South Denver Gastroenterology

What South Denver Gastroenterology does

South Denver Gastroenterology, P.C. is an independent, physician-owned gastroenterology and hepatology medical practice serving the South Metro Denver region of Colorado. Founded over 50 years ago, the practice operates four clinic locations (Lone Tree, Englewood, Castle Rock, Parker) and three endoscopy centers, employing 25+ board-certified gastroenterologists and hepatologists alongside 7 advanced practice providers. Its clinical scope spans the full GI continuum: colorectal cancer screening and prevention via colonoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease management (IBD) with a dedicated infusion center, liver disease specialty care (hepatitis, NAFLD, NASH, cirrhosis), pancreatic and biliary disease treatment, GERD and esophageal disorders, and general GI conditions.

The practice differentiates through first-in-market adoption of advanced diagnostic technologies, including WATS3D AI-driven 3D imaging for Barrett's esophagus detection, TissueCypher AI risk stratification, Fibroscan non-invasive liver fibrosis measurement, SpyGlass cholangioscopy, ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). It was the first GI practice in Colorado to offer telehealth services (since 2018) and operates an active clinical research program running 5-7 late-phase trials at any given time under Dr. Marcelo Kugelmas. Patient-facing digital infrastructure includes athenahealth's patient portal and Radix Health online scheduling, while physician referral forms are managed via JotForm.

The business model is fee-for-service professional services billing across commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare, with an emphasis on procedure-driven revenue (colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP, EUS, hemorrhoidal banding, Fibroscan) supplemented by office consultations, telehealth visits, registered dietitian nutritional counseling, and the subscription-based NovoLiver weight management program for fatty liver patients. Marketing channels combine a content-rich website, organic social (Instagram @GutHealthDocs, Facebook, YouTube), community partnerships (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation), and earned media through physician commentary in local news. Leadership includes President Dr. Fernando Carreira (appointed July 1, 2025), CEO Branden Lish (13+ year tenure), and COO Troy Keach (joined July 2024 from Mayo Clinic).

Name

South Denver Gastroenterology

Legal name

South Denver Gastroenterology, P.C.

Website

https://southdenvergi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

South Denver Gastroenterology is an independent, physician-owned gastroenterology practice operating four clinics and three endoscopy centers across South Metro Denver, serving regional patients with comprehensive GI care including colonoscopy screening, IBD management, liver disease treatment, and advanced endoscopic procedures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Medical Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Outpatient Care Centers (6214), Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers (621493)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

General Gastroenterology (HLAKAEAA)

Keywords

• Gastroenterology services
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Endoscopic procedures
• Liver disease care
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Headquarters

HQ city

Englewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services - Office Consultations: Office-based outpatient consultation services with gastroenterologists and advanced practice providers for GI conditions, diagnostic evaluations, and treatment planning.
2. GI Procedures: Endoscopic procedures including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy (EGD), ERCP, EUS, hemorrhoidal banding, and other diagnostic/therapeutic procedures performed at endoscopy centers.
3. Colorectal Cancer Screening: Colonoscopy and related screening services for colorectal cancer prevention and early detection.
4. Telehealth Services: Virtual video visits covered through commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare since 2018.
5. Nutritional Counseling: Registered dietitian services for GI-related nutrition, food allergies, weight management, available in-person and via telehealth.
6. Clinical Trial Participation: Study medication provided at no cost with stipends for time and travel. Study-related tests covered by research program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

South Denver Gastroenterology is a full-service gastroenterology and hepatology practice that diagnoses and treats digestive disorders across four clinics and three endoscopy centers in South Metro Denver. Core offerings include colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy, advanced endoscopic procedures (EGD, ERCP, EUS, SpyGlass), specialized IBD and liver disease programs, AI-augmented diagnostics (WATS3D, TissueCypher, Fibroscan), telehealth visits, registered-dietitian nutritional counseling, hemorrhoid treatment, and a late-phase clinical research program.

Product overview

South Denver Gastroenterology is a full-service gastroenterology practice operating four clinics and three endoscopy centers across South Metro Denver. The practice offers a comprehensive suite of GI services anchored by colonoscopy (the primary screening and prevention tool for colorectal cancer) and telehealth video visits (pioneered as Colorado's first GI telehealth service in 2018). The portfolio includes a dedicated IBD Program with an infusion center, liver disease specialty care featuring Fibroscan diagnostics and the NovoLiver weight management program, nutritional counseling by registered dietitians, and an active clinical research program with 5-7 late-phase trials. Advanced diagnostic offerings include WATS3D AI-driven 3D imaging for Barrett's esophagus, TissueCypher AI risk assessment for Barrett's esophagus, and the CRH O'Regan System for hemorrhoid treatment. Patient-facing digital services include an athenahealth-powered patient portal (for appointments, billing, and secure messaging) and Radix Health online scheduling. The practice also facilitates physician referrals via JotForm-based forms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colonoscopy

Quantifiable outcome

• Every 1% increase in adenoma detection rate results in 3% decrease in odds of developing colon cancer over next decade
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Sarah Cannon (Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, connecting patients to a network of globally-recognized cancer experts for multidisciplinary care coordination in pancreatic and biliary cancers.
• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Rocky Mountain ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to sponsor South Metro Denver Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Support Group with meetings facilitated by Dr. Matthew Nichols. Provides forum for IBD patients to discuss medications, nutrition, alternative therapies and emerging therapies.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationminorOthersTroy Keach (COO) is an active volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of community involvement.
• Mayo Clinic Quality AcademymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerTroy Keach (COO) holds Silver Certification from Mayo Clinic's Quality Academy and previously supported Mayo Clinic's for-profit division with focus on East Coast operations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates: Independent gastroenterology group serving the Denver-Boulder metro with multiple clinics and endoscopy centers. Directly comparable independent GI practice competing for the same South Metro Denver patient and referring-PCP base.
• Peak Gastroenterology Associates: Large Colorado-based independent GI practice with multiple locations and endoscopy centers. Comparable in service mix (colonoscopy, hepatology, IBD) and physician-driven operating model within the same state.
• Boulder Valley Gastroenterology: Independent GI specialty practice in the Colorado Front Range. Comparable in offering the core set of GI consultative, endoscopic, and screening services to a regional catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Gastro Health: One of the largest US private equity-backed gastroenterology platforms operating hundreds of physicians across multiple states. Comparable scope (clinic + ASC model, hepatology, clinical research) but at materially greater scale and capital access.
• GI Alliance: Largest US independent gastroenterology practice network under private equity sponsorship. Operates the same integrated clinic-and-endoscopy-center model but across many states, providing a relevant benchmark for scale and consolidation strategy.
• Allied Digestive Health: Northeast US multi-state GI platform formed through private-equity-backed roll-up of independent practices. Closely comparable integrated clinical-and-endoscopy operating model with hepatology and research programs.
• HCA HealthOne: Denver-area HCA hospital system that partners with South Denver GI for certain procedures and houses competing GI service lines. Adjacent rather than directly competitive in ambulatory GI but a key referral and procedural site.
• Centura Health: Colorado's largest hospital system and another partner site required by certain insurers for procedures ordered by South Denver GI. Operates its own gastroenterology service line that competes indirectly for screening and procedural cases.
• UCHealth: Major Colorado academic-affiliated health system with employed gastroenterology and hepatology programs. Indirect competitor for tertiary referrals and liver disease cases across the Front Range.

Regional players

• Mile-High Gastrointestinal Medicine: Denver-area independent gastroenterology practice. Comparable in offering consultative and endoscopic GI services in the same metropolitan market, though smaller in scale and clinic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZHu66EpbKZxglDBPpFG9dQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/southdenvergastroenterology
• Instagraminstagram.com/guthealthdocs
• Xx.com/southdenvergi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Denver Gastroenterology