Digestive Health

Rick Letterman’s passion for golf spans decades. Now 77, he’s been perfecting his swing since high school, when he worked as a caddy at a local country club in Kentucky.  “Golf is a very self-challenging game,” he said. “You align with your target in the distance, and you take your shot. When I received the … Read More

For 17 years, Roz Hodgins struggled with what many of us take for granted; the ability to comfortably swallow food. “I always had to be very cognizant of what I was eating and where, and there were foods I loved that I just couldn’t eat,” she said. “Going to a restaurant was difficult because I’d … Read More

4 ways to make impactful weight, wellness changes  Are you starting 2025 with an extra 25 pounds? While you may be tempted to jump onto TikTok weight loss trends to slim down, Hoag Digestive Health Institute registered dietitian Chelsea Honrath, RN, cautions against setting unrealistic goals.  “This is the time of year when people think … Read More

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2025) – The Hoag Digestive Health Institute has become the first in Orange County, and one of the first in California, to introduce a revolutionary gastrointestinal ultrasound technology for the detection and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The non-invasive, zero-radiation technology is poised to change the way Hoag IBD … Read More

Feeling more stuffed than the Thanksgiving turkey? Maybe you’ve over gobbled at the holiday table. But it’s also possible that you are experiencing gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Unlike occasional heartburn, which is a mild burning sensation in the mid-chest that occurs after meals or when lying down, GERD is a chronic condition that damages … Read More

Shahin Shelechi, 72, is incredibly optimistic–so much so that it’s difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what she has endured throughout her 30-year cancer journey. “You have to have hope,” she said. “And whatever I can do to help even one person, I will do it.” First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, the disease … Read More

Innovative treatment option provides hope for those otherwise unable to receive liver cancer treatment NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (October 14, 2024) – Hoag announced today a new technology using ultrasound energy to precisely destroy liver tumors in a single outpatient visit. HistoSonics Edison Histotripsy System is a precise, non-invasive cancer treatment option and the only FDA-approved … Read More

Teddi Lamons' inspiring journey to motherhood amidst her battle with severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease highlights the exceptional, patient-centered care at Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute. Guided by Dr. Hwang and Dr. Raskin, Teddi navigated her complex health challenges to safely welcome her daughter, Florence 'Flossie' Lamons, into the world. This heartfelt story underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing high-risk pregnancies and chronic conditions.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (June 10, 2024) – Leading the next wave of innovation in digestive health, Hoag has recruited world renowned gastroenterologist Kenneth J. Chang, M.D., to become executive medical director of the Digestive Health Institute at Hoag. Dr. Chang’s appointment comes at a time of unparalleled growth and heralds an impressive international draw of … Read More

Nationally recognized for high quality gastroenterology and GI surgery, Hoag’s Foregut (Esophagus & Stomach) Program delivers advanced medical management and surgical techniques for complex esophageal and stomach disorders. These are the disorders that keep people up at night in intense pain. The medical conditions that impair a person’s ability to socialize. To enjoy life. Hoag’s … Read More