Physicians from a Brooklyn gastroenterology practice held a grand opening ceremony for their new Bay Ridge office this month.
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Gastroenterological Association
Brooklyn’s largest gastroenterology practice has expanded into Bay Ridge with a new office.
Brooklyn Gastroenterological Association This month, a grand opening ceremony was held for the Bay Ridge Women’s Center and SERA Wellness Center, both located at 9921 4th Ave. Gastroenterology Associates in Brooklyn employs 12 physicians board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, treating a range of digestive disorders from heartburn and food allergies to colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Kayane Hannah Hindi He said the clinic prides itself on both its medical expertise and diversity.
“Not only are we the largest private gastroenterology practice in Brooklyn, but we feel like we’re like the United Nations of Brooklyn,” she says. “We have a diverse range of backgrounds: Middle Eastern, Caribbean, European, American and Canadian.”
The physicians at Gastroenterology Associates of Brooklyn speak many languages, including Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Hebrew, allowing them to treat and connect with the diverse population that makes up Brooklyn.
Hannah Hindy, who moved to the United States from Lebanon and trained at SUNY Downstate, will initially be based in the Brooklyn Heights office, but as someone who grew up in the area, she is excited to be working from the new Bay Ridge office.
“Providing care to a diverse community is not only reflective of all of us, but it’s a very inclusive practice and having that inclusivity is important to us,” she said.
Many of Brooklyn Gastroenterology Society’s physicians are board-certified in multiple areas of practice, as well as teaching medicine at local universities and actively participating in research, Hannah Hindy said.
“We’re always looking to expand our knowledge and provide the latest care for our patients,” she explained.
The doctor said doctors at many large practices, especially those affiliated with hospital systems, feel forced to compromise the quality of care to meet patient quotas and mandated appointment times.
“[Patients] “They need compassion and care, and in my opinion, most health care workers who have worked in the private sector would not be able to stomach that,” she said. “There’s definitely a compromise of care there, and that’s where we step in.”
The new office offers the same compassionate, skilled care, but also a new service: the SERA Wellness Center.
Hannah Hindy said the wellness center is like an “extension” of the care provided at the women’s center and the clinic’s other locations, with resources specifically for obesity and weight loss.
Many of Brooklyn’s gastroenterology patients have fatty liver disease and other conditions related to obesity, and some come in specifically for weight loss consultations, she said.
At the wellness center, patients can consult with a doctor about how to lose weight and maintain it, as well as meet with a nutritionist to discuss the best approach to weight loss.
Hannah Hindy said many patients who embark on weight loss programs end up with deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, so the center provides infusions and supplements to keep them completely healthy.
“We get people on the inside, lose weight and feel good, and then we add a little makeup on the outside,” she said.
