Gastro Center of Maryland

Allison Pullen is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner who graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing from Towson University in 2008. She went on to work as a nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit. After 7 years of clinical nursing practice, she received her Masters in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University.

She is certified as an Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and joined Gastro Center of Maryland in March 2016. Allison was born and raised in Howard County and continues to live locally with her husband.

Jennifer graduated In 2012 from George Washington University where she earned her degree in Masters of Science in Health Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies. Upon graduation she joined a gastroenterology practice in Montgomery county where she practiced in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, before joining the Gastro Center of Maryland. Previously, she graduated from Syracuse University in 1992 with a degree in dietetics. She worked as a registered dietitian in both the adult and pediatric population for eight years. Jennifer then went on to promote a specialized infant formula working with gastroenterologists, allergists, pediatricians and dietitians.

Elizabeth graduated nursing school in 1996, and most recently in 2013, she graduated with highest honors from The University of Texas Arlington with a BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has worked as a registered nurse in various specialties in the area for the past twenty years, and has been with our organization since 2011. Her goal is to provide our clients with the best endoscopy experience! She is a natural leader and has a strong nursing staff to prove it. Elizabeth is interested in effectively improving individual’s healthy behaviors, and to help educate positive lifestyle changes to promote gastrointestinal health.

Dr. Rai was awarded the “TOP DOC” in Gastroenterology award by Baltimore Magazine for 2016.

Dr. Rai is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, with over 22 years of experience in this field. He is the Medical Director of Gastro Center of Maryland & Cascades Endoscopy Center and has served on the Medical Faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for many years, starting in 1997. He has been in many leadership positions in the Johns Hopkins Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, including as the Medical Director, Adult Liver Transplantation and Director, Clinical Effectiveness. He completed his Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in 1996 and completed an additional year of Advanced Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Transplant Hepatology and Biliary Disorders.

Dr. Rai is considered a national thought leader and expert in the field of Gastroenterology and Liver disease and presents regularly at national and regional meetings. He has received many awards including Excellence in Clinical Research Award from the American College of Gastroenterology, Passano Clinician Scientist Award from Johns Hopkins University, Industry Research Scholar Award & Astra-Merck Award from the American Digestive Health Foundation, among others. He has published dozens of scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored many chapters for medical textbooks. He has performed over 50,000 procedures in this field and pioneered new and innovative medical techniques.

Dr. Pia Prakash is a Board Certified physician who specializes in both Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. Dr. Prakash received her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine, as well as her Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship. Dr. Prakash has participated in numerous research studies focused on colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, women's health, and celiac disease.

At the Gastro Center of Maryland, Dr. Prakash treats a variety of gastrointestinal disorders including acid reflux, Crohn's disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, colon cancer, constipation and hemorrhoids along with acute and chronic liver disease. She specializes in the use of the capsule endoscopy, also known as the small bowel pillcam, or PillCam™ SB. She is focused on offering patients personalized treatment goals to meet all of their health care needs.