Garth R. Swanson, MD, MS, AGAF

MUSC Health is a comprehensive healthcare system that provides access to a wide range of medical services across South Carolina, emphasizing patient-centered care and advanced treatment options. With a commitment to excellence, MUSC Health collaborates with various affiliates to deliver specialized care and innovative research, ensuring the well-being of the communities it serves. The organization prioritizes quality and safety in healthcare delivery, supported by a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and professional development for healthcare staff. Through initiatives such as Arts in Healing and a focus on holistic patient experiences, MUSC Health aims to enhance the overall health and quality of life for patients and their families. Generated from the website

Dr. Sharma is the Donald O. Castell Endowed Chair in Gastroenterology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with a clinical and translational focus in Neurogastroenterology & Motility (NGM), particularly diabetic gastroparesis and Parkinson’s disease. He obtained his medical degree at Virginia Commonwealth University, completed internal medicine residency at Temple University Hospitals, and GI fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Sharma’s research focus is understanding the pathophysiology of gut-brain axis in various conditions and developing innovative, non-invasive, and promising neuromodulation therapies through his insights, outstanding mentorship and collaborations, and his engineering background. He currently serves as principal investigator of a NIH-funded multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled study investigating thoracic neuromodulation for diabetic gastroparesis (R01-DK133520) and one of the multiple PIs of one of the 5 centers in the NIDDK-supported Gut-Brain Parkinson’s Disease Consortium (GBPDC) (U01-DK140923).

Dr. Alexander J. Podboy is a board-certified gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist at MUSC Health. He completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at Stanford University and an advanced endoscopy fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Through this training, he developed expertise in complex therapeutic endoscopy, motility disorders of the esophagus and stomach, and minimally invasive endobariatric procedures. Dr. Podboy cares for adult patients with a wide range of gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary conditions, including achalasia, esophageal motility disorders, gastroparesis, complex strictures, gastric outlet obstruction, and diseases of the pancreas and bile ducts. He specializes in advanced minimally invasive procedures such as POEM and G-POEM for motility disorders, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and revision of prior bariatric surgery, ERCP, cholangioscopy, EUS, and advanced techniques for removing precancerous or early cancerous tissue. He has a particular interest in achalasia, foregut motility disorders, and complex pancreatic and biliary disease. His care approach emphasizes minimally invasive treatment options and individualized plans tailored to each patient's needs. Before joining MUSC, Dr. Podboy was on faculty at the University of Virginia, where he helped develop multidisciplinary programs in advanced endoscopy, bariatric endoscopy, and esophageal motility care. His ongoing research aims to better understand the immune mechanisms that drive achalasia and gastroparesis, using advanced tools such as single-cell sequencing and machine-learning models to improve diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Podboy remains committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care supported by a collaborative team of specialists dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for individuals with complex gastrointestinal conditions.