June 1, 2021 — Gastro Health, a national leading medical group specializing in digestive and liver health, is expanding its presence to ten locations in Northern Virginia through a partnership with two additional gastroenterology practices, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates, P.C. (GHA) and Hong Gastroenterology, effective June 1, 2021.
This partnership also includes a majority ownership in the state-of-the-art endoscopy center, Northern Virginia Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; as well as an in-office endoscopy center, The Endoscopy Center, PLLC – which has the highest level of recognition provided by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. – bringing the total number of Gastro Health endoscopy centers to six in the Northern Virginia market.
“We are pleased to continue to add quality GI care options in Northern Virginia through the addition of GHA and Hong Gastroenterology,” said Gastro Health CEO Joseph Garcia. “This partnership will strengthen the providers ability to provide high-quality care, ultimately benefitting patients in the community at large.”
Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates, located in Alexandria, VA, was founded in 1989 and consists of two board-certified gastroenterologists, Suresh Malhotra, M.D., FACP, AGAF, and Ronald Barkin, M.D.
“This announcement is an exciting chapter for GHA as we join an industry leader, Gastro Health, with a shared passion for innovation and patient care,” said Dr. Malhotra, who has also served as chairman of the Gastroenterology Department at Inova Alexandria Hospital and clinical assistant professor of Medicine at Georgetown University. “Together, we look forward to delivering solutions that improve patient outcomes.”
Hong Gastroenterology, located in Annandale, VA, has been serving Northern Virginia and the surrounding communities since 1996, specializing in the evaluation and management of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders and conditions.
“I am looking forward to this transformative partnership with Gastro Health,” said Mu K. Hong, M.D., who previously participated in cancer research with the NIH’s National Cancer Institute. “This relationship will help us build upon our infrastructure to support our operations so that our staff can dedicate more time to our patients.”
This latest acquisition by Gastro Health marks the continuation of a rapid growth and expansion period through a series of mergers and acquisitions within the single-specialty gastroenterology sector over the last two years. Gastro Health supports practices in Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland with over 100 locations consisting of medical office practices, infusion centers, imaging services and a specialty pharmacy. Additionally, Gastro Health owns and operates endoscopy centers in five of the six states.
About Gastro Health
Gastro Health is one of the leading gastroenterology platforms in the United States supporting practices in Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and Washington. Gastro Health strives to provide outstanding medical care and an exceptional healthcare experience. The Gastro Health care teams utilize technology, clinical expertise, and compassionate care to provide a personalized approach to digestive health and overall wellness. Learn more at GastroHealth.com.
