Angel Medical Center has announced that Dr. Mahendra N. Patel has successfully completed all of the requirements for certification in Internal Medicine through the Board of Certification in Internal Medicine an AAPS/ABPS affiliated Board of Certification.

In order to attain specialty certification, licensed physicians must meet the rigorous requirements of the appropriate certification board and the AAPS/ABPS. Eligibility requirements include advanced training, significant experience, good moral character and successful completion of a specialty written examination.

Paula Alter, vice president of Physician Services stated, “We are pleased that Dr. Patel achieved his goal of recertification. It illustrates his dedication to continuous learning and improvement which ultimately benefits our hospital and patients.”

Randall Savell, M.D. has opened a new gastroenterology practice in Sylva and will begin seeing patients Monday, Feb. 4. Dr. Savell's new practice is Mountain GI Associates and is located at 137 Medical Park Loop between the East Gate Plaza and Harris Regional Hospital.

A gastroenterologist serving the community for more than 20 years, Dr. Savell specializes in the full range of gastrointestinal care. He most recently practiced at Western Carolina Digestive Consultants.

Dr. Savell graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed an internship at the U.S. Air Force Medical Center — Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. Dr. Savell completed a residency at Tulane University School of Medicine.

More than 100,000 low-income women are receiving free multivitamins with folic acid in an effort to reduce birth defects thanks to the March of Dimes North Carolina Preconception Health Campaign. Last month, the campaign ordered 110,000 bottles of multivitamins and distributed them to health departments and community safety-net agencies participating in the Statewide Multivitamin Distribution Program.

Originally funded as a part of a bill passed by the N.C. General Assembly in 2009, the program distributes multivitamins with folic acid to low income, non-pregnant women of childbearing age through health departments and other safety-net providers. Since 2010, the North Carolina Division of Public Health Women’s Health Branch and the March of Dimes have worked together through a publicprivate partnership to ensure the continuation of this vital program. Since the program’s inception, more than 500,000 bottles of vitamins have been distributed statewide.

Cancer care in WNC to be the focus of new collaboration

Mission Health announces a collaboration with Hope Women's Cancer Centers (Hope), which has specialized in gynecologic and breast cancer treatment for women throughout the Southeast for more than 20 years. This new collaboration will enhance patients’ access to a broader network of specialized cancer care, while continuing the special caring tradition that Hope is known for with the region’s only fellowship trained, Board Certified Gynecologic Oncologists.

Centrally located in Western North Carolina, Hope provides a warm, comfortable state-of-the-art environment focused exclusively on women. Hope physicians also have significant expertise in breast cancer and high-risk breast disease, caring for women across the region while training future physicians for the region and beyond.