Allegheny Center for Digestive Health

Allegheny Center for Digestive Health

Paul Lebovitz, MD Medical Director, ACDH Crohns/Colitis Functional Bowel Celiac Sprue	Rad Agrawal, MD Hepatology Liver Disease	Elie Aoun, MD Gastroenterology
Michael Babich, MD Hepatology Liver Disease Director, GI Fellowship Program	Kofi Clarke, MD, FRCP (Lond) FACP Inflammatory Bowel Disease Celiac Disease	Manish Dhawan, MD EUS ERCP Pancreatic Biliary Disease
Katie Farah, MD ERCP/Pancreatic Biliary Disease	Jennifer Hadam, MD Inflamatory Bowel Disease Nutrition	Robert Kania, MD ERCP/Pancreatic Biliary Disease
Abhijit Kulkarni, MD ERCP/Pancreatic Biliary Disease	Robin Midian, MD Hepatology/Liver Disease	Suzanne Morrissey, MD EUS/Gastroenterology Pancreatic Biliary Disease Assoc. Director, GI Fellowship Program
Jose Oliva, MD Hepatology Liver Disease	Shyam Thakkar, MD EUS, ERCP, Pancreaticobiliary Disease, Advanced Endoscopic Procedures	Jorge Vazquez, MD Nutrition

Mon Valley

Mitre Gastroenterology

Integrated Medicine Program

Other Team Members

Melanie Horbal Shuster, PhD, RN

Melanie is a Nutrition Clinical Nurse Specialist and is responsible for the development of integrated and multidisciplinary nutritional programs for inpatient and outpatient services. She has earned certification in nutrition support nursing, critical care nursing, public school nursing and as a clinical specialist in medical surgical nursing. Ms. Shuster earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and PhD from Duquesne University and her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Shuster is licensed by the State of Pennsylvania and is a member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and the American Association for Critical Care Nurses. She joined the staff at Allegheny General Hospital in 1997.

Jennifer Whiteside, MAc

Jennifer practices acupuncture with the Allegheny General Hospital Integrated Medicine Program.  She graduated with a Masters of Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.  She is licensed and registered by the Pennsylvania Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCOAM).  Jennifer Whiteside has studied Chinese Herbal Medicine, and various styles of Japanese Acupuncture and Acupressure. She treats all ages from infant to elderly patients, and a variety of conditions including pain and injuries; digestive difficulties; gynecological, hormonal and fertility issues; stress and emotional difficulties; smoking cessation; allergies and asthma; and autoimmune disorders.  She offers a holistic approach to health, empowering patients to care better for themselves by offering guidance regarding nutrition, breathing techniques, meditation, and exercise.

Meredith Wisniewski, PA-C

Meredith joined the Allegheny Center for Digestive Health in 2008. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from American University with a double major in Justice and Psychology. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant degree from Duquesne University. Ms. Wisniewski has performed clinical rotations in a variety of areas, including Trauma Surgery, Psychiatry and Pediatric Endocrinology. She has also served as a counselor at the Discovery House Treatment Center in Pittsburgh and as a resident supervisor at the Pre-Release Center for the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation in Rockville, MD. Ms. Wisniewski is professionally affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Carlie Hooff, PA-C

Carlie Hooff, PA-C, joined the Allegheny Center for Digestive Health in 2010. She graduated from University of California-Berkeley with a degree in Integrative Biology, focus in Health Sciences and received her Masters of Physician Assistant from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. Ms. Hooff was involved with an after school program through Access AIDS in Norfolk, VA for children or children with family members affected by HIV/AIDS. Before receiving her masters, Ms. Hooff was a patient care coordinator at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC and the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.