Best Hospital and Best Place to Work Medical Among Top Honors for Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Schuylkill

Our community gives high marks to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) in latest Republican Herald Readers' Choice Awards.

It is a recognition that has become a tradition for Schuylkill County newspaper readers. Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Schuylkill, Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG)–Schuylkill and LVHN, part of Jefferson Health, have been once again recognized as best in the region by voters in the 2025 Republican Herald Readers’ Choice Awards.

LVH–Schuylkill was awarded Best Hospital and Best Place to Work Medical. The hospital’s Stine Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Center was awarded Best Rehabilitation Center. Carmella Shemansik, MD, was honored as best anesthesiologist, while hospitalist Angela Zawisza, DO, received the award for Best Pediatrician. Additionally, LVHN ExpressCARE–Schuylkill was named Best Urgent Care.

“Recognition like this helps reaffirm our mission – ‘We Improve Lives,’” says Terry Purcell, Regional Chief Operating Officer of LVH–Schuylkill, LVH–Hazleton and LVH–Carbon. “These awards coupled with our recent Leapfrog A report card, recognition from Chartis Group as a top rural hospital, U.S. News & World Report top maternity hospital, Hospital and Health Association (HAP) patient safety award recipient and many others show our united commitment to patient safety, patient experience and positive outcomes.”

In addition to the hospital and health network related services, LVPG–Schuylkill clinicians have been honored:

• Best Obstetrician (Robert Zimmerman, DO)
• Best Cardiologist (Ghulam Akbar, MD)
• Best Neurologist (Erin Canale, MD)
• Best Endocrinologist (Angela Magdaleno, DO)
• Best Physician Assistant (Elizabeth Wittig, CRNP)

Two physicians closely aligned with LVH–Schuylkill have also received top honors:

• Babar Choudhry, MD (Psychiatrist)
• Amrit P.S. Narula (Gastroenterologist)

In announcing the awards, Purcell reminds colleagues that our community is very observant of what we do and how we do it. “Our community is watching and they are noticing all the good things you do,” he says. “Continue to be proud of your hospital and to do your best to take care of your patients.”

We congratulate our award winners, those nominated and our entire team for delivering the highest level of care to our community.