Meet Our Digestive Health Team

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common cancer in men and in women. More than 140,000 Americans are diagnosed and more than 50,000 die from the disease each year. Colorectal cancers affect all racial and ethnic groups, it is most often found in people aged 50 years or older, and the risk for developing this cancer increases with age. That being said, it is recommended that patients at average risk get a screening at age 50. Patients with a family history of colon cancer or colon polyps should have a screening done ten years prior to their first degree relatives’ diagnosis, which is usually around age 40.

Thanks to prevention, effective treatments, and screenings like a colonoscopy, more people are counting themselves as survivors. Colonoscopies are an excellent screening tool. If you find colon cancer at an early stage, surgical resection is often times curative. About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancer is found early and treated are still alive five years later.

Colorectal cancer symptoms are typically non-specific and might not fully display right away, so any subtle symptoms involving the colon must be taken seriously. If you think you may be at risk, or are looking for a colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist please contact Physicians Regional Medical Group at 239-348-4221 or visit PhysiciansRegionalMedicalGroup.com for online scheduling.

Our Colorectal Team consists of Susan Cera, M.D., Anthony Vernava, M.D. and Margaret Avery, FNP

Susan Cera, M.D.
Dr. Cera is board certified in colon and rectal surgery. She attended medical school at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Completed her residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina and her fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Anthony Vernava, M.D.
Dr. Vernava is board certified in colorectal surgery and has been in practice for over 20 years. He attended medical school and completed his residency at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and his fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Margaret Avery,FNP-BC 
Margaret Avery, FNP completed her master of science at South University, Savannah, GA. She provides care that includes an in-depth knowledge of emergency and critical care, pre and post-operative care, colorectal surgery, cancer screenings, early cancer detection and colon health. Margaret also has a special interest in patient education which includes preventive medicine, lifestyle changes, proper diet and surgical complication prevention.

Our team specializes in performing colonoscopies and laparoscopies, as well as reoperative, minimally invasive, and robotic surgeries. As well as treating colon, rectal, and anal cancers in addition to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, adhesions, diverticulitis and fecal incontinence. They also treat patients for hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas, anal infections, constipation, colon, and rectal polyps and abdominal pain.

Michael Cohen, M.D.
Dr. Cohen is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. He attended medical school and completed his residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and his fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He specializes in colon cancer screening and prevention, treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, acid reflux/GERD, hemorrhoids, and celiac disease/gluten intolerance. Also specializes in nutrition/wellness, gallbladder disease, liver disease, cirrhosis, and Hepatitis C.

Randall Jacobs, M.D.
Randall Jacobs, M.D., FACP, FACG, is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He specializes in gastroenterology and covers all aspects of the field, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach issues, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease. He provides care for all gastrointestinal disorders with extensive experience in Barrett’s Esophagus and colonoscopy screenings.

Afshin Khaiser, M.D.
Afshin Khaiser, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology and completed his schooling at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV. He specializes in colon cancer screening and prevention, pancreatic and gallbladder disease, liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, acid reflux/GERD, celiac/gluten intolerance, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis while maintaining focus on whole-body wellbeing.

Maria Valdes, M.D.
Dr. Valdes is board certified in gastroenterology. She attended medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. Completed her residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York, New York and her fellowship at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York.She specializes in colorectal cancer screening, reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Roxanne Allen, PA-C
Roxanne Allen, PA-C, finished PA school at Mercy College, Physician Assistant, Bronx, NY. She specializes in colon cancer screenings and prevention. In addition, she provides treatment for dysphasia, GERD/reflux, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), IBD, IBS, liver disease, pancreatitis and more.

Alicia Sloan, PA-C
Alicia Sloan, PA-C, Finishing her schooling at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and HealthSciences, Boston, MA. She specializes in colon cancer screenings and prevention, as well as celiac disease/gluten intolerance, acid reflux/GERD and hemorrhoids. In addition, she provides treatment for hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She is board certified NCCPA board certified and ACLS certified.

Jennifer Wangler, PA-C
Jennifer Wangler, PA-C, finished her schooling at Gannon University, Erie, PA. She is a certified physician’s assistant devoted to diagnosis, treatment and prevention. She specializes in gastroenterology, including colon cancer screenings, as well as esophagus, stomach and pancreaticobiliary disease, anorectal defecatory disorders, and esophageal dysmotility. Jennifer focuses on the management of common ailments of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

PHYSICIAN REGIONAL MEDICAL GROUP

Make an appointment at https://www.physiciansregionalmedicalgroup.com/doctors-providers/martin-timothy-md–9028