For interventional gastroenterology in La Mesa's Grossmont area, Ali Banaie, MD, MPH brings dual board certification in internal medicine and gastroenterology from the American Board of Internal Medicine to San Diego Gastroenterology Associates at 8860 Center Drive. Advanced endoscopic capabilities include ERCP with cholangioscopy, pancreatoscopy, and both electrohydraulic and laser lithotripsy for biliary and pancreatic stone fragmentation — interventional depth that complements the renal-focused stone management at Balboa Nephrology - La Mesa on the same Grossmont medical corridor. A St. George's University School of Medicine degree earned in 1998 was followed by internal medicine residency at Rutgers-affiliated Saint Michael's Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at Tulane University completed in 2004. Bilingual consultations in English and Farsi serve La Mesa's Persian-speaking patient population, with Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp Memorial, and Sharp Chula Vista affiliations providing procedural access across three San Diego County campuses. Published research spans p53-mediated glial protein modulation in neuroectodermal tumors, and the practice coordinates integrative digestive wellness referrals for functional GI disorders with Full Circle Acupuncture & Wellness in La Mesa. Highest-complexity interventions include endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for pancreatic mass staging, endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastrointestinal neoplasia, and per-oral endoscopic myotomy for refractory achalasia.