This year marks the 25th anniversary celebration of Seaside Endoscopy Pavilion in Lewes. The center has been a provider of gastroenterology care for Sussex County, built on the vision and dedication of Dr. Richard Caruso, who has served the local community for 32 years. 

Caruso’s journey into gastroenterology began during his residency in internal medicine, where a clinical rotation began his interest in the specialty. After completing his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, followed by a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, he moved to Lewes in 1993, where he quickly became a trusted physician in the community. As demand for gastrointestinal care grew, he and past colleague Dr. Vinod Parasher established Seaside Endoscopy Pavilion in 2000 to provide patients with better access to specialized procedures close to home.

“I came down here in 1993 and I was doing my procedures at Beebe Hospital, which is where I've been on staff for all this time,” Caruso said. “Our procedure volume became increasingly larger than what the hospitals were able to accommodate. They did a great job, but we needed the ability to do more procedures in the course of a day to accommodate all the patients that were growing and coming into the area. So, myself, and Dr. Vinod Parasher decided to join forces and build this place so we could see more patients and do more procedures in a timely fashion.” 

Since opening its doors, the center has performed countless procedures and introduced new techniques that raised the standard of gastroenterology care for the people of Sussex County. The practice also prides itself on providing timely access to its patient-centered care. This is delivered by their skilled and compassionate staff, many of whom have been with the practice for several years. 

“We have a staff that is trained and dedicated to taking care of patients,” said Caruso. “This facility is made up of people who come in with a smile on their face every day, and their sole job is to make sure that the patient gets good service, that they're safe in this environment, that their procedures go well, and that they get good care. We have folks that have been here for years and years and years. And, you know, they love it here. We love having them here.”

Over his time at Seaside Endoscopy Pavilion, Caruso has found great success. This includes earning Delaware's Top Doc Award and Beebe Healthcare's Doctor of the Year award. However, Caruso feels the most rewarding aspect of his career has been serving the tight-knit local community of Lewes Beach. 

“When I came here, I loved it,” said Caruso. “I loved the beach environment. I grew up in Philadelphia, but we went to the Jersey Shore, and I just loved being around the seashore. So when I came here, I kind of fell in love with the area. I initially lived in Rehoboth for a year or so, and then met my wife, who was working at Beebe Hospital as a cardiac echo sonographer, and we moved to Lewes, and we just love being in Lewes. It's a great place to live. We've grown three beautiful children, and we're blessed to be here.”

This celebration also marks the start of a new chapter for the practice with the addition of Dr. Kamal Baig. His joining will allow Seaside Endoscopy Pavilion to continue to meet the needs of a growing local community while upholding the values that have defined the center for the past 25 years. 

“Dr. Baig, who's my new partner, who's an awesome guy, has been in practice for three years, and he just joined me in January of this year,” said Caruso. “He is an excellent clinician, excellent endoscopist and a great guy. He's a great addition to our practice.”

To mark the milestone, Seaside Endoscopy Pavilion will host a 25th anniversary open house Thursday, Oct. 9. This will allow the center to express its heartfelt gratitude to patients, partners and the community; give the local community an opportunity to honor Caruso’s decades of service; and celebrate the future of gastroenterology care in Lewes.