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Dr. Nitin Aggarwal, MD
Dr. Aggarwal (he/his) studied Neuroscience, Mathematics, and Chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh and earned his MD from Drexel University. He subsequently completed his internship and residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and matriculated to fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Cleveland Clinic. There, he received extensive training in various gastrointestinal disorders ranging from functional gastrointestinal diseases to inflammatory bowel disease as well as diseases of the liver. He also served as the Chief Fellow of the division. He has participated in and led various research projects in the field resulting in multiple publications. He is currently an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and an ACG Early Career Leadership Scholar. Dr. Aggarwal leads our Perianal Disease Program at IGIC (including Fecal / Bowel Incontinence and Hemorrhoid management) and performs Peripheral Nerve Evaluation (PNE) in the office. He was recently recognized for being an Interstim Patient Access Champion for his outstanding care of patients with Fecal Incontinence. Dr. Aggarwal is also board-certified in Obesity Medicine and sees patients in the clinic for medical weight management. In his free time, Dr. Aggarwal enjoys running, dancing, cooking, and traveling with his wife and family.
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Dr. Heidi Ahmed, MD, MS
Dr. Heidi Ahmed (she/her) joins Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants from Boston University, Boston Medical Center, where she completed her gastroenterology fellowship and Master’s degree in Epidemiology. While at BMC, she also received an NIH training grant to study nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Ahmed’s clinical focus is in hepatology and she leads IGIC’s liver program. She also sees patients in general gastroenterology. Outside of work, she enjoys playing music, reading, running, and traveling with her family.
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Dr. Jacqueline Chu, MD
Dr. Jacqueline Chu (she/her) is a board-certified gastroenterologist and internist and joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants from Massachusetts General Hospital, where she completed her gastroenterology and internal medicine training. Prior to MGH, she attended Stanford University for medical school and college. Dr. Chu was also a research fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Traverso Lab where she studied drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. She has published numerous papers related to gastrointestinal health and research. Dr. Chu sees patients with all gastrointestinal issues including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) / neurogastroenterology conditions, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver disease, reflux, and colon cancer screening. She is passionate about patient education. She is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) where she serves on the ACG FDA Committee, is a mentor to residents and fellows, and was an ACG Early Career Leadership Scholar. Outside of work, Dr. Chu enjoys binge-watching TV shows, exploring new restaurants in Boston and Cambridge, and playing with her goldendoodle puppy Chompers.
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Dr. James Connolly, MD
Dr. James Connolly (he/his) grew up in New York and completed his undergraduate education at Colgate University where he majored in molecular biology with honors. He pursued a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institutes of Health prior to earning his doctorate at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, where he was elected to the AOA Honor Society. After finishing his Internal Medicine residency at Yale, he was appointed Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine as a practicing hospitalist. He subsequently completed his Gastroenterology fellowship at Boston University Medical Center prior to joining Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants. Dr. Connolly enjoys seeing patients across a broad spectrum of GI and hepatology. In his free time, he likes to travel, ski, and hike with his family and dog.
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Dr. Allen Hwang, MD, MSCE
Dr. Allen Hwang (he/his) received his undergraduate degree with highest distinction from Indiana University in Bloomington after which he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha from Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine from University of California San Francisco Medical Center. After finishing his fellowship in Gastroenterology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Hwang completed his training in Advanced/Therapeutic Endoscopy at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center after which he joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants. Dr. Hwang is board certified in Gastroenterology. In addition to seeing patients with gastroenterologic diseases, he performs colonoscopy (including complex polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection), upper endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, enteral stenting, endoscopic mucosal resection, pancreatic necrosectomy, intragastric balloons for weight loss, bariatric endoscopy, endoscopic solutions for GERD, and Barrett's radiofrequency ablation. When not working, he enjoys spending his spare time doing photography, travel, cooking, and spending time with his family.
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Dr. Melanie Kappadakunnel, DO, MPH
Dr. Melanie Kappadakunnel (she/her) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She completed her Bachelor of Science at UCLA, her Masters in Public Health at the University of Michigan, and her medical degree at Touro University in Northern California. She joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants after completing both her Gastroenterology fellowship and Internal Medicine residency at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. Dr. Kappadakunnel is fluent in Spanish, and has a passion for both community and global health. Her clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease and nutrition. Her personal interests include cooking, dancing with her toddler daughter, and creating music with her husband.
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Dr. Franklin Marinelli, MD
Dr. Marinelli (he/his) received his medical degree with Outstanding distinction from Brown University Medical School in 1992. He completed his internal medicine residency in 1995 and his gastroenterology fellowship in 1997, both at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston. Dr. Marinelli sees all patients with general GI conditions, with a particular interest in liver and bile duct disorders as well as colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Marinelli performs endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in addition to endoscopies and colonoscopies.
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Dr. Supriya Rao, MD
Dr. Supriya Rao (she/her) is a quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine who focuses on digestive disorders, gut health, obesity medicine, and women's health and wellness. She received her undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after which she graduated from Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to complete her fellowship in Gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center. She joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2014 and is now a managing partner. She completed further certification in obesity and lifestyle medicine and is the Director of Medical Weight Loss at Lowell General Hospital and runs the Metabolic & Lifestyle Medicine Program at IGIC. She also runs the motility program, which focuses on disorders of the esophagus, irritable bowel syndrome and anorectal disorders. She is passionate about empowering people to improve their health through sustainable changes in their lifestyle. She enjoys cooking, traveling, running, yoga and spending time with family and friends. You can also find Dr. Rao on Instagram @gutsygirlmd or see a recent NBC news interview she gave on the gut-brain axis here.
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Dr. Bridget Seymour, MD
Dr. Seymour (she/her) was born and raised in New York. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees through a combined BA/MD program with Siena and Albany Medical Colleges in 2003. She went on to complete her internship and residency in internal medicine as well as a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA in 2009. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr Seymour has been practicing gastroenterology and hepatology in the Merrimack Valley for the last 15 years and joined Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2024. She sees patients with a variety of gastrointestinal issues including liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, functional disorders of the gi tract, colorectal cancer screening, and motility disorders. She enjoys spending time with her family including her husband Peter and their four teenagers. She especially loves watching them play sports, travel, skiing, and volunteering.
Dr. Winnie Szeto, MD
Dr. Winnie Szeto (she/her) attended Tufts Medical School, completed a combined medicine/pediatrics residency at the University of Maryland and GI fellowship at the University of Miami. She returned to Boston for a year of advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease training at Boston Medical Center before joining the faculty of Tufts as Associate Professor. She joined Integrated Gastroenterology in 2020. Dr. Szeto is the only advanced IBD-trained gastroenterologist in the Merrimack Valley and heads our Inflammatory Bowel Disease center.
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Dr. Richard Tilson, MD, MPH
Dr. Richard Tilson (he/his) received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where also received his medical degree. After medical school, he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Georgetown Medical Center. He went on to complete his fellowship in gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is board-certified in gastroenterology. He has interests in general gastroenterology and hepatology, and specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and colon cancer screening. Dr. Tilson is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology, where he serves on the Practice Management committee, and the Digestive Health Physicians Association. He has personal interests in cooking, skiing, and spending time with his family.
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Maureen Bailey, PA-C
Maureen Bailey (she/her) completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Maureen has been working in gastroenterology in both the inpatient and outpatient settings for over three years and enjoys seeing patients with all gastrointestinal conditions. Maureen is our lead gastroenterology clinician at Lowell General Hospital. She also sees patients in the clinic where she performs anorectal manometry.
Melissa Barber, NP
Melissa Barber (she/her) completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. After college, she finished her nursing degree at the University of Massachusetts. Melissa is one of hte gastroenterology clinicians at Lowell General Hospital, helping to care for our sickest patients.
Kristen McFadden, NP
Kristen McFadden (she/her) completed both her undergraduate degree and Master’s degree at Northeastern University. She is ANCC certified. Prior to joining IGIC, Kristen was a nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital with the Division of Gastroenterology, where she specialized in pancreatic and biliary diseases.
Suela Omeri, PA-C
Suela Omeri (she/her) is a board-certified physician associate (PA-C) who is passionate about helping people live happier, healthier and longer lives. Suela earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Salem State University and a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Tufts University. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and is working towards earning her certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine. Suela has a clinical interest in everything that revolves around Obesity and Lifestyle Medicine Coaching. Her approach to weight management emphasizes the four pillars of a healthy lifestyle: a balanced nutrition plan that includes all food groups, different types of physical activity, effective stress management techniques and sleep hygiene. She believes that true wellness stems from addressing all of these aspects cohesively. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family & friends and loves recreating healthy recipes, trying out new fitness classes, listening to podcasts, going to the movies and exploring different cultures through travel.
Beena Rajagopal, NP
Beena Rajagopal (she/her) is a board certified nurse practitioner who is committed to delivering high quality care through shared clinical decision, putting her patient's wellbeing at the forefront of her practice. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MGU, India in 2000 and graduated with her Masters in the Science of Nursing from Maryville University in 2016. She is an active member of AANP.
Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Beena has has served as a a critical care ICU RN in multiple specialties for 16+ years. In the past 7+ years as an NP, she has honed her skills in multiple specialties like cardiovascular thoracic surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, obesity medicine, and most recently in gastroenterology.
Beena has clinical interest in health coaching, nutrition , lifestyle, and obesity medicine. She also sees patients with general gastroenterology conditions.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family & friends and loves traveling, cooking and yoga. Beena and her husband have 2 young teenage children who keeps them busy.
Bethany Rich, NP
Bethany Rich (she/her) earned an Associates degree in nursing in 1989, working as RN in acute care settings before transitioning to APRN. She graduated in 2015 from Rivier University with Masters in Nursing. She has been working as a Primary Care NP for the past 9 yrs. After her own weight loss journey, she found a passion for helping others with the same health issue. She trained with the Obesity Medicine Association and developed a weight management program at her last practice before joining IGIC. Her approach to medical care is using clinical guidelines along with holistic remedies to treat the whole person. She specializes in the Metabolic and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic at IGIC. In her spare time she likes to spend time with her husband, her two children, family and friends.
Samantha Sapienti, NP
Samantha (she/her) began her patient care career in hospitals as of 2004. She earned her first bachelor of science degree from Simmons College in Boston in Public Health, taking an interest in global health and policy. She then earned a bachelor of science in nursing from MCPHS. As a nurse, she primarily focused her training and career in intensive care, as well as emergency medicine and surgery among others. She is board certified in critical care. She then earned her masters degree from Endicott College in Beverly, MA as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has experience treating all ages and enjoys a modern, yet holistic, individualized approach to healthcare. She has clinical interests in functional wellness, preventative health, pharmacology, intuitive eating and food psychology, IBS, and women’s health. She is a foodie who loves sunshine, animals, pilates, TV/movies, music, and surrounding herself with loved ones.
Jennifer Murphy, RD
Jennifer Murphy, RD (she/her/hers) is a registered dietician with expertise in nutrition for gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, and Celiac disease among others. Jen’s realistic approach to optimizing individual lifestyle and eating habits includes using the latest nutrition research, adopting a mindfulness approach to eating and emphasizing the mind body connection.
Nell Fay, PT
Nell Fay, PT (she/her) graduated from MGH Institute of Health Professions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, where she developed an interest in women’s health. She has been working exclusively in women’s health and pelvic floor outpatient physical therapy since 2016. She sees adult patients of all genders with constipation, fecal and/or urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, difficulty with urination, bloating, weak abdominal muscles, pain with sexual intercourse, nighttime urination, urinary frequency, prolapse, gas pain, low back or sacral pain, and abdominal pain, among other conditions.