Exciting New Physician Recruitment Efforts

Since joining MedStar Health, St. Mary's Hospital and the community have already seen positive results from the partnership. With the help of an independent research firm, we recently held focus groups with community members and hospital associates, and distributed surveys to hospital team members regarding the MedStar partnership. The goal is to better understand what is important to associates, physicians and community members as the hospital continues to plan for the future with MedStar.

One reason St. Mary's Hospital joined MedStar Health was to further physician recruitment efforts, especially in specialty areas such as endocrinology. The following are updates on the hospital's physician recruitment efforts.

Meeting the Endocrinology Needs

St. Mary's Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Priya Kundra, an endocrinologist from Washington Hospital Center, who is caring for patients one day a week in St. Mary's County.

Dr. Kundra has broad experience in the management of a wide array of endocrine problems, including specialized expertise in diabetes and thyroid diseases. She is board certified in internal medicine and is specialty board certified in endocrinology and metabolism. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed her residency training in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital, another MedStar Health facility. Dr. Kundra completed her fellowship training at Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center.

Historically, endocrinology services have been limited in Southern Maryland. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and the diseases and conditions associated with them ranging from diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, pituitary and adrenal disorders. Dr. Kundra has specific interest in thyroid disorders, thyroid cancer, diabetes mellitus, adrenal disorders and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Associates from St. Mary's Hospital's Diabetes Education program are working closely with Dr. Kundra. The certified diabetes educators, Tina Leap and Becky Sutay, assist with patient assessment, diabetes education, insulin injection instructions and insulin pump training.

New Ophthalmologists Keep an 'Eye' on Community's Health

Also in February, the hospital opened Eye Physicians of St. Mary's, a new ophthalmology practice located at the St. Mary's Medical Center at Charlotte Hall, which offers comprehensive ophthalmic services. The practice is another quality service offered by St. Mary's Hospital.

Dr. Renee Bovelle and Dr. Prisca Diala, the practice's physicians, believe a routine evaluation of your eyes is essential to staying healthy. The pair offers comprehensive ophthalmic services to diagnose and treat a variety of eye conditions, prescribes eyeglasses and performs complex ocular surgeries.

Dr. Bovelle received her medical school training at the well-known UCLA-Drew School of Medicine and completed her medical internship in internal medicine at Franklin Square Hospital Center in Baltimore, Maryland, a MedStar Health facility. She completed her residency in ophthalmology from Yale University where she served as chief resident. She also completed a fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery from the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Bovelle specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology, cornea and refractive surgery, and performs cosmetic eye procedures. She is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Diala received her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed her internship at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and served as chief resident. Her specialties include comprehensive ophthalmology and cataract/refractive surgery. She also performs cosmetic eye procedures.

"I enjoy the holistic care we as ophthalmologists have the privilege of providing to our patients in terms of both medical and surgical eye services," said Dr. Diala.

About the New Services:

Endocrinology:
(Dr. Kundra)
Call: 301-475-6019
Location: 23000 Moakley St., Suite 103 • Leonardtown
Hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eye Physicians of St. Mary's:
(Drs. Bovelle and Diala)
Call: 301-290-5915
Location: St. Mary's Medical Center • 37767 Market Drive • Charlotte Hall
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • (Late hours available)