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Sees Patients At: Bel Air, Elkton, and Towson-GBMC, MD

P. Andrew Rivera, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular Surgeon who joined Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, in 2022. A Texas native, he completed his undergraduate studies in Music Composition at Baylor University and obtained a Master's degree in Music Composition from the University of North Texas.

Dr. Rivera then received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas and stayed on as a general surgery intern. His surgical residency was completed at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Nashville, where he gained experience in general and vascular surgery.

Subsequently, he completed a vascular surgery fellowship at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. There Dr. Rivera gained considerable experience in treating patients with end-stage renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and complex aneurysm disease with both open and endovascular techniques.

Dr. Rivera has performed research in outcomes of cerebrovascular interventions using machine learning, and has won the SAVS Founders Award in 2022.

Sees Patients At: Baltimore, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Towson-GBMC, and Westminster, MD 

Clinton Protack, MD, PhD, is a board-certified vascular surgeon who joined Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, in 2019. He is proud to provide exceptional care to patients in Baltimore, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Towson-GBMC, and Westminster, Maryland.

He completed his undergraduate work at Lehigh University and received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York. His surgical residency was completed at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. At Yale University, Dr. Protack earned his PhD while investigating AV fistula maturation in the vascular biology and therapeutics program. He then proceeded to complete a vascular surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  

Dr. Protack holds the Registered Provider in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) certificate and is board certified in surgery.

Dr. Protack is currently accepting new patients and is excited to partner with them in their health care journey. He welcomes them to Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, and encourages them to schedule an appointment.

Sees Patients At: Columbia, Ellicott City, and Pikesville, MD

Yi Zhou, MD, FACS, is a board-certified vascular surgeon at Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Pikesville, Maryland,. Dr. Zhou aims to provide high-quality and individualized care to his patients.

Born and raised in China, Dr. Zhou moved to the United States to pursue his education. He completed his college education in Kentucky.

Dr. Zhou obtained his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Followed by general surgery residency training at Albany Medical Center (Albany Med) in Albany, New York. He then pursued a two-year vascular surgery fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

During his residency and fellowship training, Dr. Zhou has given several national and regional presentations on aneurysm disease and mesenteric disease. He has also co-authored multiple clinical papers in the field of vascular surgery. Following his fellowship Dr. Zhou was on staff at the Wellspan Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, for four years.

Dr. Zhou is double board-certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and holds a certificate as a Registered Provider in Vascular Interpretation.

Apart from taking care of his patients, Dr. Zhou enjoys classical music and watching motor racing.

Timothy Plerhoples, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery, PC.

Dr. Plerhoples began his professional education at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, earning his undergraduate degree. After graduation, he stayed in Massachusetts, obtaining his Master of Public Health from Boston University. 

Dr. Plerhoples earned his Doctor of Medicine from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. Then, he moved west to pursue surgical training at Stanford University in Stanford, California. During that time, Dr. Plerhoples authored several journal publications about improving surgical techniques and patient care.

Before entering private practice, Dr. Plerhoples completed a surgical residency at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Annandale, Virginia, and a colorectal surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

When he isn’t in the operating suite or developing custom treatment plans, Dr. Plerhoples enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. He’s also an avid guitar player, hiker, fisherman, and grill master.

Katherine Khalifeh, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery, PC.

Dr. Khalifeh was born and raised in Minnesota. She comes from a family of physicians and knew she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather by pursuing a career in surgery.

Dr. Khalifeh began her professional pursuits at Boston College, earning her Bachelor of Science. After graduation, Dr. Khalifeh earned her Master of Science from Georgetown University in Washington, District of Columbia, and her Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Before entering private practice, Dr. Khalifeh completed general surgery training at Johns Hopkins and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (formerly Washington Center Hospital) in Washington, DC.

Dr. Khalifeh has specialized training in diagnosing and treating a wide range of disorders affecting the colon, rectum, and anus, including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, fecal incontinence, and hemorrhoids. 

When she isn’t performing surgery or meeting with patients, Dr. Khalifeh enjoys contributing to professional medical journals. She’s also presented papers at conferences for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Khalifeh is a member of the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband Marwan, their two young daughters, and their dog, Bisou.

Caroline Sanchez, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery, PC.

Dr. Sanchez knew she wanted to be a doctor from the time she was a little girl. She was born and raised in Northern Virginia and attended the renowned Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.

During high school, Dr. Sanchez spent summers working in a laboratory at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. That experience enabled her to enroll in medical school directly after graduation as part of a combined seven-year BA/MD program at George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia. 

Dr. Sanchez thrived in the program, earning her Bachelor of Science in biology and graduating magna cum laude. Afterward, Dr. Sanchez remained at George Washington University, earning her Doctor of Medicine with distinction in 2004.

Before joining the team at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery, PC, Dr. Sanchez completed a general surgery residency at George Washington University, and a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery, at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  

Dr. Sanchez proudly holds membership in several professional organizations, including the Chesapeake Colorectal Society, the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons. Professionally, Dr. Sanchez has special interests in minimally invasive procedures and new technologies.

When she isn’t meeting with patients or contributing to medical journals, Dr. Sanchez enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and two children.

Drawing on more than 25 years of medical experience Clement Banda, MD, RPhS, founder of MD Vein & Skin Specialists in Owen Brown and Columbia, Maryland, transformed his practice into a leading provider of minimally invasive vein and skin procedures. Dr. Banda was an early adopter of laser medicine and surgery, and is now an industry leader with a focus on dermatologic surgery and phlebology, or vein specialty.

Dr. Banda holds a medical degree from the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe. He made his way to the United States for his post-doctoral training at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He completed his clinical dermatology training at Queen Mary University of London, in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Banda is a diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine, and the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. He is also an active member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

He has been profiled on American Health and Beauty and featured in Howard Magazine and Baltimore Magazine.

When he’s not working with patients, Dr. Banda enjoys working on home improvement projects and preparing gourmet vegetarian meals.

John Tillou, MD, is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery, PC. He has wanted to be a surgeon since undergoing an operation in high school.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Tillou received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he made the Dean’s List, coached high school baseball, worked in a pathology lab, and volunteered at a free medical clinic. 

During his undergraduate studies, he earned the Bioscience Undergraduate Research Mini-grant and received the Comprehensive Chemistry Award and Undergraduate Research Scholar award.

Dr. Tillou eventually returned home to attend medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he received the Dr. Graham Clark Scholarship and the Charles & Bernice McKay Scholarship.

After graduation, Dr. Tillou completed his general surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed an additional colorectal surgery fellowship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

While completing his training, Dr. Tillou co-authored several book chapters and papers. He also received the highest score on the annual colorectal training exam.

Dr. Tillou has undergone advanced training in minimally invasive, robotic, and transanal colon and rectal surgery techniques. He has a particular interest in the treatment and management of colon cancer, anal pain, and anal cancer.

In addition, Dr. Tillou holds many professional affiliations, including the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Medical Society of Virginia, and Chesapeake Colorectal Society.

Outside of work, Dr. Tillou enjoys hiking, skiing, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.