Licking Memorial Health Systems

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Hospital Services

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Licking Memorial Hospitalists

Licking Memorial Hospital

1320 West Main Street

Newark, Ohio 43055

Phone: (220) 564-1791

Fax: (220) 564-1790

When a medical problem cannot be taken care of in the physician’s office and hospitalization is required, your primary care physician has partnered with Licking Memorial Hospitalists to provide care for you in the Hospital. This partnership was formed to ensure that our patients, especially those with particularly difficult or complex diagnoses, receive the best care possible.

Hospitalists focus on and coordinate inpatient hospital care from the time a patient is admitted until the patient is discharged. Hospitalists are internal medicine specialists who further specialize in caring for acutely ill, hospitalized patients.

While in the Hospital, we can answer the patient’s questions quickly and respond to your needs quickly since we are in the Hospital 24 hours-per-day and can spend more time talking with you and your family. We have an in-depth knowledge of the hospital system and are dedicated to inpatient care. We work very closely in consultation with your primary care physician and other specialists, if needed, to oversee the entire hospital stay and provide personal attention. We stay in communication with your primary care physician and provide information to the physician of any changes in condition, medications or treatment during your hospital stay.

Physician(s)

Bashar Alawad, M.D., earned his Medical Degree at Damascus University – Faculty of Medicine in Damascus, Syria, and completed an internal medicine residency at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Khanh Dang, M.D., received his Medical Degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his residency at Akron City Hospital/ Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio. Dr. Dang is board certified in internal medicine.

Wondwossen Y. Dererie, M.D., earned his Medical Degree at the University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Gondar, Ethiopia and completed an internal medicine residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Abdul-Karim Elhabyan, M.D., received his Medical Degree at the University of Aleppo Medical School in Aleppo, Syria. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Charleston Area Medical Center (West Virginia University) in Charleston, West Virginia. Dr. Elhabyan is board certified in internal medicine.

Jesse M. Ewald, M.D., received his Medical Degree from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. He completed a residency in internal medicine at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Dr. Ewald is board certified in internal medicine.

Saad A. Hagras, M.D., received his medical degree from Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Kara J. Kaplan, M.D., received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She completed an internal medicine residency at Saint Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, Michigan, a nephrology fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and a critical care fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. She is board certified in internal medicine.

Bassam Kret, M.D., earned his Medical Degree from Damascus University Medical School in Damascus, Syria. He completed his internal medicine residency at St. Joseph Mercy – Oakland in Pontiac, Michigan. Dr. Kret is board certified in internal medicine.

May U. Mbah, M.D., received her Medical Degree at University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. She completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She is board certified in internal medicine.

Mohamud Mohamed, M.D., received his Medical Degree at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Summiyah Nasir, M.D., received her medical degree from Quaid-EAzam College in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. She completed an internal medicine residency at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina. Dr. Nasir is board certified in internal medicine.

Ibiene A. Osuobeni, M.D., earned her Medical Degree at the University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Dr. Osuobeni completed an internal medicine residency at Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus. She is board certified in internal medicine.

Nawar Saieg, M.D., received his medical degree from Tishreen College of Medicine in Lattakia, Syria. He completed an internal medicine residency at Damascus University in Damascus, Syria, and another internal medicine residency at Western Reserve Care System/Forum Health in Youngstown, Ohio, through Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Dr. Saieg is board certified in internal medicine.

Phillip G. Savage, D.O., earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Kentucky. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Savage is board certified in internal medicine.

Olugbenga Felix Tolani, M.D., earned his Medical Degree at the University of Lagos College of Medicine in Lagos, Nigeria and completed an internal medicine residency at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Chandra S. Veerla, M.D., earned his Medical Degree at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India, and completed an internal medicine residency at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. He is board certified in internal medicine.

Lea Ann Morris, APRN-CNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Pediatric Hospitalists

Richard A. Baltisberger, M.D., FAAP, received his Medical Degree from University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He completed a pediatric internship and residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Baltisberger is board certified in pediatrics.

Brian T. Klima, M.D., received his Medical Degree at the Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. He completed a pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Klima is board certified in pediatrics.

Megan K. Hampton, APRN-CNP, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from Muskingum University, and a Master of Science in nursing degree and Post-Master’s Certificate in neonatal nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She is certified by the National Certification Corporation.

Shannon L. Johnson, APRN-CNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Ohio University and her Master of Science in Nursing-neonatal degree from the University of Cincinnati. She is certified by the National Certification Corporation.

Andrea S. Sims, APRN-CNP, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, and Master of Science in Nursing-neonatal degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus. She is certified by the National Certification Corporation.

Licking Memorial Infectious Disease

Licking Memorial Hospital
1320 West Main Street
Newark, Ohio 43055

An infectious disease physician earns board certification in infectious medicine – a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on diagnosing and managing infections. These experts play a vital role in patient care and safety and frequently are called upon to help diagnose unknown ailments and assist in managing difficult, unusual, or complicated infections. The discipline of infectious disease medicine requires an extensive understanding of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections and the symptoms that a patient may exhibit. Physicians also gain knowledge about medicines to combat infections, antibiotic resistance and vaccines to become uniquely equipped to deal with the environmental, occupational and host factors that lead to infection.

Physician(s)