Career Pulse

Sawhney Joins BMLH Gastroenterology Staff

WARE — Baystate Mary Lane Hospital welcomes Dr. Harbir Sawhney to its medical staff. A gastroenterologist, he specializes in the diagnoses, treatment, and management of digestive-system disorders in men and women.

“We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sawhney is joining us, providing care through Baystate Medical Practices – Mary Lane Gastroenterology,” said Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed, acting president, chief operating officer, and chief medical officer at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital.

Sawhney earned his medical degree at Seth G.S. Medical College in Bombay, India, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Health Sciences Chicago Medical School and a fellowship in infectious disease at Boston University Medical Center. Board-certified in internal medicine, he completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at UMass Medical School in Worcester.

A member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, the Mass. Infectious Disease Society, Mass. Medical Society, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the Indian Medical Board, Sawhney is skilled in advanced diagnostic procedures and treatment options for patients with problems in the esophagus, stomach, large and small intestines, rectum, gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.  He is also an infectious-disease physician who specializes in the care of HIV and Hepatitis C.

Sawhney is accepting new patients. For more information or to make an appointment, call (413) 967-2800.

Noble Hospital Welcomes Sekkal, Fiallo, McMillian

WESTFIELD — Noble Hospital announced three additions to the Noble Center for Surgical and Ambulatory Care: general surgeons Dr. Kacem Sekkal, Dr. Viriato Fiallo, and Dr. Ursula McMillian.

Sekkal received his medical degree at the University of Algiers Medical School and completed his residency at Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University. He has been practicing general surgery for more than 25 years and has extensive expertise in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic procedures, and breast surgery.

Fiallo received his medical degree at Universidad National Pedro Henriquez Urena and has practiced surgery at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He is a member of the New England Surgical Group, LLC and also practices at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield as the chief of General Surgery. He specializes in laparoscopic and general surgery.

McMillian received her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed her residency at the Hospital of Saint Raphael. She is a member of the New England Surgical Group, LLC and also practices at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. Her current practice focuses on laparoscopic, general, and foregut surgery.

The Noble Surgical Group provides a variety of comprehensive surgical solutions for both inpatient and outpatient procedures. “You don’t have to go far for expert surgical care,” said Ronald Bryant, president and CEO of Noble Hospital. “We are delighted to expand our surgical services and further our quest for providing the best healthcare for the Greater Westfield community.”

Sekkal, Fiallo, and McMillian are located at 115 West Silver St. in Westfield and can be reached for scheduling at (413) 572-6010.

Adam Joins BMC Neurology Team

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems announced the appointment of neurologist Dr. Octavian Adam to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and Neurology Professional Services of BMC. Adam is accepting new patients in need of neurology services and is partnered with Drs. Laurence Ufford, Thomas Kwiatkowski, and Emma Weiskopf in providing comprehensive neurology care at Neurology Professional Services of BMC.

Adam came to the Berkshires from active-duty service as a neurologist in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. A lieutenant commander, he was also deployed twice to Afghanistan between 2011 and 2013. He previously served with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and the Methodist Hospital and Ben Taub Hospital in Houston.

Adam is board-certified in neurology and received his medical degree from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. He completed his residency in neurology at the University of Texas Medical Branch and was fellowship-trained in movement disorders at Baylor College of Medicine, Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, in Houston.

WESTFIELD — Noble Hospital continues to grow its Cardiology Department with the addition of Dr. Shantilal Kenia, who will join Dr. Medhi Pajouh, chief of Cardiology at Noble.

Kenia received his medical degree from Bombay University, Seth G.S. Medical College in India, and completed an internship at King Edward Memorial Hospital, residencies at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and Muhlenberg Hospital in New Jersey, and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University. He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases.

In addition to joining the Cardiology staff at Noble, Kenia will continue to see patients at the Cardiovascular Associates of Western Massachusetts office located at 65 Springfield Road in Westfield.

NORTHAMPTON — Dr. Neal Chuang, thoracic surgeon, has joined Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s medical staff.

As a surgeon who performs operations on the lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest, Chuang specializes in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and minimally invasive thoracic surgeries. He is board-certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery.

Chuang earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine, where he also completed NYUSM’s surgery-residency program, research fellowship, and cardiothoracic-surgery fellowship. In addition, he completed a minimally invasive thoracic-surgery fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (413) 748-9628.

WESTFIELD — Noble Hospital announced that Noble Gift Shop Manager Laura Smigel has accepted the position of volunteer coordinator. In addition to her gift-shop duties, she will now supervise the more than 100 volunteers and interns who donate their time to help patients and families and support the staff at Noble. A new hospital-greeter position will also be supervised by Smigel.

An employee at Noble since 2012, Smigel brings her experience as a former retail shop owner to her work. “We are so happy to have Laura take over as the volunteer coordinator and the new hospital-greeter program. She has exemplified creativity, organization, and leadership as the gift-shop manager, and I know she will be a great asset to Noble in this new position,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Community Development.

Added Smigel, “I am excited to expand our volunteer and internship program, as well as bring a new level of customer service to our patients and visitors in the front lobby with the hospital-greeter position. I also look forward to getting out into the community to spread the word about volunteering at Noble.”

Visitors entering the hospital through the main entrance off of West Silver Street will notice a new hospital greeter on duty. The greeter will welcome patients, answer questions, give directions, and help patients and visitors.

Volunteers and interns donate their time in many different departments throughout Noble. In 2013, 96 volunteers gave more than 13,000 hours of service, which is the equivalent of $156,000 in salary expense.

If you would like to volunteer or intern at Noble Hospital, contact Smigel at lsmigel@noblehealth.org or (413) 568-2811, ext. 5526. For more information, visit noblehospital.org/volunteer.

• Evelyn Sullivan of Palmer, who works as a Disaster Action Team captain, providing leadership to bring help to members of her community. She also serves as a Disaster Action Team supervisor, a Client Casework Support Team member, a Technology Team member, and an emergency-response vehicle driver.

• Mariah Nolan of Lakeville, who is this year’s award recipient for youth programs at the college level. She helped to build up youth clubs in Central and Western Mass. and oversaw the Red Cross team of club coordinators, helped get the Mount Holyoke College Red Cross Club off the ground, and revamped various communication materials.

• Antoinette Leaks of Springfield, who is this year’s award recipient for communications services for her hard work in the Ambassador program. She helped get the revamped Ambassador program off the ground in 2013 and has trained 85{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the current 108 ambassadors, while still donating time training ambassadors and ambassador trainers as the program continues to grow.