Dr. Joseph Schowalter DO is a board certified gastroenterologist who practices compassionate medical care. Dr. Schowalter focuses on patient centered care and believes communication, education and professionalism are the keys to a strong patient-physician relationship.

Dr. Schowalter practices all aspects of gastroenterology and hepatology. He is proficient in managing all gastrointestinal disorders. He has advanced training in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). He has a specific interest in pancreaticobiliary disorders, gastrointestinal oncology and advanced therapeutic endoscopy.

Dr. Schowalter completed his medical education at Midwestern University. He attended residency at the University of Illinois-Chicago and spent an additional year in academics as a chief medical resident. He completed his GI fellowship at the University of Illinois-Chicago and then completed an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Rush University. He is board certified by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Gastroenterology. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

In his free time, Dr. Schowalter is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking national parks, kayaking, skiing, sports and fresh water fishing.

Born and raised in Rapid City, Dr. Andrew Kelts was a Central Cobbler before completing undergraduate training at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.  While at St. Olaf, he met his wife, Dr. Kay Kelts, before moving to Colorado to complete medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He then completed residency in Internal Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.  While in residency, Dr. Kelts gained a love for gastrointestinal medicine, realizing the great impact he could have on the lives of many people through treatment of their digestive health disorders.  Dr. Kelts was subsequently awarded a Gastroenterology fellowship at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, practicing there and at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester.

While in fellowship, Dr. Kelts was trained to a high level in clinical gastrointestinal medicine, becoming proficient in general gastroenterology and endoscopic techniques.  He enjoys practicing general gastroenterology including the treatment of Barrett’s esophagus, eosinophilic esophagitis, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome.  During training, Dr. Kelts realized the value of high-quality screening and prevention of colorectal cancer; he excels at removing polyps with endoscopic techniques, ensuring his patients the healthiest life possible.  Dr. Kelts also found and cultivated a strong emphasis on inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and liver disorders.  He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association.  He is board-certified in Internal Medicine.

In his spare time, Dr. Kelts enjoys hiking, camping, writing, music, and sports.  Of utmost importance to him, however, is spending time with his wife, Dr. Kay Kelts, and his two children, no matter the activity.  As his young son is fond of saying, Dr. Kelts is “a great poop doctor who also works on stomachs.”

• Board Status

  American Board of Internal Medicine

Dr. Erik Raborn is a board-certified Internist who graduated Gastroenterology fellowship in 2023, who has been practicing medicine for 6 years. He received his medical degree from LECOM Bradenton and completed his internal medicine and gastroenterology residency and fellowship at Elmira, NY. He is currently affiliated with the Rapid City Medical Center and Monument Heath.

Dr. Raborn has been married for 12 years to Kelly and has a single son, Finn. He and his wife moved to Rapid City summer of 2023, and they love the area so much that they even moved his in-laws to town. Dr. Raborn enjoys spending his free time with his family, playing board games, Dungeons and Dragons, video games, and watching movies. He is also fond of cooking, and can be seen on weekend using his smoker or trying to perfect pancakes and bacon.

Dr. Raborn’s areas of interest in gastroenterology include whole-person care, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, gastric disorders, and colon cancer prevention. He believes that a comprehensive approach to patient care is essential for optimal outcomes, and he is committed to providing his patients with the highest quality of care. He looks forward to taking care of you and your family.

Dr. Jones is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in Canada. He attended medical school at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, followed by a medical internship at the Toronto General Hospital, and residency training at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Jones returned to Mayo for a fellowship in gastroenterology and completed training in 1998. He joined the Gastroenterology Department at Rapid City Medical Center in 2013.

In his spare time, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and camping with his wife and children in the Black Hills and beyond. Dr. Jones is also an avid photographer and dog lover.

• Board Status

  Certified American Board of Gastroenterology

Dr. Nathan T. Jaqua is a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology from South Dakota State University (SDSU). After completing some graduate-level work in Chemistry at SDSU, he attended the University of South Dakota Sandford School of Medicine where he received his Medical Doctorate degree in 2010.

Dr. Jaqua completed both his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was followed by his fellowship in Gastroenterology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During his fellowship, he participated in a phase-2 clinical trial for an investigative medication for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) as well as in research on the infectious triggers of Crohn’s disease. He spent almost nine years as an active duty Army physician.

Dr. Jaqua enjoys practicing general gastroenterology including the treatment of liver diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis), Barrett’s Esophagus, GERD, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His passion is preventing colon cancer with screening colonoscopy and the removal of large polyps with endoscopic methods. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American College of Gastroenterology. He is a dual board-certified diplomate in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

In his spare time, Dr. Jaqua enjoys hiking, camping, music, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Board Status
Certified American Board of Gastroenterology and American Board of Internal Medicine

Dr. Anand became fascinated with Gastroenterology as a specialty as a fourth-year medical student. She felt it was a perfect blend of intellectual stimulation and procedural skill. Her choice was reaffirmed after her father received the diagnosis of metastatic esophageal cancer. After successfully completing Internal Medicine Residency, followed by Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, KS and prior to joining RCMC in 2016, she worked as a general gastroenterologist in rural Kansas and North Dakota.

Although she cares for patients with all gastrointestinal conditions, her special clinical interest includes diagnosis and management of Celiac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis), women’s GI health (chronic constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, accidental bowel leakage), colon cancer screening and treatment of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea utilizing pharmacological options and fecal microbiota transplant. In addition to being proficient in general endoscopic procedures such as upper endoscopy (aka EGD), colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, she is also trained in interpreting wireless capsule endoscopy (aka PillCam), wireless SmartPill (the study of the gut’s motility), esophageal manometry and in performance of a non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids using CRH O’Regan system.

She is Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has been a member of the American College of Gastroenterology since 2008.

In her practice as a general gastroenterologist, she combines evidence-based principles of western allopathic medicine with functional (aka integrative) approach in order to achieve optimal, life-long lasting results for her patients. She works in close collaboration with Kathleen Ingle, DNP.

Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, once said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Dr. Anand strongly believes this to be true and has made it her mission to help patients heal their bodies by healing their gut.

• Board Status

  Certified American Board of Gastroenterology and American Board of Internal Medicine