LAKELAND, Fla. – Lakeland Regional Health has recently welcomed the following new providers to their medical staff. All providers listed below are accepting patients for care.
Primary Care- Adriene Avripas, APRN
Adriene Avripas, APRN, is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine. She has extensive experience in a wide variety of medical settings and specialties, including behavioral health/psychiatric clinics, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, wound care, post-operative cardiac care, and telehealth.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, Adriene earned her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from South University in Novi, Michigan.
She sees patients at Grasslands Campus. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5000.
Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Medicine– Joseph Chebli, MD, FASMBS, FACS
Joseph Chebli, MD, FASMBS, FACS,serves as Lakeland Regional Health’sMedical Director for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Chebli is a board-certified physician specializing in various types of bariatric surgery and metabolic medicine. His surgical specialties include gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, as well as revision and conversion operations. He also serves as the chair of the Diabetes Advisory Council for the State of Florida.
Dr. Chebli earned his medical degree at State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his general surgery residency at Georgetown University Hospital.
He works with patients at the Medical Center and the Grasslands Campus to address their unique needs and create individualized plans for their health goals, including weight-related disease eradication. For appointments or to learn more about the Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Medicine, patients should call 863.284.1500.
Hematology/Oncology- Muhammad Zain Farooq, MD, MBBS
Muhammad Zain Farooq, MD, MBBS, is a fellowship-trained oncology/hematology physician and a board-certified internist. He focuses on the management of all cancer types and blood-related issues.
Dr. Farooq earned his medical degree (MBSS) at the Dow University of Health Sciences in Pakistan. He has extensive training and research experience in hematology/oncology. Dr. Farooq completed his internal medicine residency at John Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his fellowship in oncology/hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Dr. Farooq cares for patients at the Hollis Cancer Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.603.6565.
Urogynecology– Victoria Harrison, PA-C
Victoria Harrison, PA-C,specializes in urogynecology. She helps patients by addressing concerns such as incontinence, prolapse, abnormal bleeding, and pelvic pain.
Victoria also has experience in interventional radiology, surgical procedures, orthopedics, pain management, and primary care. She completed her physician assistant education at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Victoria also holds a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Barry University.
She cares for patients at the Innovation Campus and assists with surgical procedures at the Medical Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.1583.
Breast Oncology- Monay Link, APRN, FNP
Monay Link, APRN, FNP, is a board-certified, advanced practice registered nurse specializing in breast oncology. She also has experience in both surgical and chemotherapy settings.
Monay became a registered nurse at South Florida State College, earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Polk State College, and completed her family nurse practitioner education at The University of Tampa.
Monay cares for patients at the Hollis Cancer Center. For appointments, patients should call 863.603.6565.
Pulmonology- Amber Peterson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Amber Peterson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, specializes in pulmonology. She has been part of the Lakeland Regional Health team for many years in various nursing roles.
Amber completed her nursing education right here in Polk County. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Polk State College and her Master of Science in Nursing at Florida Southern College.
She sees patients at the Grasslands campus. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.5050.
Nephrology- Assem Sherieh, MD
Assem Sherieh, MD, specializes in nephrology and also has extensive experience as a hospitalist. He is certified by the American Board of Nephrology, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Palliative Care and Hospice.
Dr. Sherieh completed his medical education at Damascus University Faculty of Medicine in Syria. He then completed his next phase of medical education in Indiana; first with an internal medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital (Indianapolis) and then a palliative care fellowship at the Indiana University School of Medicine. His nephrology fellowship was completed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also holds an MBA from the Indiana University School of Business. Dr. Sherieh speaks English, Arabic, and some Spanish.
He cares for patients at Hollis Cancer Center and Grasslands Campus. For appointments, patients should call 863.603.6565.
Obstetrics and Gynecology- Kristina VanderMark, MD
Kristina VanderMark, MD, is a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She serves as the Medical Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She provides comprehensive care to maintain and improve women’s overall health throughout their reproductive journey, including prenatal, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. She also addresses a wide range of gynecologic health needs, from routine exams and screenings to managing conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis.
Dr. VanderMark completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. She then completed an OB/GYN residency at the Grand Rapids Area Medical Education & Research Center and Michigan State University. She also holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Dr. VanderMark has more than two decades of teaching experience. She has been a faculty member of various programs at Michigan State University and most recently served as the program director of the obstetrics and gynecology residency program.
Dr. VanderMark cares for patients at the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children and several additional LRH locations. For appointments, patients should call 863.284.6860.
— provided by Lakeland Regional Health