Submitted by: PeaceHealth Medical Group
PeaceHealth Medical Group (PHMG) has welcomed ten new providers to Bellingham practices.
Samiollah Gholam, MD, joined PHMG’s Internal Medicine team of providers. Dr. Gholam earned a Doctor of Medicine at Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, and completed an elective rotation in Gastroenterology at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. He subsequently completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Kern Medical, in affiliation of the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at the University of Southern California- Keck School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and supports the management of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, to prevent complications and allow patients to improve their overall health. His research has focused on gastroenterology and cardiovascular health. He speaks Farsi.
Lindsay Emerick, MD, joined PHMG’s OB-GYN team of providers. Dr. Emerick earned her Doctor of Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She received an Award for Excellence in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in 2017 and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She has special interests in minimally invasive gynecological surgery, adolescent gynecology, high risk obstetrics and breastfeeding medicine. Her most recent research focused on a trial of labor after a previous cesarean section.
Laurilee Reiber, ARNP, joined PHMG’s Cardiology team of providers. Laurilee earned her Master of Science in Nursing at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. She is board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to joining the Cardiology team as a nurse practitioner, Laurilee served as a registered nurse on the Progressive Care Unit at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for 10 years. She is committed to taking the time to explain treatment options, care plans, expected outcomes and potential complications to all patients. Laurilee believes that forming a partnership with her patients is crucial. She incorporates wellness and preventive care into treatment plans. She speaks Spanish.
Joel Hoekema, MD, joined PHMG’s Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team of providers. Dr. Hoekema began his professional life as a mechanical engineer at Boeing after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington. Four years later, he refined his choice to mechanics of a different, human kind and returned to medical school to use his skills to serve others. After completion of his residency at the University of Washington in 2000, he accepted a one-year fellowship in spinal surgery at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He has been practicing medicine in the Bellingham community since 2001. He is board-certified by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Hoekema seeks to compassionately meet the needs of all patients in need of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, including lumbar and cervical spine surgery.
Dong Xiang, MD, MS, joined the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center team of providers. Dr. Xiang earned his Doctor of Medicine at Southern Medical University in Guangdong, China, and followed this with a Master of Science in Molecular Biology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; an Internal Medicine residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina; and a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. He board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. He has special interests in providing novel treatment and clinical trials for patients with advanced stages of cancer and treating gastrointestinal, prostate and lymphatic cancers. His research has focused on breast and lung cancer. He won the prestigious ASCO breast cancer merit award for his breast cancer vaccine research in 2011. He is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin).
Matthew Goddard, PA-C, joined PHMG’s Cardiology team of providers. Matthew earned his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Texas Pan-America in Edinburg, Texas. He is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and in the process of completing an additional board certification with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He has special interests in preventative medicine and cardiac critical care. His provider philosophy is rooted in the belief that cardiovascular care begins with prevention and must look at all available tools when problems arise. He is a proponent of lifestyle modifications, such as diet, exercise, social connection and stress management, and explores all options, including medications, procedures and surgeries, to help heart patients overcome health challenges.
Naori Yamashiro, MD, joined PHMG’s Center for Senior Health team of providers. Dr. Yamashiro earned a Doctor of Medicine at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. She subsequently completed a Family Medicine residency at Dartmouth in Concord, New Hampshire, and a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is board-certified in both Geriatric Medicine and Family Medicine and has a certificate in Travel Health Medicine. Dr. Yamashiro’s area of interest is community-based outpatient care – for example, care provided in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. Her professional experience includes several short-term positions in Honduras, Guatemala, Hawaii and New Zealand. She is fluent in Japanese.
Graham Meeks, ARNP, joined PHMG’s Cardiology team of providers. Graham earned his Master of Science in Nursing at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He previously served adult cardiology patients at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. His medical interests include heart failure and preventive care – optimizing fitness, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol and other modifiable risk factors.
Michael Skare, PA-C, joined PHMG’s Family Medicine team of providers. Michael earned his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Des Moines University in De Moines, Iowa. He is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Prior to joining PeaceHealth, Michael served patients at Suttons Bay Medical Clinic, in Suttons Bay, Michigan. His medical interests run the gamut in Family Medicine, including diabetes, depression, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), arthritis, obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, and acute and chronic pain.
June Parker, PA-C, joined PHMG’s Gastroenterology team of providers. June earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Prior to furthering her education to become a physician assistant, June was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on Bainbridge Island, Washington, for more than 10 years. Her work as an EMT fostered a love for providing compassionate and progressive care.
More information about each of these providers can be found using the “Find a Doc” tool at www.peacehealth.org.
