Leading-Edge Surgical Services Available in LVHN’s Northwest Region

As the reach of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) expands throughout its northwest region, the range of services grows, bringing much-needed surgical care to local communities in Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill counties and the surrounding areas.

“The goal is to provide the best possible surgical care in the communities so residents don’t have to leave for their treatment,” says Michael Pasquale, MD, Chair, Department of Surgery, Physician in Chief for Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. “We offer more types of surgical procedures than any of our competitors, and we do more surgeries than anyone else. I’m a firm believer that the more you do, the better you are.” 

Two experienced general surgeons recently joined Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) at LVPG General Surgery–Tunnel Road: Daniel Bobrowski, MD, and Neil Fisher, DO. Both surgeons came from Integrated Medical Group, having served the area for many years. LVPG is looking to build its general surgery practice in this location. Also on the Schuylkill team is Anthony Dippolito, MD, a general and colorectal surgeon.

Anuj Chopra, MD, a general urology surgeon, joined LVPG Urology–Hazleton in August. Hazleton native Anthony (Tony) Falvello, DO, orthopedic surgeon, and Jon Hernandez, MD, recently joined LVPG Orthopedics and Sports Medicine–Station Circle. Hernandez is the only trained hand specialist in the area. Mboutidem Etokakpan, MD, a general surgeon, recently joined LVPG Surgery–Health & Wellness Center in Hazle Township. He has returned to Pennsylvania after completing his general surgery residency at Geisinger Medical Center in 2020. Established general surgeon Anthony Carrato, MD, and Joshua Nochumson, MD, a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon, are also at LVPG Surgery–Health & Wellness Center. Michael Mahoney, DO, a general and bariatric surgeon who’s been with LVPG Surgery for a number of years, continues to provide surgery in Hazleton. He has recently converted more of his procedures to less invasive, robotic techniques. “We’re the regional leader in robotic procedures, which allows us to do things in a less invasive way,” Pasquale says. “This gets patients out of the hospital faster, with less pain, and back to their lifestyles sooner.” 

Nochumson now also provides services at LVPG General Surgery–Carbon in Lehighton. Sten Kjellberg, MD, surgical oncologist, performs surgeries at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)-Carbon as well. The 100,587-square-foot LVH–Carbon recently opened, providing surgical services for orthopedics, general surgery, ENT, urology, gastrointestinal and spine within two surgical suites and two special procedure rooms.