All professionals at Digestive Disease Center Of NJ maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the medical field. Read on to learn more about our staff's experience and training.
Alexander Rapisarda, MD
Dr. Alexander Rapisarda grew up on Long Island, New York. He completed his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. He then attended Albany Medical College, where he graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. After completing Internal Medicine Training at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, he did subspecialty training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital. He was elected chief fellow in his final year.
Dr. Rapisarda maintains board certification in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/ Hepatology with recertification every ten years, last in 2013 and 2015 respectively. His practice includes general Gastroenterology with special interests in liver disease and cancer prevention. He is skillful in all GI procedures and is a strong advocate of colon cancer screening.
Out of the office, Dr. Rapisarda loves spending time with his wife and three children. They enjoy the outdoors, particularly skiing in Vermont and relaxing on Long Beach Island.
Ira Merkel, MD
Dr. Ira Merkel joined DDC of NJ over 20 years ago, after completing his Internal Medicine residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh where he was appointed an Assistant Professor of medicine. He moved to NJ in 1995 joining RCHP and the faculty of RWJ Medical School, now Rutgers University School of Medicine where he holds an appointment as a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and is involved in teaching and lecturing.
Dr. Merkel is a member of several medical societies and holds fellowship positions in the American College of Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Gastroenterology Association. His personal interests include physical fitness, trying to keep up with his busy wife and 2 adult children, and pursuing his passion for collecting Superman memorabilia.
Scott L. Aronson, MD
Dr. Aronson joined the Digestive Disease Center of New Jersey in 2012. He completed his gastroenterology and hepatology training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in 2009. He then joined the faculty group at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY where he specialized in esophageal motility testing. There he was a member of the original faculty of Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Hofstra University where he helped develop the gastroenterology curriculum. Dr. Aronson left New York for the opportunity to join central New Jersey’s premier gastroenterology group.
Dr. Aronson majored in Near Eastern Studies at Cornell University. He attended UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he remained for internal medicine residency training. He was Chief Resident at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School before moving to the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Aronson is board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American College of Physicians. His interests include travelling, hiking, and grilling. Originally from East Windsor, NJ, he now lives in East Brunswick with his wife and son.
William Ferges, MD
Dr. William Ferges is a board certified gastroenterologist who joined Digestive Disease Center of New Jersey in 2014. He is also on staff at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Dr. Ferges graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He then completed an Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY where he was awarded the Outstanding House Officer in Medicine Award. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. During his fellowship he was awarded the Outstanding Research Award and has been published for his research in the use of biologic therapy in refractory Crohn’s disease.
Dr. Ferges is board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of several medical societies including the American Gastroenterology Association and the American College of Gastroenterology. He performs therapeutic endoscopy, colonoscopy, as well as ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). His personal interests include international travel and playing music.
Anna Platovsky, MD
Dr. Anna Platovsky is excited to be the newest member of Digestive Disease Center of New Jersey. She is also on staff at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Dr. Platovsky graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and earned her medical degree at New York Medical College. After completing Internal Medicine training at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY, she did subspecialty training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA where she was elected as chief fellow in her final year.
Dr. Platovsky is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American College of Physicians. Her practice includes general gastroenterology with a special interest in cancer prevention, esophageal motility and liver diseases. Her personal interests include spending time with her husband and daughter, travel and cooking.