Neil R. Sharma, MD, Completes New Endoscopic Procedure

    FORT WAYNE, IN, April 02, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Neil R. Sharma of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, a division of Parkview Regional Medical Center, has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in medicine.

An expert in advanced interventional endoscopy and endoscopic oncology, Dr. Sharma has helped patients diagnose, stage, and treat cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, mediastinum, rectum, lymph nodes, and lung through less-invasive procedures. He also treats patients with pre-cancerous lesions such as polyps and Barrett's esophagus by employing new technologies or removing the lesions by endoscopic resection. Through his expertise in interventional endoscopy and novel minimally invasive techniques, he has been able to treat a variety of GI diseases including those which cause bleeding in the GI tract. It was in this capacity that he started a new procedure. Dr. Sharma successfully completed an endoscopic oversew of a gastric ulcer at Parkview Regional Medical Center without complication.

During the procedure, Dr. Sharma accessed the stomach through a specialized two-channel endoscope equipped with a suturing device. Once inside the stomach, he brought healthy tissue over the ulcer and sewed it into place. This procedure allows the ulcer to heal without irritation. Parkview Regional Medical Center became the first hospital in Indiana to have the procedure performed.

"It was less invasive than traditional surgery or laparoscopy because there was no cutting involved. This translates to a shorter recovery time and less cost for the patient," Dr. Sharma said. "Without this procedure, the patient may have required major surgery - a resection of her stomach."

Dr. Sharma is a physician leader and educator. He is actively involved in research and medical student education. He is a mentor in the student research program, and volunteer assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University. He is also primary investigator on trials for minimally invasive interventional endoscopy. Dr. Sharma currently serves as medical director for gastrointestinal oncology program. He is the co-physician service line leader for the comprehensive cancer center and the director for advanced interventional endoscopy and endoscopic oncology.

Dr. Sharma has won numerous institutional and patient care awards. He has been granted the Patients' Choice Award in 2010 and 2014. Dr. Sharma is affiliated with the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Gastroenterology Association and the American College of Physicians. Aside from research and innovation, Dr. Sharma is committed to safety, quality, and improving the patient experience while reducing medical costs. He serves on the national practice management committee for the American College of Gastroenterology. He also serves on the Parkview Health system Quality Committee. After receiving an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., Dr. Sharma attended the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va., for medical school and completed his residency at the University of South Florida Tampa, Fla., campus. He graduated magna cum laude.

For more information about Dr. Sharma at the Digestive Disease and Nutrition division of Parkview Regional Medical Center, please visit http://www.parkview.com/en/locations/Parkview-Regional-Medical-Center/Pages/default.aspx.

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