Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center

	Our Services
	Anesthesiology
	Asthma (Adult)
	Asthma (Pediatric)
	Cardiology
	Child Study Center
	Dentistry
	Diabetes (Adult)
	Diabetes (Pediatric)
	Ear, Nose & Throat
	Emergency Services
	Family Medicine
	Gastroenterology
	Hematology and Oncology
	Infectious Diseases
	Internal Medicine
	Medical Education
	Neonatology
	Neurology, Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation
	OB/GYN Women's Health Center
	Ophthalmology
	Orthopaedics
	Pediatrics
	Psychiatry
	Radiology
	Special Care Center
	Surgery
	Urology-Men's Health

Internal Medicine: Creating an Environment that is Achieving Excellence in Quality

Dr. Sridhar S. Chilimuri, Chairman, Department of Medicine.

Bronx-Lebanon’s Department of Medicine is its largest medical department, with 70 Attending Physicians and 100 Residents. Its highly trained physicians, under the direction of Dr. Sridhar S. Chilimuri, provide services in many specialty areas.

The department consists of fourteen major divisions: Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Epidemiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Infectious Diseases/AIDS, Nephrology, Neurology/ Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oncology, Primary Care and Preventive Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Rheumatology, and Geriatrics.

Among the major health problems that are having a significant impact on the Bronx community are heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

“We are proud to have an expert team of physicians that are achieving excellence in quality..."

Dr. Sridhar Chilimuri, Chairman, Department of Medicine

DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION

In the diabetes and hypertension areas, The Division of Primary Care and Preventive Medicine, has been most successful in alerting community residents to the seriousness of diabetes, as well as encouraging them to recognize the symptoms, seek help, and improve their quality of life. Education and treatment services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team.

The Division of Primary Care and Preventive Medicine was also selected by the New York City Department of Health to launch important disease prevention initiatives. As a result, the first Diabetes Registry in the Bronx was established. More than 2,500 diabetics are enrolled in this important program.

In the hypertension area, a blood pressure monitoring effort was implemented, which was also made possible through the NYC Department of Health. It involves home blood pressure monitors being distributed, with the ultimate aim of helping patients control their blood pressure. Three hundred patients are now enrolled in this innovative program.

ASTHMA

The Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care, under the leadership of Dr. Gilda Diaz-Fuentes, is taking an active role in the treatment and management of asthma.

Educational programs have been implemented to teach patients and community residents how to address their asthma and prevent crisis situations.

An asthma service in the ER is enabling patients to be immediately treated and then scheduled for an appointment with other providers throughout the hospital’s BronxCare Network.

Dr. Gilda Diaz-Fuentes, Chief, Pulmonary/Critical Care, and her patient, Josefa Rojas.

CARDIOLOGY

Bronx-Lebanon is clearly taking patients to heart when it comes to treating cardiovascular disease. Its Division of Cardiology has become a leader in addressing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

LEFT: Dr. Hussein Shaqra, Cardiology Attending (front), Juan Reyes, X-ray Technician, OR (right), and Dr. Jaime Ghitelman, Cardiology Fellow.
RIGHT: Dr. Jonathan N. Bella, Chief, Cardiology (front), reviewing echocardiogram with Dr. Justin Shaber, Cardiology Fellow.

“Our programs are geared towards lowering risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and obesity, as well as valvular heart and aortic diseases, heart failure and rhythm disorders, and anticoagulation evaluation,” stated Dr. Jonathan M. Bella, Chief, Cardiology.

The Cardiology Division’s inpatient functions, including the hospital’s Coronary Intensive Care Unit, represent an essential part of its daily activities. Dr. Bella and his staff are clearly on target in their efforts to assure that community residents and patients meet the American Heart Association guidelines.

Bronx-Lebanon’s recently approved angioplasty/PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) program represents an important addition to its cardiac division. It offers minimally invasive procedures following chest pain or heart attacks to address cardiac disease.

Learn more here...

HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY

Another important focus of the Department of Medicine is winning the war against cancer.

Its Division of Hematology and Oncology, under the direction of Dr. Zwi Schreiber, Chief, Hematology, has been a leader in the fight against this deadly disease.

A new oncology center has recently opened to provide specialized diagnostic, treatment, and support services.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Bronx-Lebanon’s Division of Infectious Diseases, under the direc¬tion of Dr. Edward Telzak, is a pre-eminent leader in the field.

It has received National Institute of Health and other significant funding to expand its educational and treatment programs.

In the emer-gency area, HIV testing services are now immediately available to all patients, an important benefit in early detection and treatment of this disease.

Learn more here...

Dr. Edward Telzak, Chief, Infectious Diseases/Director, AIDS Program, reviewing chart with Chusri Patra-Akrakul, LPN (left), and Lydia Dondiz, RN.

NEUROLOGY, PHYSICAL MEDICINE, AND REHABILITATION

The potential and often serious consequences of stroke are being addressed by the Department’s Division of Neurology/Physical Med-icine & Rehabilitation, through its 911 Designated Stroke Center located in the ER.

This division, under the direction of Dr. Jay Lombard, is also providing expert care in the treatment of migraine headaches and other neurological problems. Additionally, its neuro-logists are treating Multiple Sclerosis, through an affiliation with the New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Dr. Jay Lombard, Chief, Neurology/Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation, reviewing brain scan.

GASTROENTEROLOGY

As far as stomach, intestinal, and liver disorders, the department’s Division of Gastroenterology, under the direction of Dr. Bhavna Balar, is meeting the diverse needs of patients by providing a full range of accessible and quality medical services.

Its state-of-the-art Endoscopy Suite has dramatically improved accuracy in diagnosing colon cancer.

The division is also participating in a citywide colorectal cancer screening initiative that is reaching a large segment of the Bronx population.

Dr. Prospere Remy, Attending, Gastroenterology, performing endoscopy procedure.

OTHER KEY SERVICES

In addition to the services offered at the hospital, the Department of Medicine has significantly expanded its efforts in the community.

Its physicians provide the medical staffing and leadership for many of the BronxCare primary practices, as well as specialty programs, including those in the Gastroenterology area, under the direction of Dr. Bhavna Balar; Renal Dialysis, under the direction of Dr. Mahendraray Dave; Endocrinology, under the direction of Dr. Marcia Palace; and Dermatology, under the direction of Dr. Donald Rudikoff.