Services

Digestive Healthcare Associates, LLC provides the following services to its patients. Click on each one to learn the definition, preparation, expectations and results of each.

Staff

Elizabeth Cruz, M.D.

Dr. Cruz graduated from college in 1988 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. Prior to Medical School, she taught English for one year in Bangkok Thailand. In 1989, Dr. Cruz began her formal career in medicine by attending Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. During medical school, Dr. Cruz was part of a student / staff physician team, which provided relief work to the natives along the Amazon River. She graduated from medical school in 1993 and then went on to do her Internal Medicine Internship under the auspices of the U.S. Navy at the Naval Hospital, Oakland, California.

Upon the closure of the Naval Hospital in Oakland, Dr. Cruz transferred and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco. In 1996, she was deployed to Guam to fulfill her commitment to the U.S. Navy. While in Guam, she served as a Staff Internist at the U.S. Naval Hospital. During her active duty years in the Navy, she received the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal as well as the Humanitarian Service Medal and the National Defense Medal for service during Operation Desert Storm. During her last two years in Guam, she was the Head of the Internal Medicine Division at the U.S. Naval Hospital.

In 2000, she went back to the University of California, San Francisco where she completed her training in Gastroenterology (GI). In 2004, Dr. Cruz moved to Arizona to join the Arizona Medical Clinic in Peoria. For two and a half years she served as a full-time gastroenterologist in both the outpatient and inpatient settings doing the full range of general gastroenterology including endoscopic procedures as well as hepatology. In January 2007, Dr. Cruz joined Estrella Gastroenterology in Goodyear, Arizona. In January 2008, she opened the doors to her own practice, Digestive Healthcare Associates, LLC.

Dr. Cruz was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised in Orlando, Florida. She speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys her family, traveling, jazz music, and photography.

Dr. Cruz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Gastroenterology. She is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.


J.D. Panetta, D.O.

Dr. Panetta grew up in Charleston, West Virginia and attended The West Virginia Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduation he attended graduate school at West Virginia University where he studied Cellular and Molecular Biology and Animal and Veterinary Sciences. He began his medical career at The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine located in the town of Lewisburg, West Virginia. Prior to his graduation in 2000 he fulfilled many his clinical requirements in various locations across the country including Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, and Arizona. It was during that period that Dr. Panetta fell in love with the Grand Canyon state.

Upon graduation from medical school Dr. Panetta moved to Phoenix where he entered into the Internal Medicine residency program at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and The Carl T. Hayden Veterans’ Administration Medical Center (VAMC). He continued his postgraduate training at those facilities in the Gastroenterology fellowship program, which he completed in 2007. Since completing his fellowship he has worked as an Emergency Department physician and in the Ambulatory Care clinics at The Carl T. Hayden VAMC.

Dr. Panetta joined the team at Digestive Healthcare Associates in November 2009. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. In his spare time, Dr. Panetta enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, and visiting with family and friends.


Karen L. Nunziato - Reception

Karen Nunziato moved from Illinois to Arizona in 1984. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home Mom for many years. Since she is now an empty-nester, she has become a front office part-time assistant. She loves the opportunity to get up in the morning and meet new faces at her job. She has been married for over 35 years and has three wonderful children whom are now providing her with grandchildren.


Elizabeth Cruz Sr. – Back Office Support

Elizabeth Cruz was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, but was raised in Southern California and has recently moved to Arizona from Orlando, Florida where she has lived since 1978. She has held many positions in her career; including 33 years with the Southern California Conference and the Florida Conference of Seventh Day Adventist. Her strong administrative, accounting, translation and customer service skills will be put to good use as back-office manager. In her spare time, Elizabeth is very involved with her family, church and community service projects. She loves spending time with her mother, her three daughters and many grandchildren.


Daniela Trujillo – Medical Assistant

Daniela was born in Mexicali, Baja California Mexico, but was raised in San Diego, California. She recently moved to Arizona where she attended college and recently graduated as a Medical Assistant. She was primarily focusing on Family Practice but decided to go into Gastroenterology. Her goal for the future is to become a Registered Nurse. She enjoys photography, hanging out with her family, going shopping, and watching Lakers’ games.


Maria E. Morfin - Scheduling

Maria was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Career Colleges of America in 2000 as a Medical Assistant / Phlebotomist. She spent four years working for Seville Medical Center in Downey, California and in 2004, she moved to Arizona with her husband and 2 children. She took a job with Red Mountain Medical Weight Loss in Phoenix and was there until she started with Digestive Healthcare Associates in 2009. During her time off she enjoys being with her family and friends - she loves taking road trips, visiting new places, and going to the movies.


Linda Waterson – Registered Nurse

Linda Waterson was born in Wabash, Indiana and has lived in the Phoenix area since 1964. Linda has been a Registered Nurse for 31 years with 26 years in gastroenterology. She worked in a local hospital for 21 years in the Endoscopy department, and after having her daughter; Linda decided to move her scope of expertise to the GI office. Linda is on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Society of Gastrointestinal Nurses and Associates. Through this professional organization she has become a CGRN (Certified Gastrointestinal Registered Nurse). Linda is married and has one daughter and two dogs. When not working, Linda’s days are spent going to the gym and hanging out with her family.


Jill Ashley – Front Office Support

Jill Ashley was born in Illinois and moved to Arizona with her family in 1984 when she was 6 years old. Jill received her Bachlors of Science Degree in Psychology in 2000 from Arizona State University. After working at PetSmart Corporation for three years; Jill left the business environment to be a stay-at-home mom. She is married and has two beautiful children. She has started re-emerging herself into the business world and enjoys talking to adults again!


Karen Card-Reeves - Billing

Karen Card-Reeves was born in Michigan and moved to Arizona in 1980. Karen has worked for physicians since 1983 and has over 25 years of Medical Billing experience. She has extensive knowledge of the entire billing process. She is happily married to Richard & has two wonderful daughters Brooke and Rylie. Her son-in-law Justin, is proudly serving our country in Iraq. Karen enjoys spending time in Mexico and being with family and friends!


Sherry Wilson - Billing

Sherry Wilson was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She has 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. She has extensive knowledge of the entire billing process and continues to pursue seminars to keep educated. In 2005, she was awarded the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) after successfully passing the national certification examination. She is also a member of the Arizona Medical Group Management Association. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Preferred Hospitals

The following is a list of hospitals where Dr. Cruz has privileges:

Insurance Plans

As of July 1, 2009, Digestive Healthcare Associates, LLC is transitioning to a new billing system. Below is a list of insurances accepted as of this date in addition to insurances pending and discontinued. We are working as quickly as possible to make this transition; we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this process. The following is a list of insurances we are currently accepting:

The following is a list of insurances that we unfortunately will no longer be able to accept:

Disclaimer – The information on this website as well as its associated links are designed to be purely informative. The information is not meant to aid in self diagnosis and treatment. Digestive Healthcare Associates, LLC assumes no liability for the use of this information.