Transforming access, elevating care
Aquablation now offered at TidalHealth Nanticoke
Elizabeth Kornfield Chadwell, MD, and David Cohen, MD, of TidalHealth Urology, completed the first Aquablation® therapy procedures at TidalHealth Nanticoke in August.
Aquablation is an ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach to treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is an enlarged prostate.
Instead of the electric knife that is used in the older transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Aquablation uses water pressure instead. Aquablation is precise, and there is a significantly lower risk of retrograde ejaculation than with TURP.
A variety of problems relating to urination, from a slow stream to having to urinate frequently, can be signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men.
Dr. Kornfield Chadwell and Dr. Cohen care for patients at TidalHealth Urology, located on the TidalHealth Mears Campus at 100 Rawlins Drive in Seaford. To schedule an appointment, call 302-990-3300 or visit the TidalHealth Urology scheduling page.
Robotic bronchoscopy enhances lung cancer detection and treatment
Launched in late 2024, robotic bronchoscopy at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford offers a minimally invasive way to collect lung tissue samples with exceptional precision. As part of our thoracic oncology and lung cancer screening program, the technology uses advanced robotics and real-time imaging to help physicians navigate intricate bronchial passages to diagnose suspicious nodules and identify early-stage lung cancer.
TidalHealth Nanticoke has the busiest thoracic oncological program in the state of Delaware, and the team — led by cardiothoracic surgeon Kurt Wehberg, MD, and pulmonologist Ammar Alhaddad, MD — leverages both the Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform for diagnosis and the da Vinci robotic system for surgical treatment. These tools work together to support accurate biopsies and minimally invasive resection of lung cancer tumors and pulmonary nodules. The program’s rapid response time is another key advantage; most patients are evaluated and, when needed, biopsied within three to four days.
For more information about robotic bronchoscopy at TidalHealth Nanticoke, patients can speak with their provider or contact Holly Schreiber, CRNP, Multidisciplinary Thoracic & Pulmonary Nodule Coordinator, at 302-297-2598.
Enhanced GI access in Ocean Pines
TidalHealth Gastroenterology has added two nationally recognized physicians at its Ocean Pines location, expanding access to specialized gastrointestinal care on the Eastern Shore.
Dr. Andrew Canakis, DO brings expertise in advanced endoscopic procedures including endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Dr. Mehak Bassi, MD specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Together, they strengthen a growing gastroenterology program that offers advanced subspecialty services and a full spectrum of general GI care.
Dr. Bassi is board-certified in gastroenterology and treats a wide range of digestive conditions, including celiac disease and obesity-related disorders. She performs colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, enteroscopy, and small bowel capsule studies, and supports medical education, community outreach and colorectal cancer prevention efforts. She has been recognized through the ACG Leadership YOU program and contributes to peer-reviewed publications and national conferences.
An Eastern Shore native, Dr. Canakis returns home as a specialist in advanced therapeutic endoscopy, supporting diagnosis and treatment of pancreaticobiliary disease and early GI cancers. He has authored more than 140 scientific papers, is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, and serves as associate program director for the TidalHealth Gastroenterology Fellowship.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit Gastroenterology Care on Delmarva.
Care designed for Delmarva’s aging community
Rural communities on the Lower Eastern Shore are home to a higher-than-average proportion of older adults, a reality that can complicate access to care, chronic disease management, and the ability to age safely at home. To help meet those needs, TidalHealth offers specialized services through TidalHealth Geriatrics, led by Anna-Maria Izquierdo-Porrera, MD, PhD. The program provides evidence-based, personalized care focused on safety, function, and each patient’s goals.
Geriatric medicine requires specialized expertise in chronic disease management, age-related physiological changes, and the social factors that shape day-to-day health for older adults. Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera supports patients facing mobility concerns, cognitive changes, and mental health needs through a coordinated, patient-centered approach. Because caregivers and family members often play a key role in decision-making and follow-through, she also collaborates closely with them and with other specialists involved in a patient’s care to ensure treatment plans are clear, practical, and aligned.
Through TidalHealth Geriatrics, Dr. Izquierdo-Porrera and her team offer a structured model designed around the realities of aging on Delmarva. Services include outpatient geriatric care, home-based primary care, and pop-up community clinics that follow age-friendly principles and streamlined referral pathways. Together, these services help older adults access the right care in the right setting, supporting healthy aging, independence, and quality of life.
To learn more, visit Schedule with Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera, MD, PhD, Geriatrics.
New women’s health hub opening in Berlin in March
Women will soon be able to access numerous healthcare practitioners under one roof at the Gudelsky Family Medical Center in Berlin.
This office is expected to open March 2, and practitioners will include Christine Neto, MD, Margo Gill, MD, Melissa Braniff, CRNP, Kerri Ellinger, PA-C, and Michelle Farlow, DNP. Catherine Casto, MD and Peter G. O'Hare, III, MD will also see patients from this location in the future.
The Gudelsky Family Medical Center also offers women’s health imaging services, including mammography, ultrasound, x-ray and bone density tests, as well as lab services.
The practice is located at 10614 Racetrack Road, Suite 5, in Berlin, and is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 443-728-1050.
Pediatric neurology now available at TidalHealth with Stephen Falchek, MD
Stephen Falchek, MD
TidalHealth Neurology
TidalHealth Neurology in Salisbury, Md., now offers specialized pediatric neurology services with Stephen Falchek, MD, a nationally recognized expert with more than 25 years of experience.
Dr. Falchek provides care for a wide range of neurological conditions in children, including epilepsy, movement disorders and developmental delays. He brings advanced training in clinical neurophysiology and a deep commitment to comprehensive, family-centered care.
A key focus of Dr. Falchek’s practice is supporting pediatric patients as they transition from pediatric to adult neurology, ensuring continuity of care and guidance during this critical stage. His approach emphasizes collaboration with families, primary care providers, and adult neurologists to provide a seamless care experience.
Dr. Falchek is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 410-912-6114.
TidalHealth physicians now offer Inspire for sleep apnea
The CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machine can be great for some people with sleep apnea. But if CPAP isn’t a good fit, and a patient has moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, Delmarva residents can now explore another treatment option — Inspire.
In August at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Nathan Deckard, MD, implanted the Inspire V device in a patient suffering from sleep apnea — a first on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Now, Kunal Agarwal, MD, FAAFP, FAASM, DipABOM, and Julie Berry, MD, are working together to offer this procedure and before-and-after care through TidalHealth.
Prospective patients can start by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Agarwal, who practices at TidalHealth Primary Care and TidalHealth Sleep Medicine in Lewes. He will confirm that each patient is a good candidate for the procedure. The approved candidates will then see Dr. Berry at TidalHealth Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery in Millsboro. She will do a surgical evaluation of the patient and then perform the surgery to implant the device at TidalHealth Nanticoke.
After surgery, the patient will return to Dr. Agarwal for follow-up appointments, which include device activation, fine-tuning of the device’s settings and a post-activation sleep study.
Inspire has been FDA-approved for more than 10 years, with more than 100,000 implants completed in the U.S. It has consistently high patient satisfaction and excellent long-term outcomes for people who are unable to tolerate CPAP. Dr. Agarwal currently manages more than 300 Inspire patients, with positive results.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Agarwal, visit Kunal Agarwal, MD or call 302-297-2431. His office is located at 1526 Savannah Road in Lewes.
