Employee Spotlight: Kathy Karnes, Director of Quality and Clinical Trials

As a nurse for more than 43 years, Kathy Karnes has spent the last 34 years in gastroenterology. She serves in two director roles in quality and clinical trials. “The best thing about my job is that every day is different – offering new challenges and rewards.” She oversees clinical trials for medications and devices related to GI diseases. “There … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Amy Walker, Business Office Manager

“I’m not near old enough to have been here 22 years,” jokes Amy Walker, business office manager at GIA. A professional coder, her biggest function is to make sure the work of the physicians and nurse practitioners gets billed and paid for correctly. The best thing about her profession is that “it never stays the same,” she explained. “You don’t … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Linda Shamieh, Central Operator

“I love talking to people! Love it,” shares Linda Shamieh. It’s a good thing since, as the central operator for GIA, she fields calls for all three locations to get callers where they need to go. She’s been the operator for more than two decades, recently celebrating 23 years with GIA. “GIA is a wonderful place to be,” Linda says. … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Janet Samples, Nurse Practitioner

After almost 21 years with Gastrointestinal Associates, Nurse Practitioner Janet Samples is approaching retirement, but won’t commit just yet to an exact date. “I was supposed to retire in January,” she says with a laugh, “but I’m here full-time overseeing and training staff to take over at the infusion center. Maybe I’ll retire in August?” The infusion center at Dowell … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Sandy Woods, Medical Records

This August, Sandy Woods will celebrate her 24th anniversary with GIA. She started working in the medical records department pulling patient charts for nurses for that day’s appointments. “I miss paper charts!” Now, she works with a team of five in the Dowell Springs office, still working in a now-revamped system of medical records, sending letters of test results to … Read More

Gastrointestinal Associates welcomes Dr. Ramanujan Samavedy

Ramanujan Samavedy, M.D., has joined Gastrointestinal Associates, one of the leading GI practices in the southeast. Samavedy is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in both gastroenterology and internal medicine and a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. “As GIA celebrates 50 years of serving East Tennessee, we want … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Jennifer Adams, LPN

This December, Jennifer Adams will celebrate 25 years with GIA. She has served as an LPN with Dr. John Haydek for most of her career. She sees patients, coordinates schedules and triages patient phone calls. Since Dr. Haydek is a specialist in Barrett’s esophagus, which is caused when stomach acid damages the esophagus, she is an advocate for esophagus health … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Kathi Lonas, Supervisor

“Education is the most important part of my job. I want our patients to understand how their insurance works and discuss all charges ahead of time so there are no surprises,” says Kathi Lonas, front office supervisor for GIA. “After 32 years with GIA, I’m the resident expert for patient insurance education.” Kathi started at GIA working with Dr. Kent … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Gina Rains, PRN

“I went to work for GIA in October of 1985, and I was employee number 15 doing patient care for office endoscopy,” Gina Rains shares. “Back then, the scopes were rigid, and we were so limited Now I’m retired from full-time work and am so blessed to be a PRN. After years of being a manager, it’s good to just … Read More

Employee Spotlight: Mary Garner, Certified Medical Coder

Mary Garner started in the GIA business office working in the insurance department in 1991. Today, she works full time as a certified medical coder, and at age 80 is considering her retirement – perhaps this July on her 30th anniversary. “I’m thinking about getting a dog when I retire,” she shares. “My sister has a dog that I’m in … Read More