Laparoscopic Appendectomy near Winston Salem, NC

Biography: Julio Reyes, MD, loves to see surgery make a radical change in a patient's life and formulate an intervention with measurable results. As a general surgeon, Dr. Reyes treats patients with a variety of conditions, but is especially interested in the treatment of hernias, biliary disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Reyes is also passionate about minimally invasive surgery because of the benefit to patients, including less incisions and shorter recovery time. His goal is to provide remarkable care and getting patients back to their normal activities as quickly as possible. Outside of work, Dr. Reyes' family keeps him very busy. He and his wife spend most of their free time in after-school activities with their three children.

Biography: In the decade-plus that W. Scott Berger, MD, has been part of the medical field, he has built a very successful general surgery practice. He loves the variety of cases that general surgery provides but also likes the chance to delve deeper into certain types of surgeries. The areas Dr. Berger enjoys most are thyroid, parathyroid and gastric surgeries. Dr. Berger is dedicated to helping his patients find relief from disorders and discomforts so they can get back to a more enjoyable, active lifestyle. Outside of work, Dr. Berger enjoys staying active with his family. He plays soccer and coaches his children in soccer, baseball and softball.

Biography: Even in my early teens, I knew I wanted to be a physician. I was fascinated by anatomy, loved science and was precise at dissection. Surgery was definitely my calling. \n Being the child of first-generation immigrants meant several messages were ingrained in my siblings and me. Our parents expected us to work hard, finish what we started, push to succeed and never complain. \n I had a wonderful mentor during my residency who shared with me his surgical mantra: "Treat every patient like they are your mother." I took it to heart and adopted it as my mantra, too. I believe this wholeheartedly and continue to operate with this thought in mind. \n When it comes to robotic surgery, I was an early adopter. I have performed more than 1,500 robotic procedures. I even test other surgeons on their robotics skills once they have completed training. In my role as a robotic proctor, I travel the country and evaluate and "sign off" on surgeons who have completed robotics training. \n I have founded two bariatric centers and built them into established Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence (BSCOE). The BSCOE designation helps patients identify surgeons who provide the safest and most effective treatments. The robotic center in High Point I founded was awarded the first robotic epicenter in North Carolina by the Intuitive Surgical group in 2019. \n I'm a member of the American Board of Surgery and SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) and am a fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. \n My hobbies include coaching and helping with my kids' travel sports, playing golf and tennis, cooking, painting and woodworking. I most enjoy traveling - and just hanging out - with my wife.

Biography: While an unforeseen surgical need is never wanted, Christopher Hunter, MD, is happy to be there for his patients should they have one. He chose to become a surgeon because it gave him the opportunity to help others. Dr. Hunter enjoys abdominal surgeries, but especially loves being able to help his patients during surgical emergencies. He is passionate about identifying patients' problems, fixing them and helping them feel better. Dr. Hunter is thrilled to have found a work home at Novant Health Salem Surgical Associates. Married with two young sons, Dr. Hunter stays busy outside of work spending time with his family being outdoors and exploring Winston-Salem together.

Biography: Dr. Joshua Rickey is a board-certified general surgeon with Novant Health Salem Surgical Associates. "Josh," as he often tells his patients to call him, has been a member of Salem Surgical for six years. Originally from the coast of South Carolina, Josh completed his undergraduate studies at Clemson University in Biochemistry. He then went on to attend medical school at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, South Carolina. After completing medical school in 2010, he continued into general surgery residency at MUSC. During his time at MUSC, he was known for his teaching of medical students and residents, having earned multiple teaching awards and being recognized as the Max S. Rittenbury Intern of the Year. Driven by an interest in the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery, as well as the application of new technologies, Josh then completed a bariatric and minimally invasive surgery fellowship at then Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He says that the possibility of helping people with surgery for a disease that can be a lifelong struggle has always intrigued him. After completion of his fellowship in Charlotte, Josh joined his family in Winston-Salem, going on to complete an additional year of training in the Transition to Practice Fellowship at Wake Forest Baptist Health. \n Josh elected to stay in Winston-Salem as he felt it reminded him of his hometown with a close-knit group of people, offering a small town feel in a big city. Here they have grown to love the community and surroundings. Since joining Salem Surgical, he has been excited to offer new technologies and techniques to address the medical issues of his patients from Winston-Salem and surrounding areas. A supporter of the application of the robot in surgery, Josh has been able to help multiple patients with complex problems recover faster and with less pain as they return to their lifestyles. He feels it is important to help people get back to "normal" as quickly as they can and feels that use of the robot will allow patients that opportunity. \n His approach to medicine may be a little different, as he feels it is important to partner with the patient. Josh likes to maintain a personal relationship with the patient and work with them actively to be involved with their care and decision making. He strives to help patients understand the issues and the choices, personalizing the plan for each patient. His belief is, "education and understanding are key to good outcomes." \n Josh has been excited by bariatrics since his training and has been actively seeking to help provide that service to the people of Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas. Helping patients achieve goals they thought were not possible has always driven Josh. When approached about helping Novant Health start bariatrics at Clemmons, Josh was happy to finally be able to help provide additional services to the population. His care and planning show as he describes helping patients navigate the process of approval, evaluation and preparing for surgery. "We at Salem Surgical want to provide a seamless and smooth process for patients," Josh said. "We want them to have a pleasant experience navigating what can be a confusing situation and most importantly, we want them to know we are here for them." He is excited about being able to apply the robot to patients undergoing weight loss surgery as a method to help improve recovery and outcomes. \n When not at work, Josh spends time with his family (wife Ashley and two children). With his office littered with tiger paws and orange, it's obvious he is an ardent Clemson University fan. At any given time, you are likely to see him in some form of orange or purple, whether at the office or simply out and about. Don't be surprised during fall Fridays to catch him wearing orange (a custom in Clemson). As people around the office have heard him say, "On Fridays we wear orange." In the fall, he and his family enjoy attending football games and cheering the Tigers on to victory. Other times, he and his family enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, playing sports together, riding bikes or just spending time together.

Biography: Dr. Lori Kellam, MD is a General Surgery Specialist who practices in Winston Salem, NC. She is 64 years old and has been practicing for 34 years. Dr. Lori Kellam, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Medical Park Hospital.

Biography: Jennifer Christman, MD, offers surgery along with nonsurgical treatments to her patients. She is passionate about providing remarkable care to all her patients and helping them get back to living a healthy, active life.

Biography: Dr. Joseph Doerger, MD is a General Surgery Specialist who practices in Winston Salem, NC. He is 47 years old and has been practicing for 20 years. Dr. Joseph Doerger, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Robinson spent a significant amount of time focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor diseases during his fellowship. He chose colon and rectal surgery because it was focused enough for him to become very skilled yet broad enough to provide professional satisfaction. Dr. Robinson enjoys being able to offer both surgical and nonsurgical therapies, but he always tries to avoid surgery if there is a better, non operative option. While he dedicates much of his time to his patients and his practice, Dr. Robinson appreciates spending time with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, kayaking, vegetable gardening and barbecuing for family and friends.