Deborah R. DiStefano, MD – Research Sub-Investigator Dr. Distefano is one of Chattanooga’s best-known physicians. She first came to the area in 1982 as chairperson of the Department of Ophthalmology at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She completed her medical degree, internship and residency (Chief Resident) at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. DiStefano completed her fellowship at Harvard in 1982. Dr. DiStefano has numerous publications and awards to her credit. In 2004, she founded a charitable organization that helps families with monetary support while undergoing treatment for cancer. She is currently the owner of DiStefano Regional Eye Center.

Dr. Richard Sadowitz has been practicing gastroenterology in Chattanooga since 1994. He is board-certified in gastroenterology. Dr. Sadowitz received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida at Gainesville and his doctorate from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Dr. Sadowitz completed a fellowship in digestive diseases at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ. Dr. Sadowitz’ scope of practice includes, but is not limited to, upper endoscopy, ERCP, capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, liver diseases, infrared coagulation for the treatment of hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome.