STORY
Meet Dr. Keith Berger: Founder and Trusted Gastroenterologist in Virginia Beach
Keith Berger, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist who has served the Hampton Roads community for more than four decades. As the founder and CEO of Virginia Colonoscopy (Center for Health and Cancer Prevention), Dr. Berger has safely performed over 40,000 colonoscopies, establishing himself as one of the region’s most experienced physicians in gastrointestinal health and colorectal cancer prevention. Raised in Norfolk, he built his clinical career around a simple, vital principle: offering exceptional preventative care in a personal, low-stress environment where patients always feel respected and heard.
World-Class Education and Advanced Training
Dr. Berger began his academic journey in the local Norfolk public school system at Granby High School before earning his Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors from Harvard University. He went on to attend Duke University School of Medicine, where he completed his medical doctorate as well as a three-year internal medicine residency at Duke Medical Center.
To specialize in digestive disorders, Dr. Berger completed two years of intensive fellowship training in gastroenterology at Yale University, studying under pioneering figures in modern gastroenterology, including Dr. Howard Spiro and Dr. Pierluigi Marignani.
A Patient-Centered Approach to Preventive Screening
After establishing a successful multi-physician, multi-office practice in Virginia Beach starting in 1981, Dr. Berger founded the Center for Health and Cancer Prevention in 2001 to focus on what matters most: individualized, unhurried preventative medicine.
Inspired by the bedside manner of his father—longtime Virginia Beach general surgeon Dr. James Berger—Dr. Keith Berger prioritizes patient comfort and genuine communication. By stripping away administrative bustle and limiting the practice to diagnostic screening and prevention, Dr. Berger handles consultations directly, addressing patient concerns and demystifying procedures like colonoscopy so patients can feel completely at ease.
Today, alongside respected colleagues Dr. Beth Jaklic and Dr. Alan Gamsey, Dr. Berger continues to deliver accessible, top-tier endoscopic care dedicated to catching colorectal cancer early—and stopping it before it starts.
He attended Duke Medical school for 4 years, and subsequently took a residency at Duke Medical Center in Internal Medicine for three years.
After that, his final two years of specialized GI training were at Yale under the tutelage of Dr. Howard Spiro and Dr. Pierluigi Marignani.
Mentorship, Medical Lineage, and Practice Values
Dr. Keith Berger built his medical philosophy through world-class training and deep family roots.
At Yale University, he studied under two giants in gastroenterology:
Dr. Howard Spiro, a noted author and leader in medical humanities.
Dr. Pierluigi Marignani, a brilliant clinician and passionate educator.
Dr. Berger’s bedside manner came from his father, Dr. James Berger. His dad practiced general surgery in Virginia Beach for over 47 years. He always sat on the edge of hospital beds to listen.
Medicine runs four generations deep in the Berger family:
His grandfather was an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Brooklyn.
His brother, Dr. Jeff Berger, trained at EVMS and took over their father’s surgical practice.
His son continued the tradition as an ophthalmology resident at EVMS.
Redefining Colon Cancer Screening in Virginia Beach
In 1981, Dr. Keith Berger opened a solo GI practice in Virginia Beach. Over two decades, it grew into a busy group practice.
By 2001, he wanted a simpler, calmer approach. He founded the Center for Health and Cancer Prevention (CHCP). The clinic focused entirely on outpatient prevention and screening. This removed hospital emergencies and unnecessary chaos.
Dr. Berger has led several major advancements in local gastrointestinal care:
Pioneering Office Endoscopy: In the early 1980s, his team was Virginia’s first to move colonoscopies into private offices. This saved money and improved comfort. It is now the national standard of care.
Advocating Early Screening: He served on the American Cancer Society steering committee. During that time, he lectured widely and trained family doctors in screening exams.
Introducing Propofol Sedation: Most practices previously used “twilight” conscious sedation. Dr. Berger led the switch to deep sedation using Propofol. Patients feel nothing during the exam and wake up quickly with no nausea.
Whole-Person Wellness
Screening colonoscopy is routine for Dr. Berger after thousands of procedures. That comfort allows him to focus on each patient as an individual.
He listens closely to personal challenges and health goals. His goal is to make every screening easy, stress-free, and supportive of total well-being.