Ioannis Papayannis, MD
Dr. Papayannis is a highly esteemed gastroenterologist and hepatologist with extensive expertise in the diagnosis and management of almost every aspect of GI disorders, ranging from complicated liver diseases (fatty liver, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis), inflammatory bowel diseases to challenging functional/motility diseases, and high-quality colon cancer screening.
Dr. Papayannis graduated with a MD degree from Athens Medical School, the most prestigious medical school in Greece with high honors, ranked top 1% of his class. Given his outstanding academic performance, he received scholarship from the National Institution of Scholarships and moved to New York, at Stony Brook University as a research fellow in cancer biochemistry, focusing on colon and pancreatic cancer prevention. This led to multiple publications in high quality journals.
Dr. Papayannis subsequently received internal medicine residency and gastroenterology/hepatology fellowship training at the same institution, further enhancing his expertise and skills in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract diseases. He is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology with exceptional board scores.
Following completion of his research and clinical training at Stony Brook University Hospital, Dr. Papayannis joined the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport as an Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and he also served as Director of Gastrointestinal Mobility Diseases.
During his tenure at Louisiana University, he demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing clinical care, research, and education. His dedication to teaching has inspired many students and residents, enriching the future of gastroenterology through mentorship and curriculum development.
For the past 2 years, Dr. Papayannis has established his practice in Arkansas where he sees patients and performs high-quality endoscopic procedures in a number of GI specialty clinics at Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and Russellville. He also has clinical privileges and works in the inpatient setting at Conway Regional Hospital and Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven, Mississippi.
Throughout his career, Dr. Papayannis stays up to date with all the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options and techniques available and has developed and refined advanced gastrointestinal procedural skills, including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), lesion ablation via Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC), esophageal varices banding, GI stricture dilation via balloon/Savary dilators, bleeding control via several methods, feeding tube placement, in addition to colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Dr. Papayannis has performed well over 15,000 endoscopic procedures throughout his career. His overall adenoma detection rate (ADR) is 50%, much higher than the national average ADR of 38%, an indicator of a very high-quality colonoscopy. With endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), polyps of any size can be removed during the initial colonoscopy screening without referral to another specialized center. Patients can be assured with high certainty that their precancerous colon polyps will not be missed and will be removed in a timely fashion.
A particular highlight of his practice involves his expertise in colon cancer screening — performing high-volume, high-quality colonoscopies, removing polyps, and resecting early malignancies with precision and care.
His compassionate approach and meticulous techniques have earned him a stellar reputation within the gastrointestinal community. Recognized as one of the most talented and promising gastroenterologists in Arkansas, he is highly effective in patient-centered care and innovative in adopting new endoscopic techniques and other treatment modalities.
We are very fortunate to add Dr. Papayannis to Pinnacle Gastroenterology Clinic to enhance our colon cancer screening program. His dedication to advancing GI health and his commitment to exemplary care make him a valuable asset to our team. He continues to aim for excellence in his clinical practice, research, and education.
For an Appointment with Dr. Papayannis:
Saturday Clinic & Colon Cancer Screening
Pinnacle Gastroenterology Associates
409 N. University Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72205
Tel: (501) 246-4561
Monday - Friday
Digestive Care PA
4800 S. Hazel St.
Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Tel: (870) 534-5533
