Biography

Dr. Brent Kovacs was born and raised in Northridge, CA and has spent almost his entire life in California. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, where he was fortunate to meet his wife during his freshman year of school. In 1994, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Harbor-UCLA before moving to Loma Linda to complete his Gastroenterology Fellowship. Today, Dr. Kovacs serves the community of Santa Barbara. Additionally, he has served as the Chief of the Gastroenterology Division of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for 9 years. Dr. Kovacs considers himself incredibly lucky to be living in one of the best cities on earth. When he is not working, you can find him refereeing AYSO soccer, playing strategy games with friends, or relaxing with his two dachshunds.

Treatment Philosophy

When seeing patients, I often ask myself, “if this were a member of my family, what would I do to help them?”

Specialties and Services

Colonoscopy
Upper Endoscopy
Colon Cancer Screening
Evaluation and treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disease
Esophageal Manometry
Esophageal pH testing
General Hepatology
Interventional Biliary Endoscopy (ERCP)
Online Video Visits

Online Video Visits

Dr. Brent Kovacs is able to offer online tele-health services for patients who want to see or speak to the provider from the comfort of their home. Please contact our office at 805.682-3585 to schedule an appointment.

Languages

English
Spanish

Education & Training

Education

Professional Affiliations

American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)
Central Coast Medical Society
California Medical Association (CMA)

Locations

Santa Barbara Office
2403 Castillo St., Suite 201
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 682-3585
Fax: (844) 407-0580

Professional Publications

Artifon, E. L., Couto, D., Sakai, P., & Silveira, E. B. (2009). Prospective Evaluation of EUS Versus CT Scan for Staging of Ampullary Cancer. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,70(2), 290-296. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2008.11.045

Artifon, E. L., Silveira, E. B., Aparicio, D., Takada, J., Baracat, R., Sakai, C. M., . . . Couto, D. S. (2011). Management of Common Bile Duct Stones in Cirrhotic Patients with Coagulopathy: A Comparison of Supra-Papillary Puncture and Standard Cannulation Technique. Digestive Diseases and Sciences,56(6), 1904-1911. doi:10.1007/s10620-011-1593-2

Artifon, E., Silveira, E. D., Lopes, R., Kumar, A., Bhutani, M., Mesquita, J., . . . Srougi, M. (2008). Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Ureterosigmoidostomy in Malignant Ureteral Obstruction: Description of a New Method. Endoscopy,40(09), 769-772. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1077447

Comay, D., Adam, V., Silveira, E. B., Kennedy, W., Mayrand, S., & Barkun, A. N. (2008). The Stretta Procedure Versus Proton Pump Inhibitors and Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication in the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology,22(6), 552-558. doi:10.1155/2008/765458

Kin, K. C., Lin, B., Chaung, K. T., Ha, N. B., Trinh, H. N., Garcia, R. T., . . . Nguyen, M. H. (2013). Less-Established Risk Factors Are Common in Asian Americans with Hepatitis C Virus: A Case-Controlled Study. Digestive Diseases and Sciences,58(11), 3342-3347. doi:10.1007/s10620-013-2884-6
Kin, K. C., Lin, B., Ha, N. B., Chaung, K. T., Trinh, H. N., Garcia, R. T., . . . Nguyen, M. H. (2013). High Proportion of Hepatitis C Virus in Community Asian American Patients With Non–Liver-related Complaints. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology,47(4), 367-371. doi:10.1097/mcg.0b013e3182688b3e

Silveira, E. B., Artifon, E. L., & Garcia, R. T. (2010). EUS-guided FNA for GI stromal tumors: Caveat lector. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,71(3), 659-660. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2009.07.034

Silveira, E. B., & Artifon, E. L. (2008). Cost-Effectiveness of Palliation of Unresectable Esophageal Cancer. Digestive Diseases and Sciences,53(12), 3103-3111. doi:10.1007/s10620-008-0302-2

Silveira, E. D., & Barkun, A. (2007). EUS-first versus ERC-first for patients with intermediate probability of bile duct stones: Is one strategy superior to the other? Endoscopy,39(04), 357-358. doi:10.1055/s-2007-966255

Silveira, E. B., Lam, E., Martel, M., Bensoussan, K., & Barkun, A. N. (2006). The importance of process issues as predictors of time to endoscopy in patients with acute upper-GI bleeding using the RUGBE data. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,64(3), 299-309. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2005.11.051

Da Silveira, E. B., & Rogers, A. I. (2002). Treatment of Achalasia with Botulinum A Toxin. American Journal of Therapeutics,9(2), 157-161. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/americantherapeutics/Abstract/2002/03000/Treatment_of_Achalasia_with_Botulinum_A_Toxin.10.aspx.

Silveira, E. B., Young, K., Rodriguez, M., & Ameen, N. (2002). Reye’s Syndrome in a 17-year-old male: Is this disease really disappearing? Digestive Diseases and Sciences,47(9), 1959-1961. doi:10.1023/a:1019639921698
Silveira, E. B., & Barkin, J. S. (2002). Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology,97(6), 1557-1559. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05804.x

Silveira, E. B., & Rogers, A. I. (2002). Achalasia: A Review of Therapeutic Options and Outcomes. Comprehensive Therapy,28(1), 15-22. doi:10.1007/s12019-002-0038-4

Silveira, E. B., Jeffers, L., & Schiff, E. R. (2002). Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Radiation-induced Liver Disease. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,55(3), 432-434. doi:10.1067/mge.2002.120879

Silveira, E. B. (2006). Outcome of Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Cholecystectomy: Applying Bayesian Analysis in Gastroenterology. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,21(6), 958-962. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04227.