Cardiologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Chiropractor providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dentist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dermatologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Family Physician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
OB-GYN providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Ophthalmologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Orthopedic Surgeon providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Pediatrician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Physical Therapist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Podiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Psychiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Allen Blosser, MD, is a dedicated board-certified physician who specializes in gastroenterology, and modern bariatric surgical procedures. He welcomes patients to Endoscopic Wellness Center of America, located in Reston, Virginia.
Dr. Blosser attained his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia. During his tenure, he excelled in athletics and academics. He was honored as an ACC Honor Roll Student-Athlete in 1980-81 and graduated with distinction from the University with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry/Biochemistry in 1984.
He attended Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, where he graduated in 1988. He was honored with an Osler Internship at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in 1983. He performed his Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Georgetown University Medical Center from 1988-1993. He was honored as the IMA Georgetown Resident of the Year in 1991 at the conclusion of his residency program.
He has served the DC and Northern Virginia communities in his current role as President of Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates and the Gastroenterology Center of Virginia since 1993.
Gowri Kularatna, MD, specializes in gastroenterology at GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Maryland. She has years of experience in the medical field and uses her knowledge to diagnose and treat patients.
Dr. Kularatna attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology. She then received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Dr. Kularatna completed her internal medicine residency at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts and a gastroenterology fellowship at The Barnes-Jewish Hospital through Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Kularatna is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. She is also a professional member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association.
At GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Dr. Kularatna works closely with patients to ensure she provides expert care. She has a comfortable office setting and takes an evidence-based approach to treat her patients.
Khadijat Balogun, MD, is a gastroenterologist at GI Associates of Maryland. She offers compassionate and effective care to patients at the Waldorf, Maryland, office.
Dr. Balogun obtained her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She completed her internal medicine residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a three-year fellowship program at Albany Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Balogun is board-certified in internal medicine as well as gastroenterology. She is a professional member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Dr. Balogun cares for patients with a wide range of issues, including colon cancer screening, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, liver disease, women’s health, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).
Dr. Balogun aims to provide the highest medical care to all her patients in a safe and friendly environment.
Lornette Mills, MD, is a respected gastroenterologist serving patients at GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Maryland. She specializes in internal medicine and gastroenterology and enjoys working closely with her patients to ensure optimal health.
In 1993, Dr. Mills received her medical degree from the Jacobs School Of Medicine And Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York. In 1996, she completed her internal medicine residency program at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She then finished her gastroenterology fellowship program at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn in 1999.
Before joining her current practice, Dr. Mills practiced for two years in Prince Frederick, Maryland. This experience makes her an excellent addition to the GI Associates of Maryland team.
At the practice, Dr. Mills provides compassionate and effective care. She takes the time to listen to her patients and doesn't rush through her appointments. You're in good hands with Dr. Mills.
Gowri Kularatna, MD, specializes in gastroenterology at GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Maryland. She has years of experience in the medical field and uses her knowledge to diagnose and treat patients.
Dr. Kularatna attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology. She then received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Dr. Kularatna completed her internal medicine residency at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts and a gastroenterology fellowship at The Barnes-Jewish Hospital through Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Kularatna is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. She is also a professional member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association.
At GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Dr. Kularatna works closely with patients to ensure she provides expert care. She has a comfortable office setting and takes an evidence-based approach to treat her patients.
Khadijat Balogun, MD, is a gastroenterologist at GI Associates of Maryland. She offers compassionate and effective care to patients at the Waldorf, Maryland, office.
Dr. Balogun obtained her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She completed her internal medicine residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a three-year fellowship program at Albany Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Balogun is board-certified in internal medicine as well as gastroenterology. She is a professional member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Dr. Balogun cares for patients with a wide range of issues, including colon cancer screening, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, liver disease, women’s health, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).
Dr. Balogun aims to provide the highest medical care to all her patients in a safe and friendly environment.
Lornette Mills, MD, is a respected gastroenterologist serving patients at GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Maryland. She specializes in internal medicine and gastroenterology and enjoys working closely with her patients to ensure optimal health.
In 1993, Dr. Mills received her medical degree from the Jacobs School Of Medicine And Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York. In 1996, she completed her internal medicine residency program at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She then finished her gastroenterology fellowship program at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn in 1999.
Before joining her current practice, Dr. Mills practiced for two years in Prince Frederick, Maryland. This experience makes her an excellent addition to the GI Associates of Maryland team.
At the practice, Dr. Mills provides compassionate and effective care. She takes the time to listen to her patients and doesn't rush through her appointments. You're in good hands with Dr. Mills.
Dr. S. Mubashir A. Shah is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. He sees patients primarily at the Hanover office in Mechanicsville, Virginia, but he also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from Khyber Medical College in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he graduated in the top 1% of his class. Relocating to the United States, he pre-matched in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and graduated as the Medical Resident of the Year in 2003.
Dr. Shah had the privilege of working another year as Chief Medical Resident at UCONN and was awarded the Chief Medical Resident of the Year Award in 2004. He completed an intensive three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.
Prior to joining Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in February 2011, Dr. Shah was in private practice with Rome Gastroenterology Associates in Georgia. He was also a GI and Hepatology lecturer to the residents and interns enrolled in the Floyd Family Practice Residency Program in Rome, Georgia.
Dr. Shah treats adult patients with gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary conditions. His patients benefit from conservative treatments and the endoscopic procedures he performs.
He is highly skilled and experienced with the most up-to-date endoscopic techniques, including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and ERCP. He also performs painless hemorrhoid banding using the CRH O’ Regan System, for patients suffering from hemorrhoid-related issues.
Dr. Shah is an active member of several professional societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM). He has presented at national and local meetings and published extensively in various medical journals.
Dr. Shah enjoys staying physically fit and likes lifting weights, tennis, and soccer. Additional interests include spending time with his family, traveling, and world politics. He is an ardent fan of the game of cricket. He and his wife Ghuncha, a psychologist, have three children and are pleased to call Richmond home.
He is fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Pashto and has a working knowledge of Punjabi and Hindko.
Dr. Bimaljit S. Sandhu is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. Dr. Sandhu sees patients primarily at the Bremo Road office in Richmond, Virginia, but he also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
He cares for patients suffering from gastroenterological disorders, including GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, GI cancer, and pancreatic disease. He has vast experience performing colonoscopy, EGD, complex therapeutic endoscopic procedures, and managing patients with GI cancer and pancreaticobiliary disorders.
After his medical school training, Dr. Sandhu completed additional fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He then joined the VCU Medical Center faculty in the Gastroenterology Division. During the next nine years at VCU, he served as Director of Pancreatic Disorders and actively participated in pancreatic research.
Dr. Sandhu’s patients benefit from his experience with the most recent advancements in gastroenterology. He is among the first in the country to use endoscopic Glue Injection for treating patients with bleeding gastric varices. He is also skilled in the use of Cellvizio®, which enables him to diagnose cancer much more rapidly. Most recently he completed specialty training to perform Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF), one of only a few physicians in Virginia to offer this procedure for the treatment of GERD.
Dr. Sandhu has received several honors and awards, including the Outstanding Clinician Award and the Best Plenary Session Paper Award. He is an active member of the North American Pancreatitis Study consortium. He has authored and co-authored several articles in medical journals and books, including the Gastroenterology journal.
He has also contributed to the American Gastroenterological Association’s Digestive Diseases Self-Education Program (DDSEP) and served on the training committee for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).
Dr. Sandhu has been a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins, the University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, and the University of Virginia. Dr. Sandhu is a “2017 Top Doc” winner in Richmond Magazine’s annual survey of medical professionals.
Dr. Sandhu enjoys spending time with his wife, Ramnita, and their three children. He has organized several blood donation drives and food services at local nursing homes and schools on behalf of his Sikh temple in Richmond. He enjoys tennis, jogging, music, and yard work.
Michael S. Manetas, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. Dr. Manetas sees patients primarily at the Hanover office in Mechanicsville, Virginia, but also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Manetas received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary (WM) in Williamsburg. He completed his Master of Science in Anatomy at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) at Virginia Commonwealth University, and during this time, he made the important decision to become a physician. He stayed at MCV / VCU to earn his medical degree, and complete his internship and residency in internal medicine.
He was then selected for a competitive Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He received state-of-the-art training in treating patients with digestive and liver diseases, and performing endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Manetas joined Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in 2005. He cares for patients suffering from general gastroenterology disorders. He has vast experience and a special interest in treating patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, GERD, swallowing disorders, IBS or bowel irregularities, and pancreatic & gallbladder disorders.
He is also skilled in performing endoscopic GI procedures, including colonoscopy and colon polyp removal, upper endoscopy (EGD), and ERCP.
“I chose a specialty in gastroenterology because it offers me a unique opportunity to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of conditions. I am reminded daily of the variety of ways in which gastroenterological (GI) conditions can affect the quality of life of my patients, and I am pleased to be an active partner in improving their GI health.”
Dr. Manetas has achieved significant milestones in his medical career. He was named a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF) in 2015. Most recently, he was elected President of Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in 2022.
Dr. Manetas grew up in Northern New Jersey and is now happy to make Richmond his home. He met his wife, Anne, while at the College of William and Mary, and they have two children. Dr. Manetas enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, tennis, traveling, and watching baseball in his spare time. He is also an active member of the Richmond Greek Orthodox Church.
Krista M. Edelman, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist. Dr. Edelman sees patients primarily at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates’ Bremo Road office in Richmond, Virginia, but also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico, Virginia.
Dr. Edelman was born in Richmond and raised in the nearby Town of Ashland. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington (UMW) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She went on to earn her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Dr. Edelman remained at VCU for her internal medicine residency and was selected to serve as chief resident for an additional year. Dr. Edelman served as the Women’s Health Track Director, overseeing women’s health-specific clinical rotations and teaching sessions.
Upon finishing her internal medicine residency, Dr. Edelman received the John W. Witherspoon Award for Excellence in Primary Care and the Medicine Faculty Award, given to a graduating resident who most demonstrates an intellectual and personal commitment to medicine.
After residency, Dr. Edelman moved to Durham, North Carolina, to complete a three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Duke University. In 2018, Dr. Edelman returned to the Richmond area and joined the practice as a practicing gastroenterologist.
She treats patients with a variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel disease including chronic diarrhea and constipation, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastrointestinal bleeding, swallowing disorders, pelvic floor dysfunction, celiac disease, and liver disease.
She has a specific interest in women’s health and performs colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, esophageal manometry, and radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus.
Dr. Edelman is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and she serves on the American College of Gastroenterology Women in GI Committee.
“I view practicing medicine as an honor, and it is a privilege to be of service to my community. I always strive to take the time to listen to my patients and engage them in the medical decision-making process. Forming a long-term relationship and partnering in health care decisions is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.”
Dr. Edelman enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children. She also likes to run and enjoy time outdoors along the James River.
Puneet Kumar, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. He sees patients primarily at the Bremo Road office in Richmond, Virginia, but he also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Kumar earned his medical degree from the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, India. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Georgetown University Medical Center and the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
During his residency he served as Chief Resident. He was then selected for a competitive fellowship in Gastroenterology at Georgetown University Medical School. He continued his fellowship training in Therapeutic ERCP at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. Kumar treats adult patients with a variety of gastroenterology conditions and concerns. He has special expertise and interest in colon cancer screening and caring for patients with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), Barrett’s esophagus, inflammatory bowel disease, GI bleeding, and hepatobiliary & pancreatic malignancies.
He is skilled in performing simple and complex endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy (EGD), ERCP, radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus, endoscopic mucosal resection, biliary manometry, and also therapeutic stenting (biliary, esophageal and enteral).
“I am interested in improving long-term survival and quality of life for my patients with GI cancers and inflammatory bowel disease.”
Dr. Kumar is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM), and the Medical Society of Virginia.
He has presented and published several research studies and authored chapters in major journals, including the American Journal of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Clinics of North America.
Dr. Kumar volunteers for Access Now to provide care to patients who lack access to healthcare due to a lack of insurance. He is fluent in many languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, and is currently learning Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys playing squash, tennis, golf, and hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains with his family.
Taylor Richardson, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates.
He attended the University of Virginia (UVA), earning dual undergraduate degrees in history and economics. He then remained at the University of Virginia School of Medicine to earn his medical degree.
Continuing his medical training, he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee. He was then selected for a three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Dr. Richardson's clinical interests include a wide variety of digestive diseases, including heartburn/reflux, swallowing disorders, peptic ulcer disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, liver disease, and colon cancer screening.
He is skilled in upper endoscopy, esophageal dilation, colonoscopy, colon polyp removal, esophageal manometry, and video capsule endoscopy.
Dr. Richardson is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
A native Virginian, Dr. Richardson grew up in Goochland, Virginia. He enjoys long-distance running, hiking in the mountains, snow skiing, fly fishing, reading American history, and following UVA athletics.
Puneet Basi, MD, FACG, AGAF, is a highly skilled gastroenterologist and hepatologist dedicated to providing comprehensive care at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in Richmond, Virginia. He earned his MBBS at Dayanand Medical College in Punjab, India, and later completed his internal medicine internship and residency at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where he served as chief resident during his final year.
Dr. Basi pursued advanced training through a hepatology fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2008. He then completed a prestigious gastroenterology fellowship at the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System in Brooklyn, New York, where he refined his expertise in digestive health and liver disease.
As an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Dr. Basi remains at the forefront of the latest advancements in gastroenterology.
In addition to his medical expertise, Dr. Basi enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, and playing cricket. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, allowing him to effectively communicate with a diverse patient population.
Dr. Basi is committed to delivering personalized, high-quality care to each patient he sees at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates.
Dr. S. Mubashir A. Shah is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. He sees patients primarily at the Hanover office in Mechanicsville, Virginia, but he also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from Khyber Medical College in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he graduated in the top 1% of his class. Relocating to the United States, he pre-matched in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and graduated as the Medical Resident of the Year in 2003.
Dr. Shah had the privilege of working another year as Chief Medical Resident at UCONN and was awarded the Chief Medical Resident of the Year Award in 2004. He completed an intensive three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.
Prior to joining Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in February 2011, Dr. Shah was in private practice with Rome Gastroenterology Associates in Georgia. He was also a GI and Hepatology lecturer to the residents and interns enrolled in the Floyd Family Practice Residency Program in Rome, Georgia.
Dr. Shah treats adult patients with gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary conditions. His patients benefit from conservative treatments and the endoscopic procedures he performs.
He is highly skilled and experienced with the most up-to-date endoscopic techniques, including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and ERCP. He also performs painless hemorrhoid banding using the CRH O’ Regan System, for patients suffering from hemorrhoid-related issues.
Dr. Shah is an active member of several professional societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM). He has presented at national and local meetings and published extensively in various medical journals.
Dr. Shah enjoys staying physically fit and likes lifting weights, tennis, and soccer. Additional interests include spending time with his family, traveling, and world politics. He is an ardent fan of the game of cricket. He and his wife Ghuncha, a psychologist, have three children and are pleased to call Richmond home.
He is fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Pashto and has a working knowledge of Punjabi and Hindko.
Michael S. Manetas, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. Dr. Manetas sees patients primarily at the Hanover office in Mechanicsville, Virginia, but also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Manetas received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary (WM) in Williamsburg. He completed his Master of Science in Anatomy at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) at Virginia Commonwealth University, and during this time, he made the important decision to become a physician. He stayed at MCV / VCU to earn his medical degree, and complete his internship and residency in internal medicine.
He was then selected for a competitive Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He received state-of-the-art training in treating patients with digestive and liver diseases, and performing endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Manetas joined Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in 2005. He cares for patients suffering from general gastroenterology disorders. He has vast experience and a special interest in treating patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, GERD, swallowing disorders, IBS or bowel irregularities, and pancreatic & gallbladder disorders.
He is also skilled in performing endoscopic GI procedures, including colonoscopy and colon polyp removal, upper endoscopy (EGD), and ERCP.
“I chose a specialty in gastroenterology because it offers me a unique opportunity to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of conditions. I am reminded daily of the variety of ways in which gastroenterological (GI) conditions can affect the quality of life of my patients, and I am pleased to be an active partner in improving their GI health.”
Dr. Manetas has achieved significant milestones in his medical career. He was named a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF) in 2015. Most recently, he was elected President of Richmond Gastroenterology Associates in 2022.
Dr. Manetas grew up in Northern New Jersey and is now happy to make Richmond his home. He met his wife, Anne, while at the College of William and Mary, and they have two children. Dr. Manetas enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, tennis, traveling, and watching baseball in his spare time. He is also an active member of the Richmond Greek Orthodox Church.
Drew Simmelink, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. Dr. Simmelink sees patients primarily at the practice’s Hanover office in Mechanicsville, Virginia, but also takes appointments at the West Creek office in Henrico.
Dr. Simmelink received his Bachelor of Science Honors Program degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Richmond (U of R) in Virginia, achieving Dean’s Honor List all four years of his undergraduate career. He went to Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) to earn his medical doctorate, receiving honors marks in internal medicine training.
Dr. Simmelink completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was selected to stay for his three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
During the fellowship, Dr. Simmelink gained extensive experience managing complex liver and inflammatory bowel diseases through the CMC liver transplant and inflammatory bowel disease programs. Additionally, he gained insightful experience in motility issues, earning certification from the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS).
While in his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Simmelink exhibited an interest in improving patient safety. He also championed increasing population-wide colorectal cancer and hepatitis-C screening rates through quality improvement projects.
Dr. Simmelink is clinically interested in managing a wide variety of digestive diseases, including, but not limited to, inflammatory bowel disease and immune-mediated bowel disorders, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Celiac disease, medication-induced conditions, liver disease (alcohol and obesity-induced liver disease), Wilson’s disease, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, viral hepatitis, disorders of the gut-brain interaction, IBS, dyspepsia, heartburn and GERD, peptic ulcer disease, constipation, diarrhea, and Barrett’s esophagus.
He is skilled in many GI procedures, including upper endoscopy (EGD), esophageal dilation, Barrett’s esophagus ablation & management, colonoscopy, colorectal cancer screening, colon polyp removal, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic management of inflammatory bowel disease, enteral access (PEG tube placement), and video capsule endoscopy.
He is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Serving his community has always been an integral part of his life, exemplified in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, joining the Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity in college, to helping out with local support groups for Huntington’s disease and aiding underserved patients through Beyond Clinic Walls during his medical school career.
In his spare time, Dr. Simmelink enjoys landscaping and remodeling homes, playing the piano, enjoying water sports, including swimming & kayaking, experimenting with new recipes from different cultures, and mastering the grill.
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