St. Luke’s University Health Network proudly welcomes Vaishali Patel, MD, a highly regarded advanced endoscopist, to its Gastroenterology Department. Dr. Patel began her role on August 5, 2024, becoming St. Luke’s first female advanced endoscopist and bringing her vast expertise to the Allentown Campus.

Dr. Patel’s arrival signifies a pivotal advancement for St. Luke’s as she expands access to specialized endoscopic procedures to additional St. Luke’s locations. This development not only reduces the need for patients to travel, but also enhances the network’s competitive advantage in providing leading edge gastrointestinal care.

Additionally, it will reduce wait times, which is particularly important for urgent cases. As the first female advanced endoscopist at St. Luke’s, Dr. Patel’s presence will be particularly impactful, offering female patients a greater sense of comfort and representation.

“I’m really hoping that the visibility of a female advanced endoscopist will not only benefit our patients, but also inspire our trainees, medical students, residents and fellows within the St. Luke’s Network,” Dr. Patel said. “Having a female provider can offer a general comfort level for female patients seeking advanced endoscopy.”

Born and raised in Allentown, Dr. Patel is returning to the community where she grew up, bringing her expertise back to her hometown and aiming to provide exceptional care for its residents. Part of her motivation to return was to be closer to family and to provide a supportive environment for her son, who has been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit disorder.

Dr. Patel earned her medical degree from Harvard University School of Medicine and her Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research from Duke University, where she completed her residency and fellowship. She gained extensive experience in diagnosing and treating general gastrointestinal diseases, as well as biliary and pancreatic disorders during her eight years at Emory University Hospital. She also has a special interest in bariatric endoscopy.

“My career has been dedicated to advancing endoscopic techniques and improving patient outcomes. I am excited to bring my expertise in bariatric endoscopy and other specialized procedures to St. Luke’s and make a positive impact on our patients’ health.”

Her commitment to patient care and innovative approach to endoscopic procedures will elevate the standard of care at St. Luke’s, ensuring exceptional service for the St. Luke’s community.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel, please call 484-526-6545 or visit sluhn.org/GI.

About St. Luke’s

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites.  With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.  In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only four-year medical school campus.  It also operates the nation’s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke’s, a member of the Children’s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley’s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.

SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.  It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital.  The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Fortune/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.  In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally.  Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.  The Network is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest-cost providers.

Information provided to TVL by:
Sam Kennedy