How It Began

In 1985, Dr. D. F. Jackson, III opened the doors of Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan at Flowers Hospital. Operating under a simple philosophy, Dr. Jackson built the specialty practice by not only putting his patient first, but by providing the physical and emotional comfort needed throughout the diagnostic and healing process while administering the highest care possible. In doing so, patients throughout the Wiregrass community quickly discovered Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan as a name to trust for their digestive orders.

It was with that philosophy that eventually brought William D. McLaughlin, M.D. Jeffrey J. Crittenden, M.D. Robert P. Albares, M.D., Samuel J. Tarwater, M.D., Stavros Diavolitsis, M.D., and James L. Griffith, M.D. to join efforts with Dr. Jackson in providing the Wiregrass area with a team of caring, highly trained specialists in the field of gastroenterology.

By 2001, Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan had tremendously grown and needed to expand their office space to provide a more comfortable atmosphere for their patients. So the team decided to build a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located to better suit the needs of their patients comfortably. With much appreciation, in July 2002, the practice opened its brand new office at 480 Honeysuckle Road.

Three years later in 2005, Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan decided to change their name after much consideration and became Digestive Health Specialists of the Southeast.

Proudly the same simple philosophy now serves patients throughout Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle, allowing many more people the opportunity to get their digestive disorders under control. Most recently, Digestive Health Specialists have added a husband and wife team, gastroenterologist Dr. Travis J. Rutland and clinical pathologist Dr. Beth Miller Rutland.

Serving the Wiregrass region has been a privilege, one that Digestive health Specialists plans to continue for many years to come.