A California native, Dr. Michael Sagatelian attended the University of California at Davis, earning both a B.S. in biochemistry and an M.D before moving on to the University of California at Irvine to fulfill his internship and residency requirements. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky to become certified in gastroenterology. While in Louisville, Dr. Sagatelian was Chief of Gastroenterology at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital and also served as assistant professor of medicine in the GI department.

He also met his wife – another physician — in Louisville. In 1995, they looked at Charleston and decided to move. Since then, Dr. Sagatelian has been a co-owner of Palmetto GI.

“What I like here,” Dr. Sagatelian says, “We deliver a personal approach. When you listen to the patient, you can learn what you need to do.”

Dr. Sagatelian keeps healthy on foot. He and his wife enjoy running and training for half-marathons, as well as attending sporting events with their two children. He also speaks Spanish as a second language.

Board Certification

1989 American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate in Internal Medicine
1993-2023 American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate in Gastroenterology

Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. James Schnell earned his M.D. from the University of South Carolina Medical School. Upon graduation, he entered the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University and North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine. In 1995, he moved to Nashville to earn his fellowship in gastroenterology at Vanderbilt University.

Ready to move back to South Carolina, Dr. Schnell joined the practice of Palmetto GI in 1997. He enjoys working with his patients, counseling them on how to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

“I’ve learned from my patients that every patient is an individual with their own needs and I tailor the care for that patient,” Dr. Schnell says.

Dr. Schnell has no trouble maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As an avid jogger and golfer, he gets plenty of exercise. He also enjoys spending time boating and surfing with his children.

Board Certification

1997 Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate in Gastroenterology

Dr. John Litchfield is board certified in Gastroenterology and specializes in general gastroenterology including colorectal cancer prevention, inflammatory bowel disease, diseases of the upper GI tract, including esophagus and stomach, and chronic liver disease.

Dr. John Litchfield grew up in Tennessee and became interested in medicine while in high school. He has three brothers who are also physicians. Dr. Litchfield earned his Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and pre-medical studies from Franciscan University. He earned his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009. He completed his internal medicine residency at East Tennessee State University and served as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine in 2012. He then completed his Gastroenterology fellowship at East Tennessee State University in 2015.

During his GI fellowship, he was heavily involved in teaching medical students and internal medicine residents. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in recognition of his academic excellence and dedication to teaching.

Dr. Litchfield joined Palmetto GI in March 2016. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association.

John enjoys spending time with his wife and son and doing pretty much any outdoor activity, including bike riding, playing soccer, surfing and fishing.

Dr. Alejandro Suarez is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. His clinical interests lie in general Gastroenterology, colorectal cancer prevention with special interests in GI oncology, pancreaticobiliary disorders, and interventional endoscopy including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

As a Florida native, he graduated from Barry University with his undergraduate degree in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry and received his M.D. from Saint George’s University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Florida and his general Gastroenterology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Upon completing his advanced endoscopy fellowship at Yale University, he joined the Yale faculty maintaining an appointment as Assistant Professor Adjunct.

Dr. Suarez’s passion for academics continues by teaching medical students, residents, and fellows as he periodically serves as an attending on the inpatient Gastroenterology service at Yale. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature with an interest in therapeutic endoscopy, including the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Surgical Endoscopy, and Gastroenterology.

He met his wife, Christine Seminara-Suarez M.D., during medical school. She is a Pediatrician at Lowcountry Pediatrics. They both enjoy fitness, dining, and are avid sports fans. He and his wife look forward to raising their family in Charleston. Dr. Suarez is also fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Derek Feussner joined Palmetto GI in July 2018, and practices at the West Ashley, Mt Pleasant, and Summerville locations. He graduated from Porter-Gaud High School and is excited to now be working in his hometown.

Dr. Feussner obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University, majoring in Medical Anthropology with a minor in Biology. He earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Medicine. Dr. Feussner completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is board-certified in Internal Medicine. He then moved back to Charleston to complete his fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MUSC.

Dr. Feussner’s clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, esophageal and stomach disorders, and colorectal cancer prevention. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Dr. Feussner, his wife Ansley, and their three children enjoy spending free time with their families, who also live in Charleston. When not working, Dr. Feussner can be found playing basketball, golfing, or spending time on the water.

Dr. Lori Robbins is a board-certified gastroenterologist dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the digestive system, liver, pancreas, and biliary tract. Her areas of special interest include colorectal cancer prevention and screening, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. She is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

Dr. Robbins earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology with a minor in Italian from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), before receiving her medical degree from Albany Medical College. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and remained there for her fellowship in Gastroenterology. During her fellowship at Cedars-Sinai, whose Gastroenterology & GI Surgery program has been ranked #2 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the past several years, she trained under internationally recognized leaders in inflammatory bowel disease and functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Dr. Robbins has authored peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, including a chapter in the Handbook of Wellness Medicine, and has presented research at national gastroenterology meetings. Her research has been recognized with awards at both Digestive Disease Week (DDW) and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting. She remains committed to staying at the forefront of advances in gastroenterology so she can provide her patients with exceptional, evidence-based care.

Known for her meticulous attention to detail and patient-centered approach, Dr. Robbins is dedicated to delivering outstanding care while helping patients achieve long-term digestive health. She believes that the best outcomes come from combining technical excellence with compassionate listening and individualized, evidence-based treatment.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Robbins enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their three children. She also enjoys playing tennis, traveling, hiking, music, and taking advantage of Charleston’s beautiful beaches with her family.

Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Haily Vora earned her B.S. in psychology and biology from Duke University and received her M.D. from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She then moved to Charleston, South Carolina to complete her residency in Internal Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina. Along the way Dr. Vora pursued an interest in population health and healthcare delivery, earning a Master’s degree in public health at Dartmouth College. She completed her Gastroenterology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Florida and returned to Charleston to join Palmetto GI.

Dr. Vora has a special interest in metabolic health and its relationship to diseases of the GI tract and liver. She is board certified in Obesity Medicine, along with her husband Dr. Joshua Neal who is an Obesity Medicine Physician at MUSC.

Dr. Vora and her family enjoy traveling, hiking, and watching college basketball.