Dr. J.R. Salameh is a Board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship trained laparoendoscopic surgery specialist. After obtaining his M.D. from Saint Joseph University (Beirut, Lebanon), Dr. Salameh did his General Surgery training at Georgetown University (Washington, DC) and then completed a Laparoscopic/Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas). Prior to joining Surgical Associates at Virginia Hospital Center in July 2007, he was Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Surgery Simulation Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS). He currently holds the rank of Associate Professor of Surgery (Clinical) at Georgetown University. Dr. Salameh performs a wide range of minimally-invasive gastrointestinal and endocrine surgical procedures-including laparoscopic weight loss surgeries. He is the Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Center. He takes a laparoscopic ("key hole") approach to operations on the esophagus, stomach, bowels, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and adrenal glands whenever possible. In addition, he performs surgery on the thyroid and parathyroid glands and is nationally recognized as an expert on both traditional and minimally-invasive hernia surgery. Dr Salameh is fully certified by the American Board of Surgery in all aspects of general surgery. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, American Hernia Society and several other national groups. The author of numerous publications and journal articles, Dr. Salameh is also a frequent lecturer and scientific presenter proficient in English, French and Arabic. Dr. Salameh is married to Dr. Carla Hanash and has one son.