Dr. Carlton Thomas is a private practice gastroenterologist (digestive diseases specialist). As a nationally board certified specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Thomas performs colonoscopies and endoscopies, which help prevent cancer and diagnose digestive diseases. His practice offers two convenient locations including South Bay and Banker’s Hill. As an openly gay physician, Thomas strives to make his GLBT patients feel comfortable with asking any question about their health.

Thomas was born and raised in Dillon, South Carolina. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate at the University of South Carolina’s Honors College in 1994 and also attended the University of Leeds, England. He completed his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1998 where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. Thomas received his Internal Medicine training at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. After his residency, he stayed at Mayo Clinic until 2004 to complete a dual fellowship in gastroenterology and clinical pharmacology at Mayo’s clinical investigator program.

Thomas moved to California in 2004 and has been in practice since then. He started his private practice in San Diego last January.

Gastroenterologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hepatitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), diarrhea, ulcer disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterologists perform esophagogastroduodenosopy (EGD) and colonoscopy to assist in the diagnosis of disease. The cornerstone of medical care provided is colon cancer screening. Screening colonoscopies allow for the detection and removal of polyps before they become cancerous.