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5 Best Gastroenterologists in Portland

5 Best Gastroenterologists in Portland

How We Picked the Best Gastroenterologists in Portland

Expertise

We carefully looked into the practitioners’ credentials and experience to ensure we featured the best practitioners in gastroenterology. We checked their years of experience, education, and specializations among other factors. 

Accessibility

We ensured that the clinics they’re from are accessible for booking appointments, questions, and concerns. We looked into their online booking system, operating hours, and responsiveness to questions. 

Professionalism

Aside from competence, we also made sure that they have superb bedside manners. We saw to it that they’re approachable, friendly, and helpful overall. 

Patient Satisfaction

We also analyzed previous patients’ feedback about their overall experience. Patient comments give us rare insight into factors like efficiency, manners, and overall satisfaction. 

1. Dr. Jay C. Poorman – Northwest Gastroenterology Clinic

Dr. Jay C. Poorman - Northwest Gastroenterology Clinic Homepage

Website: https://www.nwgastro.net/ 

Address: 1130 NW 22nd Ave #410, Portland, OR 97210, United States

Contact Details: +1 503-229-7137

Operating Hours: Monday-Friday (8 AM-5 PM); Closed on weekends

Google reviews score3.4/5
Yelp reviews score3/5
Facebook reviews score4/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Patient Satisfaction4/5
Accessibility3.5/5
Operating Hours3/5
Responsiveness4/5
Expertise5/5
Efficiency 5/5
Years of experience5/5
Professionalism4/5

Pros

  • Member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • Specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, hepatobiliary disorders, and biliary and therapeutic endoscopy
  • Warm demeanor 
  • Organized clinic 
  • 8 other gastroenterologists are available 

Cons

  • Issues with scheduling sometimes 
  • Closed on weekends 

Dr. Jay C. Poorman is among the leading gastroenterologists in Northwest Gastroenterology Clinic. After meeting him, it wasn’t hard to see why. 

He got his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, where he graduated with honors. He then got his residency training in internal medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. 

He finished his fellowship in gastroenterology at OHSU and has been practicing at Northwest Gastroenterology Clinic ever since. He is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Aside from general gastroenterology, he also specializes in the following: 

  • Inflammatory bowel disease 
  • Hepatobiliary disorders
  • Biliary and therapeutic endoscopy

Aside from his competence and extensive experience, his warm demeanor, and great bedside manners also make consultations better for his patients, based on our experience. He answers all your questions thoroughly and he makes sure you know what your options are. 

Northwest Gastroenterology Clinic has been around for over 30 years, and its experience shows in the way they deal with its patients. Their staff is efficient, organized, and easy to talk to. 

It’s also fairly easy to set up an appointment, their website is organized in a way where quick links to their forms are easily accessible. We also like that if you need referrals, or prefer another doctor, they have eight other gastroenterologists you can choose from. 

However, we noticed that the usual problems lie in scheduling. Since they’re in high demand, it’s sometimes difficult to find the right schedule for you, so that’s something to consider with this clinic. 

2. Dr. Michael Owens – Pearl Health Partners

Dr. Michael Owens - Pearl Health Partners Homepage

Website: https://www.pearlhealthpartners.com/ 

Address: 120 NW 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97209, United States

Contact Details: +1 503-771-1883

Operating Hours: Monday-Friday (8 AM-5 PM); Closed on weekends

Google reviews score4.7/5
Yelp reviews score2/5
Facebook reviews score4.7/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Patient Satisfaction4/5
Accessibility3/5
Operating Hours3/5
Responsiveness3/5
Expertise4/5
Efficiency 3/5
Years of experience5/5
Professionalism4/5

Pros

  • Clinic offers a wide range of services
  • Good bedside manners
  • Clear explanations 
  • Impressive educational background 

Cons

  • Slow scheduling 
  • Outdated website 

Dr. Michael Owens is the director of the Pearl Health Partners’ Digestive Health Department. Aside from his daily consultations with patients, he’s also establishing an endoscopy program for patients in the region. 

A quick look at his education and accomplishments will show you his dedication and competence in what he does. He finished his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. 

He finished his internship and residency in internal medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He then completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Washington. 

Aside from his impressive educational background, we like that he’s very approachable and easy to talk to. He makes sure that you’re not in the dark about your condition and that you’re aware of your options when it comes to treatment. 

He really makes you feel like you’re in good hands because of how calm and knowledgeable he is. 

Pearl Health Partners offers a wide range of other services aside from gastroenterology. You can also get access to the following: 

  • Minimally invasive surgery 
  • PDX Ear, Nose, and Throat
  • Pear Women’s Center
  • Nerve and Pain Institute
  • Transform Weight Loss 
  • Foot & Ankle

Since every case is different, it’s nice that you can get referred to other providers in the same clinic depending on your needs. 

We did notice, however, that there are a few reports of dissatisfaction because of the slow scheduling of appointments. So if your case is urgent, it might be best to check other clinics. 

Their website is also quite outdated, which makes it a bit hard to look through their services and information. 

3. Dr. Sarah “Betsy” Rodriguez – The Oregon Clinic

Dr. Sarah Betsy Rodriguez - The Oregon Clinic Homepage

Website: https://www.oregonclinic.com/ 

Address: 9701 SW Barnes Rd Suite 300, Portland, OR 97225, United States

Contact Details: +1 503-297-8081

Operating Hours: Monday-Friday (7 AM-5 PM); Closed on weekends

Google reviews score4.8/5
Yelp reviews score3/5
Facebook reviews score4.1/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Patient Satisfaction5/5
Accessibility3/5
Operating Hours3/5
Responsiveness3/5
Expertise5/5
Efficiency 5/5
Years of experience5/5
Professionalism4/5

Pros

  • Has an advanced fellowship in Endoscopic Ultrasound 
  • Calm and reassuring bedside manner 
  • Different options to book an appointment (online and offline) 
  • Friendly staff 

Cons

  • Sparse info on website 
  • Hard to book an appointment 

Dr. Sarah Rodriguez caught our eye because of her proven track record and positive patient feedback. After meeting her, it wasn’t difficult to see why she’s one of the best gastroenterologists in the city. 

After finishing her medical degree from the University of Kentucky, she completed her residency in internal medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. This is where she also finished her fellowship in gastroenterology. 

What sets her apart is that she has an advanced fellowship in Endoscopic Ultrasound as well. So if that’s what you need, she’s definitely a fantastic option for you. 

She specializes in the following: 

  • Pancreas & Biliary Disease
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
  • Colon Cancer Screening & Prevention
  • General Gastroenterology
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Aside from her impressive background, we can’t help but notice how friendly and approachable she is. She’s very professional, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. 

Her bedside manner is calm and reassuring, which really helps you feel at ease. One thing we noticed, however, is Dr. Rodriguez is on demand so you might have a hard time scheduling an appointment with her. 

So it’s best to book your appointment earlier. Overall, we think that she’s a great practitioner and worthy of a spot on this list. 

The clinic is also very reliable, with friendly staff and plenty of options to book an appointment. There are also a lot of other gastroenterologists at their clinic in case you need a referral or if you need to find a doctor who matches your schedule and preferences. 

Their website is a bit sparse on information though, so if you have further questions it’s best to give them a call. 

4. Dr. Donald Lum – The Oregon Clinic

Dr. Donald Lum - The Oregon Clinic Homepage

Website: https://www.oregonclinic.com/ 

Address: 9701 SW Barnes Rd Suite 300, Portland, OR 97225, United States

Contact Details: +1 503-297-8081

Operating Hours: Monday-Friday (7 AM-5 PM); Closed on weekends

Google reviews score3.9/5
Yelp reviews score3/5
Facebook reviews score4.1/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Patient Satisfaction5/5
Accessibility3/5
Operating Hours3/5
Responsiveness3/5
Expertise5/5
Efficiency 5/5
Years of experience5/5
Professionalism4/5

Pros

  • Good communication with patients 
  • Specialization in colonoscopy, IBD, and colon cancer screening and prevention
  • Intuitive website
  • Collaborative approach to treatment 

Cons

  • Limited info on website 
  • Closed on weekends

Dr. Donald Lum is one of the most respected doctors in his clinic. A quick glance at his credentials and extensive experience will show you exactly why he’s made a name for himself as a gastroenterologist. 

Dr. Lum graduated from the University of California at Davis. He then finished his internship and residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

Later, he became Chief Resident for the Department of Medicine at OHSU. 

He then proceeded to complete his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of California, where he won numerous awards like the House Staff Teaching Award at OHSU and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Currently, his specializations include the following: 

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colon Cancer Screening & Prevention

What we like about him is how he really values good communication between him and his patients. He encourages and empowers patients to be actively involved in their health care. 

He answers questions thoroughly, so you’re never in the dark about your condition and what choices you have in terms of treatment. 

He’s very approachable and easy to talk to. He’s knowledgeable and very professional, from what we’ve seen. 

The clinic he’s from is a big one, with lots of providers in case you need a referral. They have a huge team of gastroenterologists with different specializations for every need. 

We like how intuitive their website is, with quick links for when you need to pay your bill, book an appointment, and submit release of information requests. We just wish their website offered more information to make it easier to look through their services. 

5. Dr. Gene Bakis – OHSU Digestive Health Center, South Waterfront

Dr. Gene Bakis - OHSU Digestive Health Center, South Waterfront Homepage

Website: https://www.ohsu.edu/ 

Address: 3485 S Bond Ave Building 2 8th Floor, Portland, OR 97239, United States

Contact Details: +1 503-494-4373

Operating Hours: Monday-Friday (8 AM-5 PM); Closed on weekends

Google reviews score2.9/5
Yelp reviews score3/5
Facebook reviews score4.9/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Patient Satisfaction3/5
Accessibility3/5
Operating Hours3/5
Responsiveness3/5
Expertise5/5
Efficiency 5/5
Years of experience5/5
Professionalism4/5

Pros

  • Specializes in pancreas and bile duct disease
  • Calm demeanor 
  • Speaks Russian aside from English 
  • Clinic has a strong spirit of community 

Cons

  • No online form 
  • Hard to schedule appointments 

Dr. Gene Bakis has expertise on digestive health. He’s a board-certified gastroenterologist and has a specialization in pancreas and bile duct disease. 

He has an impressive academic record graduating from medical school at Albany Medical College and completing his residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

He then proceeded to finish his Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at SUNY Buffalo and an Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship Program at Maine Medical Center.

To see what his special interests are, check out the list below: 

  • Pancreaticobiliary medicine 
  • Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, including ERCP 
  • Endoscopic ultrasound
  • Deep enteroscopy
  • Endoscopic mucosal resection and radiofrequency ablation

What we like about Dr. Bakis, is how great he is at making patients feel more at ease with his calm demeanor. He talks you through your diagnosis and course of treatment thoroughly, so you’ll be well informed. 

He speaks English and Russian, so if you’re more comfortable with Russian, he’s a great option for you. 

As for the clinic, OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center. We like the culture of  community this clinic propagates, the staff is very friendly, competent, and easy to talk to. 

We just noticed that it’s a bit hard to look through their website because there’s a lack of information. We also noted that it’s difficult to schedule appointments with them since they’re pretty in demand. 

They also don’t have an online form for booking appointments, so that’s something to consider with this clinic. 

FAQs About Gastroenterologists in Portland

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