IntestinalDiverticulitis near Escondido, CA

Biography: Ludmilla Ionescu, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician. She grew up in Moscow, Russia where she attended Moscow Medical Academy. Dr. Ionescu completed her internship at the State Scientific Center of Dermatovenerology (Dermatology) in Moscow, Russia before moving to the U.S. to start her Family Practice residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Since she was a child, Dr. Ionescu wanted to become a doctor because of her idol, her father, a surgeon and Honored Physician of the Russian Federation. She grew up watching him work in the hospital and wanted to be just like him. Dr. Ionescu approaches her practice with the philosophy that you ``treat the root of the tree and not its leaves, and therefore listen to the patient so you can get to the root of the tree.`` She uses an individual approach to the diagnosis and treatment of each patient in order to get to the root of the problem. Dr. Ionescu treats her patients as if they are family and she enjoys seeing her patients go back to their normal lives, happy and healthy. In her spare time, Dr. Ionescu enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling, sports, competitive ballroom dancing and Pilates. She is fluent in Russian and English.

Care Philosophy: I chose to specialize in Internal Medicine because it offers an opportunity to make a difference in my patients' lives.

Biography: Dr. Daniel Lee, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist who practices in Poway, CA. He is 58 years old. Dr. Daniel Lee, MD is affiliated with Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido, Palomar Medical Center Poway and Palomar Health.

Biography: Dr. Elizabeth Salada, MD is an Internist who practices in Poway, CA. She is 60 years old. Dr. Elizabeth Salada, MD is affiliated with Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido, Palomar Medical Center Poway and Palomar Health.

Biography: Dr. Naveen Gara earned his Medical degree from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. He then did 2 fellowships, one in Hepatology (liver diseases) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD and another in Gastroenterology at Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. During his work at Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, Dr Gara performed thousands of endoscopy procedures and cared for patients with complex diseases in the community. He was on faculty as an Assistant Professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and University of California-San Diego prior to starting his own practice here. Dr Gara has published several articles in reputed medical journals, authored book chapters and continues to serve as a peer reviewer and editor for top-tier journals.

Biography: Dr. Mark Kadden is a board certified Gastroenterologist. He practices general Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and performs Endoscopic procedures including: Upper Endoscopy Colonoscopy Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) A fourth generation Californian, Dr. Kadden was born and raised in Oakland. He received a bachelor's degree in Economics from UCLA in 1978, graduating cum laude. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He also won the Engstrom Award for exceptional proficiency and scholarship in Internal Medicine, as well as the Quick Award for outstanding scholarship in Biochemistry. He completed his Medical Residency (1987) and Gastroenterology Fellowship (1989) at UCSD. After completing his fellowship he was a Clinical Instructor at UCSD before entering private practice in Escondido in 1990. He joined Graybill Medical Group in 2017. Dr. Kadden is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and San Diego County Medical Society. He was named Doctor of the Year at the Escondido Surgery Center in 2009, and is a three-time winner of Best Specialist Office from Sharp Community Medical Group.

Biography: Dr. Belinda Dure-Smith, MB CHB is an Internist who practices in Poway, CA. She is 68 years old and has been practicing for 40 years. Dr. Belinda Dure-Smith, MB CHB is affiliated with Palomar Health, Palomar Medical Center Poway and Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido.

Biography: Dr. Emad Bishay, MD is an Internist who practices in Escondido, CA. He is 56 years old and has been practicing for 33 years. Dr. Emad Bishay, MD is affiliated with Palomar Health, Palomar Medical Center Poway and Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido.

Biography: Dr. Marcelo Rivera, MD is an Internist who practices in Poway, CA. He is 75 years old and has been practicing for 49 years. Dr. Marcelo Rivera, MD is affiliated with Palomar Health, Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido and Palomar Medical Center Poway.