"Philosophy of care | My philosophy of care is patient-centered. I believe in a strong doctor and patient relationship that involves mutual respect, honesty, compassion and personal responsibility. I believe an essential part of ""doctoring"" is providing quality medical care in a caring atmosphere where every patient is heard and treated as a unique individual. | Why I entered medicine | Ever since I could remember I had always wanted to go into medicine. I am one of seven children. My mother was a nurse and she always encouraged me to enter the medical profession. She entered nursing school when I was 8 years old. I was brought up watching her study, listening to stories about patients and the hospital. My enthusiasm for medicine continued in high school and college; I loved the sciences. When it was time to fill out my application, I knew being a doctor would enable me to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of people when they need it most, and there are not many professions that give us that privilege. | Community involvement | I remain active in the community supporting my church, childrens schools and sports teams. I am also active in the American Heart Association's Lehigh Valley chapter. | Personal interests | As a mother of three beautiful children, wife of a wonderful cardiologist and a solo medical practitioner in internal medicine, personal interests are hard to fit in. My father purchased a home on the Jersey Shore in 1994, which allows me to enjoy the beach and precious time with my family. I also love to ski. I started skiing in medical school and make a yearly trek out West with my family and friends. As a physician, I am always reminding patients of the benefits of regular exercise, and I, too, try to remain physically active. In 2011, I completed the Lehigh Valley Marathon -- that was a very proud moment!". Dr. Persin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Vitamin D Deficiency, Sitosterolemia, High Cholesterol, and Hypertension.

Philosophy of care | I believe in treating patients as equals and friends. When a patient visits, I want to make them comfortable when they share what’s happening with their health. I don’t like to lecture people, but I believe it’s important to educate patients about preventative medicine. It’s important to catch small issues before they become big problems. It's very enjoyable and very rewarding, particularly when I see patients in the hospital – and in the office – to know that what I am doing has an impact. I also like to find out what's going on in their lives in addition to the medical aspects – with their grandchildren, where they are going on vacation – just meeting people every day and getting to know them. | Why I entered medicine | Growing up, I played football and basketball in school, and I was always interested in how the body works. But my mom says it goes back ever further than that. She says I talked about being a doctor from the time I was 4 years old. I can’t imagine doing anything else – it’s who I am. | Community involvement | I spend time at Muhlenberg teaching interns, residents and medical students. | Personal interests | I'm caring, passionate, loyal and intense - intense in a good way. I care a lot about everything I do and everything that goes on around me. I love my family, and I spend as much time with them as possible. My wife and I have three children. And of course, we have our dog. Shes a German shorthair pointer and she’s definitely an important member of our family, too. I also spend a lot of time following sports – the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the Eagles. Dr. Wertz is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Familial Neurocardiogenic Syncope, Dementia, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Familial Hypertension.

Meena Agarwala is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Agarwala is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Gastrostomy, and Hip Replacement.

Philosophy of care | I enjoy providing primary care, particularly internal medicine, because it touches on multiple specialties and spans all ages. | Community involvement | I have served as club president for Parkland Ice Hockey, helping lead them to a national title in 2015. | Personal interests | I consider myself a family man and enjoy spending time with my wife and three children – which makes me particularly suited for primary care. I am also a sports enthusiast with a special interest in hockey. Both my son and daughter play on a travel hockey teams. Dr. Nimeh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Enlarged Prostate (BPH), Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

Paola Blanco is a Gastroenterologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Blanco is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Gastric Dysmotility, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Philosophy of care | My philosophy centers around building relationships with patients, whether it be for a routine screening colonoscopy or long-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis. | Why I entered medicine | Medicine should focus 100% on patient care. I entered the field to treat you and all my patients the way I would want my family members treated: with care, respect and to the best of my knowledge and skill. | Community involvement | Saint Thomas More Catholic Church. South Parkland Youth Association. | Personal interests | I enjoy sports, hiking, muscle cars and grandkids. Dr. Bross is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Crohn's Disease, Acute Pancreatitis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Philosophy of care | I am a board-certified gastroenterologist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of digestive disorders, especially gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal motility disorders and functional bowel diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), I help you improve your quality of life through personalized care and evidence-based treatment. My patient-centered approach combines the latest advancements in gastroenterology with compassionate care to manage both common and complex digestive conditions. Dr. Hickey is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Biliary Hypoplasia, Swallowing Difficulty, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Philosophy of care | I provide the best available care based on the latest research and standard of care. This can only be achieved through close interaction with each patient, listening to their history and helping them choose the treatment that best meets their goals and lifestyle. | Why I entered medicine | I have always been passionate about providing healing and care. I love to use insights about how the body functions and modern medicine to provide a cure and respite from disease. | Community involvement | I have led a team of passionate medical clinicians on three international trips to provide medical care to Ukrainian refugees. My team was able to bring medicine and care to hundreds of people escaping the ravages of war. | Personal interests | My free time is spent with my children and husband. We love to travel to experience different foods and cultures. Dr. Shnitser is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Ulcerative Colitis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Michael Engels is a Gastroenterologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Engels is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Acute Pancreatitis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Philosophy of care | I believe in taking care of you as a whole, investing in your emotional well-being as well as treating your physical ailment. | Why I entered medicine | I entered medicine because I wanted to help people. I have always found medicine and science fascinating, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to know. Gastroenterology is by far the most interesting specialty to me, and with the variety of pathology we see, it is never boring. | Community involvement | I routinely participate in local Step Beyond Celiac 5K events to raise money for celiac disease research, and have spoken at local PA gluten free expos. My personal and professional passion is to raise awareness for and to focus on patient education for celiac disease. | Personal interests | I love spending time with my son, daughter and husband, and enjoy improving on my gluten-free cooking skills. Dr. Baragona is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Celiac Disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastric Dysmotility, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

Eric Nellis is a Gastroenterologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Nellis is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Painful Swallowing, Swallowing Difficulty, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Philosophy of care | My aim is to provide quality care by educating you about your conditions so you feel more comfortable sharing your health concerns, have a better understanding of the treatment plan, and ultimately become a more active participant in your care. | Why I entered medicine | I entered medicine because I wanted to enter a field that combined my interest in science with the ability to work closely with people. Medicine provides this plus the opportunity to stay on the leading edge of technology and research while being a lifelong learner. | Community involvement | Locally, I am a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology. | Personal interests | I am an avid sports fan and season-ticket holder. I enjoy traveling to national parks and other new places, running, hiking, kayaking, listening to informative podcasts, and spending time with my family and dog. Dr. Sullivan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Lower Esophageal Ring, Biliary Hypoplasia, Swallowing Difficulty, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Anthony Auteri is a Gastroenterologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Auteri is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastrectomy, and Colonoscopy.

Philosophy of care | For health to work, it truly needs to be individualized and centered on you. Everyone is different and it's hard to fit everyone into a medical textbook mold. I believe many things can be achieved by understanding disease processes, and sometimes less is more. Medications and procedures all have risks and benefits and deciding what truly needs to be prescribed or done is a discussion between me and you. Just because something can be done doesn't always mean it should be done. | Why I entered medicine | I entered medicine to help people take control of their health, feel empowered and make positive life changes based on informed decisions with me as a guide. Understanding the human body is challenging and it’s my job to translate all the medical jargon so you understand what is happening to you, why it is happening and what options you have. I've always viewed medicine as a partnership with patients and not a dictatorship; most people enjoy being in control of their own bodies and health. | Personal interests | I spend most of my free time outside with my husband and daughters hiking, biking, jogging or snowboarding and just living and being in the moment. Dr. Patek is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastritis, Chronic Erosive Gastritis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Philosophy of care | I provide the best possible evidence-based care to my patients, and look forward to helping you. | Why I entered medicine | The medical field fascinated me, and I loved how I could apply the science of gastroenterology to improve lives. | Community involvement | I am active at the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. | Personal interests | I enjoy skiing, long-distance running and spending quality time with my wife and children. Dr. Mendelson is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Painful Swallowing, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

James Boylan is a Gastroenterologist in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Boylan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Painful Swallowing, Swallowing Difficulty, Achalasia, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

James Manley is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Manley is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Xanthoma, Cirrhosis, and Familial Hypertension.

Eric Kane is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Kane is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol.

Philosophy of care | I want to help people live their best life. | Why I entered medicine | My family comes from a combination of cultures. I was raised near the Venezuelan-Columbian border, and the exposure to this environment, with limited medical services, inspired me to work in improving access to health care to the area's inhabitants. Due to the political environment in Venezuela, I later chose to move to a country that cherishes freedom. | Personal interests | I enjoy my family, reading history, languages, swimming, scuba diving and playing tennis. Dr. Penaloza is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Obesity, Hepatitis C, and Cirrhosis.

Philosophy of care | In a world where it seems like practices are becoming larger and less personal, our office is still a small two practitioner practice. This allows a patient to be able to see the same physician in the practice and for that doctor to be able to know that patient and his or her family as well as he can. | Why I entered medicine | I had originally entered college planning to become a chemical engineer. After a semester of math and science, I decided that I wanted a profession where I could feel like I was directly impacting people's lives on a daily basis. I really cherish getting to know my patients and their families. | Community involvement | I am involved in my son's team sports and school events. I am a lector and an RCIA sponsor at my church and enjoy playing tuba in the Nazareth Community Band. | Personal interests | I enjoy playing tuba, gardening and running. Dr. Heffelfinger is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). His top areas of expertise are Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).