Meet Your Care Team
Meet Our Houston Care Team
Gastroenterology, hepatology, GI pathology, oncology, and anesthesia — the specialists caring for you at Curative Digestive Disease Center in Houston, TX.
Dr. Ahmad Farooq, MD — Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist
Founder of Curative Digestive Disease Center and a board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist serving Houston. Dr. Farooq completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Yale School of Medicine and his internal medicine residency at the University at Buffalo Catholic Health System, and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke University. He treats the full range of digestive and liver conditions and performs advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.
Dr. Marc F. Catalano, MD — Chief of Gastroenterology
An internationally recognized leader in advanced endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and pancreaticobiliary disease, with more than 400 publications and 20 consecutive years on Best Doctors in America. Dr. Catalano trained at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed an advanced fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He sees patients in English, Italian and Spanish.
Dr. Anaum Maqsood, MD — Medical Oncologist & Hematologist
Leads the Oncology Program, treating gastrointestinal cancers — colorectal, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver and bile duct — alongside blood disorders such as iron-deficiency anemia from chronic GI blood loss. Dr. Maqsood trained at Agha Khan Medical College and SUNY Buffalo, then at the University of North Carolina and Baylor College of Medicine, and was previously an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell.
Meet Our Supporting Specialists
Dr. Ghulam Ilyas, MD — Gastrointestinal Pathologist
AP/CP board-certified pathologist, fellowship trained in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology. Dr. Ilyas leads our in-house pathology laboratory, reading biopsies on site rather than sending them to an outside lab — which is why results typically return in days rather than weeks.
Dr. Larry Tong, MD — Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Provides anesthesia on site for endoscopic procedures, with fellowship training from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Tong builds an individualised plan for each patient using continuous advanced monitoring, so procedures stay comfortable and recovery is quick.
Christina Espinoza, NP — Nurse Practitioner
Provides gastroenterology and hepatology care alongside our physicians — initial evaluation of digestive symptoms, follow-up after procedures, and ongoing management of conditions such as GERD, IBS and inflammatory bowel disease. Nurse practitioner appointments are one of the ways we keep same-day and next-day slots available.
Care Under One Roof
Having a gastroenterologist, an advanced endoscopist, a GI pathologist, an oncologist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse practitioner in a single practice means diagnosis, procedure, tissue analysis and treatment happen without a chain of outside referrals. Call (713) 393-7744 — we see patients quickly, including same-day and walk-in appointments, at 7919 Kirby Dr and 1213 Hermann Drive, Suite 360.
Speak With a GI Specialist
Board-certified gastroenterologists in Houston. Same-day appointments available.
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FAQs About Our Providers
Who will I see at my first visit?
Your first visit is usually with one of our gastroenterologists — Dr. Ahmad Farooq or Dr. Marc F. Catalano — or with Christina Espinoza, NP, depending on availability and the nature of your concern. All care follows one shared plan across the team.
Which provider should I ask for?
For general digestive and liver concerns, Dr. Farooq. For complex pancreaticobiliary problems and advanced endoscopy, Dr. Catalano. For cancer care, Dr. Maqsood. For a quicker evaluation or a follow-up, Christina Espinoza, NP. If you are unsure, call and our team will match you.
Do you have a pathologist and an anesthesiologist on the team?
Yes, and that is unusual for a practice this size. Dr. Ghulam Ilyas reads GI biopsies in house, so results come back in days rather than weeks, and Dr. Larry Tong, a board-certified anesthesiologist, oversees sedation for procedures.
Do you accept insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans and verify your benefits before your visit. If you are uninsured, we offer transparent all-inclusive self-pay pricing.
How quickly can I be seen?
Call (713) 393-7744 or request an appointment online. We keep openings for same-day and next-day visits and we accept walk-ins. We see patients at 7919 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77054 and at 1213 Hermann Drive, Suite 360, Houston, TX 77004.
