
    • What tests will be involved, and when can I expect results? 
    • Are there other specialists I need to see? 
    • What’s the best way to reach you if I have follow-up questions? 

    How can I learn about the latest clinical trials and research advances my Swallowing Difficulty doctor may know about?

    MediFind’s Clinical Trials tool asks you a series of questions to help you narrow down your search by health condition, age, gender, location, how far you’re willing to travel, and more. Each question you answer filters down the number of trials until you find the ones that are most relevant to you. 

    MediFind’s Latest Advances tool features summaries of recent articles published in medical journals. We use cutting-edge technology to scour medical publication databases for the latest research advancements on any given condition, then we simplify this information in a way that’s useful and easy to understand. 

    Can I filter my search to show male or female Swallowing Difficulty doctors near Santa Cruz, CA?

    Look for the filter feature on the left side of the Swallowing Difficulty doctor search results page. Select “Female” or “Male” under the “Gender” category to search for female or male providers exclusively. If the “Any” option is selected, it will pull results for both male and female providers. 

    Can I filter my search to find a Swallowing Difficulty doctor that offers video calls?

    Look for the filter feature on the left-side of the Swallowing Difficulty doctor search results page. Select “Offers telehealth visits” under the Availability category to search for providers who offer virtual appointments (video calls). 

    Reviewed on: 11/11/24  

    By: MediFind Medical Staff 

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