Richard P. Stewart, D.O., FACOI

“We have a vast array of diagnostic modalities in gastroenterology today, but still, our most important tool is our communication with our patients.”

Dr. Richard Stewart joined Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group in 2000. His professional interests include inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, colorectal cancer screening and liver disease. He has a special interest in all forms of gastrointestinal endoscopy and considers communication with his patients to be a high priority.

Areas of Expertise

• Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - A procedure used to visually examine the digestive system with the help of a long, flexible instrument called an endoscope.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that can cause blood in the stools, stomach pain and weight loss. Two primary types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A disorder that causes issues in your large intestine, including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and gas.
• Colorectal Cancer - Cancer which either affects the first five feet of the large intestine (colon) or the final six inches (rectum)
• Celiac Disease - An autoimmune disorder in which the body cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

Background

Prior to coming to Beaufort, Dr. Stewart worked as a staff physician and clinical assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. A fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, he has been a respected member of the medical communiyt for more than 20 years.

He and his wife, gynecologist Dr. Eve Ashby, have two daughters.