UK St. Claire Welcomes 7 New Specialty Physicians

MOREHEAD, Ky.– Over the next few weeks, UK St. Claire will be adding a number of physicians to their staff, expanding their existing medical and surgical services and, in some cases, bringing new specialties to the rural Kentucky health system. The seven physicians starting in the next month are part of a larger physician hiring blitz by UK St. Claire, with 15 total physicians expected to be added to their roster of providers this year.

“Our priority has always been serving the healthcare needs of our neighbors in Northeastern Kentucky, and with these new providers on board, we’ll be able to do that even more effectively, right here, close to home,” said Donald Lloyd II, UK St. Claire president and CEO. “Having all health needs met without having to travel long distances improves the outcomes of our patients, and we’re proud to be able to offer even more advanced medicine to them.”

Meet the physicians:

Bara Alzghoul, MD, will join UK St. Claire's Hematology and Oncology Department and their current team of specialists Ravneet Thind, MD, Arej Sawani, MD, and Brittany Blair, APRN. Dr. Alzghoul completed his hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Kentucky where he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky for three years. Dr. Alzghoul completed his Internal Medicine residency at Ascension Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, where he also served as Chief Resident.

Karen Feghali, MD, joins UK St. Claire as their first Endocrinology provider. Dr. Feghali treats a variety of endocrine conditions, including diabetes, thyroid, and parathyroid disease. The UKSC Endocrinology department is also affiliated with The Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, which is a multidisciplinary center designed to provide medical management in every area of your diabetes as well as educational support to assist you in implementing lifestyle changes. Dr. Feghali completed her fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Chris Kubajak, MD, will join UK St. Claire's Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department, bringing extensive experience in hand surgery to the team. Dr. Kubajak is a plastic surgeon specializing in both aesthetic and complex reconstructive surgery, particularly for hand trauma and degenerative hand diseases like rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. His expertise includes hand and peripheral nerve surgery, breast reconstruction, body contouring, and aesthetic surgeries like breast lift/augmentation, face & neck lift, rhinoplasty and injectable fillers.

Mark Mashni, DPM, joins UK St. Claire's Podiatry Department. Dr. Mashni specializes in podiatry, wound care and foot & ankle surgery. He completed his residency in Podiatric Medicine & Surgery at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, MA. He studied Podiatric Medicine at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami after finishing his undergraduate education in Biology and Neuroscience at the University of Kentucky.

Adarsha Ojha, MD, will join UK St. Claire's Nephrology Department. Dr. Ojha completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He studied nephrology during this fellowship through the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he received extensive training in general and transplant nephrology. Dr. Ojha has treated various kidney conditions including polycystic kidney disease, rare genetic kidney disease, kidney stones, hypertension and glomerulonephritis.

Farbod Rastegar, MD, will join UK St. Claire's Department of Orthopedic Surgery as their first spine surgery specialist. Dr. Rastegar's practice is dedicated to comprehensive operative and non-operative spine care, including the treatment of degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, revision surgery, disc replacement, spinal trauma and spinal tumors.

Ayita Ray, MD, joins UK St. Claire's Department of Cardiology as its first female cardiologist. Dr. Ray joins UK St. Claire from St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Ray performs both routine and interventional cardiology, specializing in non­invasive, preventative and interventional techniques. She treats a variety of cardiac and vascular disorders with services such as implantable heart monitors, stress testing, echocardiograms, stent placements and more.

UK St. Claire includes a growing medical staff of more than 125 physicians and nearly 70 advanced practice professionals representing more than 30 medical specialties. It consists of the hospital, seven primary care locations located within five counties, a multi-specialty medical pavilion, two urgent care centers, a pediatrics clinic, as well as a retail pharmacy, counseling center, medical equipment and supply store, and an outpatient center. Additionally, UK St. Claire provides home health and hospice services in eight counties. UK St. Claire is dedicated to continuing its vision to provide clinical and service excellence in a personalized manner, build a leading medical community that provides a seamless system of care and education, and enhance the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve by promoting physical, spiritual, social and emotional well-being.