Sameer Berry, MD, MBA

Why did you choose to specialize in gastroenterology?

A gastroenterologist must spend a significant amount of time with each patient to understand the impact of their lifestyle, stressors, and previous workup to determine what is causing their symptoms. The complexity of helping patients with GI conditions is what attracted me to the specialty. Gastroenterology is unlike any other field of medicine. There are no simple blood tests to diagnose a GI condition. The impact of the microbiome, diet, and gut-brain axis are just now being discovered – and we must keep closely up to date with the newest treatments. In addition to complex procedural work, gastroenterologists must also understand how to work with many other clinicians including western and holistic providers to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.

What are your areas of special interest and expertise within gastroenterology?

I pride myself in providing evidence-based, whole-person, comprehensive gastroenterology care to all patients, whether they are experiencing new symptoms or have had a long-standing chronic condition. I have had an interest in GI and have published research in the field since I was a medical student. At Cedars-Sinai and Cleveland Clinic, I trained with world-renowned IBD specialists. During my fellowship training at the University of Michigan, I trained closely with Dr. William Chey learning the best approaches to treat motility conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). My approach to clinical care is focused on spending extra time with patients to hear their concerns and make decisions about their treatment plan together.

Do you have any special honors, recognition, or achievements in your medical career that you would like to share?

All of the physicians in our practice are exceptional. Like many of my peers here at NYGA, I have trained across a broad variety of institutions and have significant research experience in the field of gastroenterology with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and numerous research awards from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, Collaborative Alliance for Pancreas Research, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, American College of Medical Quality, and the University of California, San Francisco. My research focuses on ways to improve the care experience for patients and how to broaden the services patients have access to.

What do you and your family enjoy doing during your spare time?

I enjoy exploring everything this beautiful city has to offer including art, new restaurants, and live music. At home, I enjoy cooking creative dishes and learning to play the guitar.