MANISTIQUE — Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) announces the addition of Dr. Medhat Fanous, a general surgeon specializing in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to its Specialty Clinic. Dr. Fanous brings extensive expertise in general surgery, acid reflux management, and hiatal hernia repair; enhancing access to specialized surgical services for the community. Dr. Fanous will be in Manistique for two weeks every month for patient consultations and surgical procedures.   Dr. Fanous is a nationally recognized leader in GERD management, pioneering advanced procedures in endolumenal and laparoendoscopic anti-reflux treatments. He obtained his medical degree from Cairo Egypt and graduated from Carilion Clinic in Roanoke VA. A recipient of the prestigious Nizar Oweida Scholarship from the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Fanous has made significant contributions to the medical field through his research and education efforts. He has presented at regional, national, and international conferences and has published extensively on GERD management and hiatal hernia repair. His research focuses on early intervention strategies and optimizing hiatoplasty techniques.  Dr. Fanous’s groundbreaking achievements include being the first surgeon worldwide to visualize and describe an endoscopic reconstructed valve between the stomach and esophagus in an awake patient using Navicam technology. He also holds the distinction of being the first surgeon in Michigan to utilize MiVu technology, a cutting-edge tool for assessing esophageal mucosal integrity and detecting conditions like GERD with immediate results.  A resident of the Upper Peninsula, Dr. Fanous has a deep passion for serving rural communities. He is a leader in the Advisory Rural Council of the American College of Surgeons, advocating for enhanced healthcare access in underserved areas.  “Dr. Fanous’ arrival at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is a tremendous step forward in expanding our specialized surgical services. His expertise in GERD management and commitment to rural healthcare will provide our community with exceptional, cutting-edge treatment options,” said Andy Bertapelle, chief executive officer at SMH.  Dr. Fanous was asked about his approach during initial consults, “It is my practice to remove the unstudied medical labels attached to my patients and start fresh. This is important as the digestive symptoms overlap. It is not unusual to see a patient referred for GERD and the test shows that the problem is gallstones and vice versa. This is the reason why we order diagnostic tests instead of educated guesses. I also perform a variety of advanced anti-reflux surgery which are tailored to the patient’s condition. The concept of a GERD center of excellence which offers diagnostic tests and medical and surgical treatment locally is what rural patients deserve.” Dr. Fanous will begin seeing patients in the clinic during the first two weeks of April. Please work with your provider to obtain a referral to his clinic.  Dr. Fanous will be available for consultations and procedures at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s Specialty Clinic. Referrals are required to be seen in the Specialty Clinic. To schedule an appointment, patients should request a referral from their Family Medicine Provider. Learn more about this new service line by visiting https://scmh.org/services/general-surgery-reflux-hernia/or call 906-341-2153

MANISTIQUE — Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) announces the addition of Dr. Medhat Fanous, a general surgeon specializing in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to its Specialty Clinic. Dr. Fanous brings extensive expertise in general surgery, acid reflux management, and hiatal hernia repair; enhancing access to specialized surgical services for the community. Dr. Fanous will be in Manistique for two weeks every month for patient consultations and surgical procedures.  

Dr. Fanous is a nationally recognized leader in GERD management, pioneering advanced procedures in endolumenal and laparoendoscopic anti-reflux treatments. He obtained his medical degree from Cairo Egypt and graduated from Carilion Clinic in Roanoke VA.

A recipient of the prestigious Nizar Oweida Scholarship from the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Fanous has made significant contributions to the medical field through his research and education efforts. He has presented at regional, national, and international conferences and has published extensively on GERD management and hiatal hernia repair. His research focuses on early intervention strategies and optimizing hiatoplasty techniques. 

Dr. Fanous’s groundbreaking achievements include being the first surgeon worldwide to visualize and describe an endoscopic reconstructed valve between the stomach and esophagus in an awake patient using Navicam technology. He also holds the distinction of being the first surgeon in Michigan to utilize MiVu technology, a cutting-edge tool for assessing esophageal mucosal integrity and detecting conditions like GERD with immediate results. 

A resident of the Upper Peninsula, Dr. Fanous has a deep passion for serving rural communities. He is a leader in the Advisory Rural Council of the American College of Surgeons, advocating for enhanced healthcare access in underserved areas. 

“Dr. Fanous’ arrival at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is a tremendous step forward in expanding our specialized surgical services. His expertise in GERD management and commitment to rural healthcare will provide our community with exceptional, cutting-edge treatment options,” said Andy Bertapelle, chief executive officer at SMH. 

Dr. Fanous was asked about his approach during initial consults, “It is my practice to remove the unstudied medical labels attached to my patients and start fresh. This is important as the digestive symptoms overlap. It is not unusual to see a patient referred for GERD and the test shows that the problem is gallstones and vice versa. This is the reason why we order diagnostic tests instead of educated guesses. I also perform a variety of advanced anti-reflux surgery which are tailored to the patient’s condition. The concept of a GERD center of excellence which offers diagnostic tests and medical and surgical treatment locally is what rural patients deserve.”

Dr. Fanous will begin seeing patients in the clinic during the first two weeks of April. Please work with your provider to obtain a referral to his clinic. 

Dr. Fanous will be available for consultations and procedures at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s Specialty Clinic. Referrals are required to be seen in the Specialty Clinic. To schedule an appointment, patients should request a referral from their Family Medicine Provider. Learn more about this new service line by visiting https://scmh.org/services/general-surgery-reflux-hernia/or call 906-341-2153