ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL CELEBRATES THE NEW LOCATION OF SURGICAL ASSOCIATES AND BARIATRIC CENTER WITH AN OPEN HOUSE

Berlin, Md. – Atlantic General Hospital and Health System held an open house at the new location for its Surgical Associates and Bariatric Center offices in the James G. Barrett Medical Office Building recently.

Atlantic General Surgical Associates and the Atlantic General Bariatric Center provide advanced minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by board certified doctors including bariatric, oncology and vascular surgeries.

The bariatric center is led by Alae Zarif, MD, who performs gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures for Atlantic General Bariatric Center and general surgeries. Zarif is certified by the American Board of Surgery and performs multiple advanced laparoscopic procedures.

Xin Zhong, M.D. recently joined Atlantic General Surgical Associates and the staff of Atlantic General Bariatric Center from North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY, where she completed a minimally invasive surgery fellowship in robotic and bariatric procedures. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and specializes in advanced laparoscopic procedures, hiatal hernias, complex abdominal wall hernias, and bariatrics.

Meshach Heenatigala, M.D. recently joined Atlantic General Surgical Associates from York Hospital in York, PA, where he completed a rural track surgical residency. Heenatigala is a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, the American College of Phlebology, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He specializes in surgical procedures involving the head and neck, thoracic, breast, skin/melanoma, abdominal, colorectal, endoscopy, vascular/veins, carpal tunnel, anal incontinence.

Angela Simmons, CBN, CRNP is a seasoned nurse of 15 years. She is credentialed as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a certified bariatric nurse. Angela has worked with surgical patients for the past six years and serves as the program coordinator for Atlantic General Bariatric Center.

More information about Atlantic General Surgical Associates can be found at www.atlanticgeneral.org/surgicalassociates. Information about Atlantic General Bariatric Center can be found at www.atlanticgeneral.org/bariatrics.

From left: Todd Ferrante, chair of the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation; Meshach Heenatigala, MD; Honorable Charlotte Cathell; Xin Zhong, MD; Michael Franklin, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital; Lou Taylor; chair of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees; Alae Zarif, MD; Angela Simmons, CRNP; Krystle Lewis; Cheryl Aydelotte; Amy Gehrig; Daniel Hakeem, PA-C; and Michael Cylc, Atlantic General Hospital Foundation member.