Our Staff

Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group, Inc.

All our physicians are Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology. Each physician completed a rigorous Gastroenterology Fellowship. Additionally, each received dedicated training in endoscopy (upper endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy). Endoscopy is the use of narrow, flexible lighted tubes with built-in video cameras, to visualize the inside of the intestinal tract. They are trained to perform advanced endoscopic procedures such as polypectomy, esophageal and intestinal dilation, endoscopic biliary examination (ERCP), removal of tumors without surgery, placement of internal drainage tubes (stents) and hemostasis. They properly interpret the findings and biopsy results of these studies in order to make appropriate recommendations to treat conditions and/or prevent cancer.

Our Gastroenterologists

The unique training that our Gastroenterologist received prepared them to provide the highest quality comprehensive care for patients with a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments. Our physicians are experts in their field. They have many years of experience in practice.

DANIEL G. LUBA, M.D.

Dr. Luba was accepted into medical school immediately after high school graduation and completed a combined six-year undergraduate and medical school program at Boston University Medical School, where he received the Henry J. Bakst VA Award in Community Medicine. He did his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine as Boston VA Medical Center in Boston, MA. Dr. Luba then moved to California and completed a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Stanford University Medical Center. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology. Dr. Luba is the managing partner of Gastroenterology Consultants Medical Group, Inc., Medical Director of the Monterey Bay Endoscopy Center, LLC, and the President of the Monterey Bay GI Research Institute, Inc. For the years 2007-2013 Dr. Luba was selected by Best Doctors as one of the Best Doctors in America, an organization that selects its members through the peer-appointed process. Dr. Luba does all endoscopic procedures and has a special interest in Lynch and Familial Polyposis Syndromes. He is the founder of Project DNA at www.projectdna.org, and has been with Monterey Bay Gi since 1991.

Dr. Luba sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

RICHARD W. HELL, M.D.

After finishing medical school as Saint Louis University, Dr. Hell completed an Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/U.C.L.A. He did his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology. He has practiced with Monterey Bay GI Consultants since 2001. In 2010, Dr. Hell was elected to Fellowship in the American College of Gastroenterology. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP). He also serves on the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee.

Dr. Hell sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

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ISABELLE C.B. MOONAN, M.D.

Dr. Moonan received her B.A. in Human Biology at Stanford University. She earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and was awarded membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her internship and Residency in Internal Medicine, as well as a 3-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology, at Stanford. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology. Dr. Moonan started practice in Gastroenterology initially in Salinas in 1997, and then joined Monterey Bay Gastroenterology Consultants in 2003. She is originally from Hawaii, married, a proud mom of young adults, loves animals and outdoor adventure with friends and family. Dr. Moonan is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Moonan sees patients by appointment only in our Monterey Office. (Dr. Moonan was formerly Dr. Isabelle Barnard) 

Please note: As her practice is full, Dr. Moonan is unable to accept transfer patients from other physicians.

TOBY J. KATZ, M.D.

Dr. Katz is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai/U.C.L.A. Medical Center Los Angeles. Dr. Katz was elected Chief resident at Cedar Sinai Medical Center while holding the position of Assistant Clinical Instructor of Medicine at U.C.L.A. Dr. Katz completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at LA County-USC Medical Center and, subsequently, completed Therapeutic ERCP and advanced endoscopic training. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Obesity Medicine. Dr. Katz practiced in Salinas from 1995-2003 and joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in 2003. Dr. Katz is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Katz sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

MICHAEL S. LE, M.D.

Dr. Le earned his B.A. Degree at the University of Virginia and his M.D. at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas and a Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Le is Board Certified in Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is trained in ERCP and US-guided liver biopsies. Dr. Le is conversant in Vietnamese. Dr. Le joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in 2010.

Dr. Le sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

MICHAEL J. MENDOZA, M.D.

Dr. Mendoza received his B.S. in Biology and M.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles where he also performed basic science research in Oncology as well as contributed to care for underserved populations in Los Angeles for which he was awarded the UCLA Chancellor’s Humanitarian Award for Community Service. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at UCLA in 2002. He completed a research-based Gastroenterology fellowship in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology evaluating pancreatic cancer in 2007. After three years of successful clinical Gastroenterology practice at Kaiser Permanente in Riverside, California, Dr. Mendoza returned to UCLA as a Clinical Instructor where he finished an Advanced Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship in Endoscopic Ultrasound, Oncologic Endoscopy and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in June 2012. Dr. Mendoza joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in 2012.

Dr. Mendoza sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

JAN P. KAMLER, M.D.

Dr. Kamler joined our practice in September 2015, after a very successful Gastroenterology private practice in Reno for 15 years. He completed his Fellowship in 2001 at the University of California School of Medicine in San Diego, California. He completed a Residency in International Medicine Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kamler grew up in the Czech Republic and earned his medical degree there. Dr. Kamler is Board Certified and has a special interest in managing the treatment of patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett’s Disease, and Hemorrhoids. Dr. Kamler was once also a Registered Nurse at the Monterey Bay Endoscopy Center and he is joyfully returning to live in Monterey. He enjoys hiking, biking, and skiing. Dr. Kamler speaks English, Czech, and Russian.

Dr. Kamler sees patients by appointment only in our Monterey Office.

JEFFREY P. FIORENZA, M.D.

Dr. Fiorenza earned a B.A. degree in Public Health Studies from The Johns Hopkins University and remained in Baltimore to graduate from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Following a year of working as a hospitalist at Brigham and Women's, he went on to finish his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Lahey Hospital and Medical center in Burlington, Massachusetts. In his free time, Dr. Fiorenza enjoys playing soccer and golf and traveling with his family. He joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in 2016. Dr. Fiorenza is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology.

Dr. Fiorenza sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

STEVE HU, M.D. 

Dr. Steve Hu earned a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering  and a B.A. in Biology from  Johns Hopkins University where he graduated with honors and engineering department honors. He then went on to receive his M.D. from University of Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,  He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2017, and his Gastroenterology Fellowship from UCSF Fresno in 2021. Dr. Hu went on to complete an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA. He joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in August of 2022.

Dr. Hu sees patients  by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey Offices.

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SILVIA F. GIACHETTI, NP

Silvia holds a B.S. Degree in Nursing from Florida International University and a M.S. Degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Samuel Merritt University. Silvia earned a wide range of experience as a Registered Nurse before becoming a Nurse Practitioner. She worked as the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for four years as a nurse analyst in Health Information Technology. She also has many years of experience as an Infertility and Third Party Reproduction Nurse and Pediatric Nurse. Besides English, Silvia is fluent in Spanish and proficient in German, French, and Korean.

Silvia sees patients by appointment only in our Monterey Office

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MARISSA L. PAYNE, NP

Marissa Payne, N.P. joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants at the beginning of July of 2023. 

Marissa sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas and Monterey offices.

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MICHELLE J. KEUNG, PA

Michelle Keung, N.P. joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants at the beginning of August 2023. Michelle received her Bachelor's Degree in Global Health from UC San Diego, and her Master of Science from California State University, Monterey Bay. Michelle is fluent in Spanish.

Michelle sees patients by appointment only in our Salinas Office.

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CINDY M. DE LA CRUZ, NP

Cindy earned her B.S. Degree in Nursing from San Jose State University and continued her education to receive her Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing from Holy Names University. She is licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse, and is a board-certified Family Nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Cindy earned an extensive experience in the ICU as a Registered Nurse. She worked for Doctors on Duty before joining Monterey Bay GI Consultants where she obtained experience in urgent care and primary care. Cindy joined Monterey Bay GI Consultants in April of 2022. Cindy is fluent in Spanish.

Cindy works directly with our physicians at The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

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LARA H. SHIPLEY, DNP

Lara earned her BSN and MSN degrees from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Frontier Nursing University. She is licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse, and is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Lara joined the practice in July 2019 after working as the provider for the Montage Mobile Health Clinic and in the Emergency Room at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula as a Crisis Nurse Practitioner. She has also worked in the primary care setting for Salud Para La Gente, and was the coordinator for Student Health and Psychological Services at Monterey Peninsula College for 7 years. Lara is proficient in Spanish.

Lara works directly with our physicians at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.

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KATHRYN A. SWANSON, M.D.

Dr. Kathryn Swanson has retired from Monterey Bay GI.

Dr. Swanson's partners and staff will continue to provide follow up care and treatment for her patients. Our doctors remain fully committed to supporting your current health and future screenings. Please click HERE to read Dr. Swanson's retirement announcement. If you are an established patient of Dr. Swanson, we are happy to schedule you with one of our available GI Physicians for your continued care and treatment.

Retired: May 2024