ROCKFORD, IL (January, 27 2023) — When elementary school teacher Asiya Laskonis first became bloated and uncomfortable after eating, she didn’t really think it was a big deal.
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ROCKFORD, IL (January, 27 2023) — Celiac disease (CD) is caused by an immune response to gluten and treatment is adherence to a gluten-free diet. Guidelines from studies in large academic settings recommend registered dietitian (RD) referrals at time of diagnosis and periodic testing for micronutrient deficiencies. There is limited data to guide follow-up parameters in a large, community-based practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate guideline adherence in this setting.
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 28 2022) — Does stress cause stomach ulcers? The answer to that question is not really that cut and dry.
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 19 2022) — A nurse practitioner at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Lindsay is passionate about helping her patients and making personal connections. She makes a point to communicate in terms they will understand and gets to know patients beyond their symptoms.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 28 2022) — It's one thing to not care for those vegetables on your plate at dinner. It's something else entirely when you physically can't swallow them.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 22 2022) — For Dr. Talha Qureshi, patients are more than a list of symptoms or a medical mystery to solve.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 02 2022) — What happens when you love video games, science and helping people? You become a gastroenterologist, of course!
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 22 2022) — If you have been experiencing swallowing problems, persistent heartburn, acid reflux, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding in the digestive tract, or unexplained weight loss, you may need an upper endoscopy.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 28 2022) — Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) recently celebrated the retirements of Drs. Brad Bowyer, John DeGuide, Michael Manley, and Joseph Vicari, who will be finishing their careers at RGA at the end of this month. Thank you for providing over 75 years combined of exceptional care and caring to our patients and our region.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 09 2022) — Most of us experience heartburn from time to time. Eating extra-large or spicy meals, drinking too much, and carrying extra weight – are all causes of heartburn, and most of us, especially men, tend to brush it off as an annoyance from overindulging. Sometimes chronic heartburn symptoms can be a sign that there is something more concerning going on.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 14 2022) — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – more than 45 million people in the United States suffer from this common disorder, and it’s a subject few of us want to talk about.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 15 2022) — It was 2018, and 38-year-old Janell Forshier didn’t want to make much of the pain she was experiencing on her right side. For six months she knew something wasn’t right but, "after being diagnosed with and beating breast cancer when I was 30, I just didn’t want to deal with another possible cancer diagnosis," she said.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 10 2022) — In 2018, Jason Buell of Rockford was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 46. He credits a colonoscopy (and a crunchy snack) for saving his life.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 01 2022) — Do you have a family history of colorectal (colon) cancer? What exactly is considered a “family history” of colon cancer? These are very important questions that everyone should know the answer to.
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ROCKFORD, IL (February, 23 2022) — Jennifer Ward loves getting up every day and going to work as a board-certified Nurse Practitioner at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) to help patients navigate their digestive challenges.
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ROCKFORD, IL (January, 17 2022) — Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) hear a lot about what they shouldn’t eat, like greasy or spicy foods. But it’s less frequent for them to learn about the foods that are best to manage their condition.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 10 2021) — Does the idea of preparing a colonoscopy leave a bad taste in your mouth?
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 06 2021) — The sudden panic that comes along with knowing you just had a bowel accident is devastating and embarrassing.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 02 2021) — Dr. Clinton Snedegar enjoys the variety that comes with gastroenterology, whether that's performing a procedure to help diagnose a digestive health condition or consulting with patients in clinic at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 02 2021) — Dr. Michael Manley is celebrating his 20th anniversary at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) this year, which includes two decades of delving into complex digestive health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 01 2021) — Dr. Brad Bowyer has specialized in the gastrointestinal field for nearly four decades, with a dozen of those years spent at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) caring for individuals with a broad range of digestive health conditions.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 13 2021) — Earlier this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that average-risk individuals begin screening for colon cancer at age 45 instead of 50. With these new guidelines, the Task Force recognized the growing number of patients diagnosed with colon cancer younger than age 50.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 13 2021) — Dr. Nabil Baddour entered the field of digestive health in a most interesting way, bringing a background in public health and time spent overseas working on international healthcare issues to his new role at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (August, 11 2021) — Millions of people live with the symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux. These are some of the most common digestive health conditions that can produce a burning sensation in the esophagus or back of the throat, a sour taste in the mouth, and general gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort oftentimes after eating certain foods or a large meal.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 22 2021) — Faced with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in his 20s, Austin Montgomery is managing this chronic digestive condition with guidance from and infusion treatments at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (May, 20 2021) — Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) will be well-represented at this weekend’s Digestive Disease Week 2021, the world’s premier meeting for physicians, researchers, and industry leaders in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 22 2021) — This year, Rockford Gastroenterology Associates celebrates the 15-year anniversary of the landmark article we published in the New England Journal of Medicine, regarded as one of the most respected medical journals in the world.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 19 2021) — Mark Longmier and Jodi Dirkx knew that colon cancer and polyps ran in their family, so the brother-sister duo scheduled their first colonoscopies for the same day at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates.
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ROCKFORD, IL (February, 22 2021) — Digestive symptoms can disrupt your everyday life and feel frustrating, scary, and even embarrassing to talk about.
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ROCKFORD, IL (January, 26 2021) — Dr. Sunil Patel has spent a decade at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) delivering specialized gastrointestinal care for his patients, inspired by a family of doctors whose passion was helping people.
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 26 2020) — Earlier this year, Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) opened an infusion center inside our facility on Roxbury Road for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC).
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 18 2020) — Digestive symptoms aren’t always the easiest or most comfortable issues to discuss, be that with friends or family or your own doctor.
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 13 2020) — Among the most crucial aspects of our history and 40th anniversary celebration this year are three physicians: Dr. Roger Greenlaw, Dr. William Baskin and Dr. James Frakes.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 24 2020) — While working at RGA in various roles since 1976, Marshia Hunter witnessed firsthand the growth and evolution of Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) over the past 40 years, even as the organization moved to different locations across the city.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 07 2020) — Rockford Gastroenterology Associates is pleased to now offer infusion services for individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 01 2020) — The RGA Pre-procedure COVID-19 drive through testing site located at 401 Roxbury Rd is open Monday 6/1 and Tuesday 6/2.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 24 2020) — Loren Slartman was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 34 years ago, and a new technology through Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) helps him manage his condition virtually.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 17 2020) — Bre Ulmer-Harper has spent more than a decade riding the roller coaster of Crohn’s disease, overcoming health challenges that eventually allowed her to start a family.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 04 2020) — RGA Telehealth is here! We know your digestive health symptoms don’t quarantine themselves in the face of COVID-19. We are still here for you. RGA Telehealth is a secure online, web-based appointment that lets you connect with your RGA physician or nurse practitioner for consultation and diagnosis, and to discuss treatment options. This is available for current RGA patients and for new visits.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 04 2020) — RGA is OPEN! More than ever, we are committed to caring for our community during this stressful and uncertain period. And we have increased our already extensive cleaning and sanitizing policy to make sure patients remain safe and healthy during their visit or procedure in our nationally accredited facility.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 04 2020) — We have received a lot of questions about what our patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) should do to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to share with our IBD patients recent expert consensus:
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 27 2020) — Over the last 20 years, screening colonoscopy has decreased the rates of new colon cancer by 30%. In other words, that means 30% fewer patients are getting colon cancer compared to 20 years ago. But the disease is on the rise among people younger than 50.
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ROCKFORD, IL (February, 24 2020) — March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we’ll be at the Rockford IceHogs game to celebrate.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 26 2019) — Dr. Steven Ikenberry will soon celebrate his 20th year with Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA), where he is passionate about diagnosing and caring for patients with a range of digestive health conditions.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 10 2019) — Hepatitis C is an infection that can lead to serious liver damage. About 3.9 million people in the U.S. have the disease. It causes few symptoms.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 09 2019) — A colonoscopy is a safe and effective screening tool that can actually prevent colorectal cancer. In most cases, YOU have a choice on where to go and who performs this important procedure, and it’s vital to understand why quality and experience matter when doing your research.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 03 2019) — Several members of the Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) medical staff were honored recently by local community organizations.
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 21 2019) — Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer but also a deadly one. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the U.S. and about 7% of all cancer deaths. Diagnosis – like many cancers – can be scary and overwhelming for individuals.
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 25 2019) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a common disorder in which excess fat builds up in the liver, but not due to heavy alcohol consumption.
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ROCKFORD, IL (August, 27 2019) — Heartburn – that burning sensation in your chest, neck and/or throat – is common, especially after consuming certain foods and drinks. But chronic heartburn isn’t something to ignore, as it can produce serious complications if left untreated.
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ROCKFORD, IL (August, 22 2019) — Dr. Matthew Stier recently joined the team at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA), bringing with him a passion for patient care and endoscopic procedures, as well as a research background involving Barrett’s esophagus and colon cancer screening.
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ROCKFORD, IL (August, 01 2019) — Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) is once again participating in the James Scholar Program, which connects a University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford student with a digestive health-related research project.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 08 2019) — Corrie Scott has honed her skills caring for patients in both the hospital and clinic during her time as a board-certified family nurse practitioner at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 08 2019) — It’s simple. Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can mostly be prevented – and that is with a high-quality colonoscopy performed by a well-trained and experienced gastroenterologist.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 17 2019) — A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that allows your doctor to inspect the inner lining of the colon for evidence of abnormalities such as polyps and colon cancer. The doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end called a colonoscope to look for these issues.
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ROCKFORD, IL (May, 28 2019) — Diverticulosis is a condition where small pockets or sacs form along the colon wall. According to the American Gastroenterological Association, about half of people have diverticulosis by age 50. The exact cause of diverticulosis is unclear. Studies are mixed on the effects of fiber in the diet, and genetics are thought to play a factor.
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ROCKFORD, IL (May, 08 2019) — Dr. George Tannous brings to Rockford Gastroenterology Associates a passion for continually studying and understanding how the digestive system is an integral part of brain and overall body function.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 11 2019) — Digestive health conditions can often be challenging to treat. It was that desire to be challenged that led Dr. Chandrashekhar “Bob” Thukral to specialize in the field, a journey that took him from Chicago to Boston to Rockford Gastroenterology Associates.
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ROCKFORD, IL (February, 21 2019) — With specialized training in advanced digestive system procedures, Dr. Kevin Peifer devotes his time at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) helping diagnose complicated digestive conditions for his patients and planning their treatment long-term.
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ROCKFORD, IL (January, 25 2019) — Dr. Aaron Shiels has close ties to Rockford and to Gastroenterology, having grown up in the region. He was inspired to join the field in part by his father, a fellow Gastroenterologist.
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 22 2018) — A late-in-life diagnosis of celiac disease hasn’t stopped Landis Lindell from enjoying food, beer and the activities he loved before being sidelined by unexplained sickness and weight loss.
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 27 2018) — What does the term "regular" mean when it comes to pooping? As gastroenterologists, it's a common question we hear. Interestingly enough, there hadn’t been a lot of scientific research on the issue.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 20 2018) — Gastroparesis is a common yet often undiagnosed condition that involves delayed emptying of the stomach. It can be challenging to treat and frustrating for patients with ongoing symptoms.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 25 2018) — Ken Folz is the Administrator at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates and joined the team in November 2017.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 27 2018) — A unique transplant helped Hannah Carmack tackle recurring infections in her colon and led her to be an advocate for others who struggle with gastrointestinal (GI) issues.
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ROCKFORD, IL (April, 05 2018) — Fatima works as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) and will celebrate her 15th anniversary with us in September.
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ROCKFORD, IL (March, 28 2018) — A family connection drew Janelle DeFilippis to the medical field, and she pursued advanced training that included work with critically ill patients before joining Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) as a board-certified nurse practitioner.
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ROCKFORD, IL (February, 02 2018) — The complex nature of gastrointestinal disorders led Dr. Sumeet Tewani to pursue advanced training in endoscopic procedures to treat them, and he uses those skills to care for patients at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (December, 18 2017) — Dawn Vernon brings more than 20 years of experience in the field of cardiology to her direct work with GI patients as a board-certified adult nurse practitioner at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA).
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 28 2017) — This month, RGA doctors published a study of over 100 patients who were offered a low-residue diet prior to their screening colonoscopies and compared the results to a similar group of 100 patients who were given a clear liquid diet in addition to the standard bowel preparation in both groups.
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 17 2017) — Sherrill Muller suffered with gastrointestinal (GI) issues for most of her adult life until a trip to Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) put her on the right path to diagnosis and treatment.
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 13 2017) — Since 1980, Rockford Gastroenterology physicians and staff have been committed to working in a collaborative manner with our patients, their families, and other health care providers and hospital systems. We’ve recently gone through some changes with our provider relationships, and as of November 10, 2017, RGA physicians no longer have privileges to see patients who are admitted to Mercyhealth Rockton Avenue campus or perform procedures at that location (formerly Rockford Memorial Hospital).
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ROCKFORD, IL (November, 08 2017) — Evie joined Rockford Gastroenterology Associates in 2011 and works as a registered nurse in our ambulatory surgery center (ASC) where upper endoscopies and colonoscopies are performed.
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ROCKFORD, IL (October, 10 2017) — Dr. John DeGuide thrives on building relationships, whether that means caring for patients with chronic GI issues at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates or advocating for health care at the county and state levels.
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ROCKFORD, IL (September, 19 2017) — Taucia works as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates and will celebrate her 24th year with us in November.
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ROCKFORD, IL (August, 22 2017) — As the newest addition to RGA’s team of advanced nurse practitioners, Marjorie Hotopp is immersing herself in a variety resources to learn more about the GI the field.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 31 2017) — A perfect week for Dr. Joseph Vicari includes a busy schedule of endoscopic procedures aimed at helping people prevent colon cancer and a mix of exercise, from running to CrossFit.
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ROCKFORD, IL (July, 14 2017) — Jan is one of our receptionists who helps check in patients for their appointments and procedures. She joined the Rockford Gastroenterology Associates staff in 2014 after having worked in other medical offices.
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ROCKFORD, IL (June, 15 2017) — The humor is not lost on Dr. Arnold Rosen that he is both a gastroenterologist and a tuba player.
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ROCKFORD, IL (May, 22 2017) — Rockford Gastroenterology Associates (RGA) has partnered with SonarMD to better monitor patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD) between visits.
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