The Center for Digestive and Liver Health (CDLH) was founded in 1994 by Drs. Mark E. Murphy and Edward Rydzak. Today, with eight Board-certified gastroenterologists and five mid-level providers, the CDLH is the largest gastroenterology practice in the state of Georgia outside of Atlanta. The group focuses on providing state-of-the-art care for patients with digestive and liver disease, as well as identifying colon cancer. Previously, CDLH introduced new technologies such as endoscopic ultrasonography, Barrx ablation therapy and wireless capsule pH monitoring to coastal Georgia, among others. This year, the group performed the first successful endoscopic mucosal resection of an esophageal cancer in coastal Georgia—complete removal of a cancer without incisional surgery! Half of the doctors have been selected for Best Doctors in America recognition, an honor bestowed on less than 5% of the doctors in the United States. The Endoscopy Center, the group’s state-of-the-art four-room procedure suite, opened in 2003. It is fully accredited by AAAHC. It also recently received special recognition from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for the quality of its care. Only three other centers have received similar commendation in the entire state of Georgia.

Steve l. Carpenter, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: Emory University
Areas of Expertise: Endoscopic Ultrasound, Gastrointestinal Oncology

Mark R. Nyce, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Jefferson Medical College
Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital
Areas of Expertise: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Edward Rydzak, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Albany Medical College, NY
Residency: Albany Medical College, NY
Areas of Expertise: Esophageal Disorders, Pancreatic and Liver Disorders, Colon Cancer, Therapeutic Endoscopy, Stomach Disorders

George C. Aragon, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Meharry Medical College, Washington D.C.
Residency: George Washington University Medical Center
Areas of Expertise: Colorectal Cancer Screening, Hepatology, Capsule Endoscopy

Allan l. Hardy, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
Residency: Howard University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
Areas of Expertise: Pancreatico-Biliary Disorders, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Patients

Mark E. Murphy, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Areas of Expertise: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Liver Disease, Endoscopic Intervention for Barrett’s Epithelium, Colon Cancer

Charles W. Duckworth, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: University of Virginia, Internal Medicine
Areas of Expertise: Endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography (ERCP), pancreatic disease

Ryan C. Wanamaker, M.D.
Board Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Degree: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Residency: University of Virginia, Internal Medicine
Areas of Expertise: Colon cancer, GERD, Hepatobiliary Disorders, Capsule Endoscopy