Meet Our Team
Our friendly and professional staff welcomes you to North Shore Gastroenterology with offices conveniently located in Westlake and Brooklyn, Ohio.
Our team of medical providers includes highly skilled and experienced physicians who are all board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work with our physicians in the office and hospitals to deliver comprehensive care for all our patients.
Mousab Tabbaa, MD, President/CEO
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
Born and raised in Damascus, Syria, Dr. Mousab Tabbaa has over 35 years of experience in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He received his medical degree from the University of Damascus College of Medicine, graduating in the top 5 percent of his class. After serving as a clinical instructor at the Tichrine Medical Center in Damascus, Dr. Tabbaa moved to the US in 1982 for an externship at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He then came to Ohio and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine, as well as his fellowship in gastroenterology, at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital.
Dr. Tabbaa has since remained in the Cleveland area. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Tabbaa co-founded North Shore Gastroenterology in 1989 along with Dr. Peter Greenwalt, who retired in 2016. In addition to serving as president of North Shore Gastroenterology and medical director of North Shore Endoscopy Center, Dr. Tabbaa is a founding trustee of the Cleveland Clinic Health Systems Physician Organization, now Community Physician Partnership (CPP); chairman of the finance committee for CPP; and chief of gastroenterology at Lakewood Hospital. He has also chaired the Board of Trustees of Lakewood Hospital and been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Western Region, not to mention served on various health system and hospital committees.
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Tabbaa is a member of numerous medical societies including the American College of Gastroenterology, American Liver Foundation, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterology Association, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and American Medical Association.
Specializing in the management of liver and bile disorders, Dr. Tabbaa’s other interests include pancreatobiliary endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer screening and detection, and Barrett’s esophagus. Widely published, he has participated in numerous research studies and presentations pertaining to all aspects of gastroenterology.
Naim Alkhouri, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Obesity Medicine
Naim Alkhouri, MD, holds multiple prestigious roles in the gastroenterology and hepatology field. He serves as the Director of the Steatotic Liver Program at Northshore Gastroenterology and holds the position of Director of Research at the Clinical Research Institute of Ohio (CRIOH). Additionally, Dr. Alkhouri is the Chief Medical Officer, Chief of Transplant Hepatology, and Director of the Fatty Liver Program at Arizona Liver Health (ALH) in Phoenix, AZ. Before taking on these roles, he served as the Director of the Metabolic Health Center at the Texas Liver Institute. Additionally, Dr. Alkhouri previously held the dual role of Assistant Professor in both Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Texas (UT) Health, located in San Antonio, TX.
Dr. Alkhouri concluded his Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology training at the esteemed Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. During this time, he assumed the role of Assistant Professor of Medicine and was entrusted with directing the Metabolic Liver Disease Clinic at the Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute. Recognized as a leading authority in NASH therapeutics, Dr. Alkhouri serves as an advisor and consultant to numerous pharmaceutical and biomarker development companies. He holds the position of Principal Investigator in several multicenter, global NASH trials and is an active member of the AASLD NASH Special Interest Group (NASH SIG).
Dr. Alkhouri showcases an extensive publication record exceeding 200 contributions, coupled with presentations at prominent national and international medical gatherings. His dedication to research has earned him numerous accolades, including the American College of Gastroenterology Junior Faculty Development Award, granted for his investigation into the analysis of breath volatile organic compounds for diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Alkhouri’s areas of expertise span nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic liver diseases, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and liver transplantation.
Jessica Angell, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Cuyahoga Community College 2004, ASN
University of Akron 2009, BSN
University of Akron 2011, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Special Interests
Celiac disease
Cirrhosis
Colon cancer screening
Hepatitis C
Erica Barb, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Ohio State University 2009, BSBA
Cleveland State University 2013, BSN
Kent State University 2018, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American College of Gastroenterology
Special Interests
Inflammatory bowel diseases
Cirrhosis
Liver diseases
Colon Cancer screenings
Brigette Bevly, MPAS, PA-C
Board-Certified Physician Assistant
Education
Gannon University 2007, BHS
Gannon University 2008, MPAS
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Ohio Association of Physician Assistants
Special Interests
Colon cancer screening
Irritable bowel syndrome
Liver disease
Rinjal Brahmbhatt, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Rinjal Brahmbhatt is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
After earning her medical degree, Dr. Brahmbhatt completed her residency in Internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, followed by fellowship training in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and advanced fellowship training in transplant hepatology at the University of Michigan Health System.
Dr. Brahmbhatt joined North Shore Gastroenterology in 2017. She has contributed to various publications, presentations, and book chapters focused on liver disease. Her areas of special interest include management of hepatobiliary (liver and bile) disease and hepatic (liver) disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer screening and detection.
Dr. Brahmbhatt is an active member of various professional organizations including the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and American Medical Association.
Kimberly Conley, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
University of Toledo 2010, BSN
Ursuline College 2015, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Special Interests
Colon cancer screening
IBD
Management of patients in acute care (hospital) setting
James Harris, MD, FACG
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. James Harris has been practicing as a gastroenterologist since 1981. He joined North Shore Gastroenterology in 2003.
After earning his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Dr. Harris completed his internship in internal medicine at the University of Missouri Medical Center and his internal medicine residency as well as fellowship training in gastroenterology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Harris is affiliated with Marymount Hospital, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 12 years. He is also a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG) and past or present member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Association, and Cleveland Academy of Medicine.
Kimberly Harris, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
A native of Rocky River, Ohio, Dr. Kimberly Harris earned her medical degree from The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine in Columbus. She then completed her combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and her clinical fellowship training in gastroenterology from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Before joining North Shore Gastroenterology in 2016, Dr. Harris honed her skills as a volunteer in OSU’s Physicians Free Clinic, Columbus Neighborhood Health Center’s Healthcare for the Homeless, and the Birmingham Free Clinic, the University of Pittsburgh’s health care program for underserved populations.
Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Harris has contributed to various publications and presentations focused on Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pediatrics. Her areas of special interest include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection, and the management of Hepatitis C and Chronic Liver Disease.
Dr. Harris also maintains memberships in the American College of Physicians, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and American College of Gastroenterology.
Preeti Jhawar, DO
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
Dr. Preeti Jhawar received her medical degree at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ College of Medicine in 2007. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Preeti has been practicing since 2013. In 2010, Dr. Jhawar completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at St. John Macomb Hospital in Warren, Michigan, and subsequently pursued a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Prior to joining North Shore Gastroenterology, Dr. Jhawar served as a Gastroenterology physician at HSHS Medical Group in Springfield, Illinois. In addition, she has served on various academic and medical committees and has participated in several research studies. Dr. Jhawar is also a member of the American Osteopathic Organization (AOA), the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI), the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the Illinois Indian American Medical Association (IIAMA).
Iryna Kalinina, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Indiana Wesleyan University, BSN 2011
Ursuline College, MSN 2013
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association For The Study Of Liver Diseases
Certificate
Transplant Immunology, 2020
Special Interests
Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease
Alcohol associated liver disease
Autoimmune liver diseases
Viral hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Liver transplant
Bianca Macanga, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
University of Akron 2008, BSN
Kent State University 2014, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
Special Interests
Crohn’s disease
Management of patients in acute care (hospital) setting
Ulcerative colitis
Gabriella McCarty, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Kettering College of Medical Arts 1998, RN, ADN
Bowling Green State University 2001, BSN
Case Western Reserve University 2004, MSN
Professional Memberships
American College of Gastroenterology
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses
Special Interests
Esophageal disorders
Hepatitis C
Inflammatory bowel disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Mohamed Naem, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
Dr. Mohamed Naem joined North Shore Gastroenterology in 2016. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, completed his residency at UH Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and obtained his fellowship training in gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Dr. Naem’s areas of special interest are Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Celiac Disease, Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention, EMR (endoscopic mucosal resection), Fecal Incontinence, and General Gastroenterology including GERD, Barrett’s Disease, and chronic liver disease, amongst others.
Dr. Naem has several active IBD research trials and has participated in numerous research projects and case presentations.
He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Gastroenterology Association, and served on the board of The Crohn’s Colitis Foundation.
Dr. Naem enjoys traveling with his wife and two children. His personal hobbies include cycling, running, weightlifting, skiing and collecting hand-made rugs.
Kara Rambasek, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
University of Dayton 2003, BSBA
Cleveland State University 2012, BSN
Ursuline College 2015, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Special Interests
Management of patients in acute care (hospital) setting
Cirrhosis
Colon cancer screening
Inflammatory bowel disease
Jill Reindel, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Ursuline College 2002, BSN
Ursuline College 2019, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Special Interests
Irritable bowel syndrome
Colon cancer screening and prevention
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Renee Schnupp, MPAS, PA-C
Board Certified Physician Assistant
Education
Cleveland State University 2012, BHS
Baldwin Wallace University 2015, MMS
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Ohio Association of Physician Assistants
Special Interests
Colon cancer screening
Inflammatory bowel disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Liver disease
Management of patients in acute care (hospital) setting
Michael Springer, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Michael Springer has been a clinical gastroenterologist since 1981.
Dr. Springer received his medical degree from the University of Iowa School of Medicine. He then completed his residency training in internal medicine and gastroenterology fellowship at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital.
Before joining North Shore Gastroenterology, Dr. Springer was in private practice in Cleveland and North Olmsted. A frequent lecturer, Dr. Springer also serves as an advisory physician for the Cleveland Celiac Sprue Support Group. He is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Dr. Springer’s areas of expertise include colonoscopy, laser therapy, endoscopic sclerotherapy, ERCP, papillotomy, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
An active member of his community, Dr. Springer has served as a trustee of Lake Ridge Academy and as president and coach of the Berea Youth Soccer Club.
Robert Straub, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Robert Straub has more than 30 years of experience. His areas of expertise include colonoscopy, polyp removal, colorectal cancer screening and detection, upper endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Barrett’s esophagus.
Dr. Straub earned his medical degree at Medical College of Ohio in Toledo and completed his internship, residency, and fellowship training at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Following his fellowship, Dr. Straub returned to Ohio in 1993 and joined North Shore Gastroenterology.
A current Westlake, Ohio resident, Dr. Straub is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Adam Tabbaa, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Palliative Medicine, & Gastroenterology
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Tabbaa attended Ohio State University for undergraduate studies before completing his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He then traveled to San Francisco where he completed his Internal Medicine training at the University of California San Francisco. His experience with seriously ill patients during that training led him to complete a Fellowship in Palliative Medicine and Hospice at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill before pursuing his Gastroenterology training back home at Cleveland Clinic. He joined North Shore Gastroenterology in 2023.
Dr. Tabbaa’s areas of special interest are inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastrointestinal malignancies, general gastroenterology, colon cancer screening and detection, and the management of chronic liver disease. In addition to medicine, he spends his free time with his family and creating music. He is thrilled to be practicing in the community he grew up in and feels it is a privilege to provide medical care to the people of the greater Cleveland area.
J. Owen Tully, MD
Board Certified in Gastroenterology
Board certified in gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Owen Tully earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine and his gastroenterology fellowship training at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
After his fellowship, Dr. Tully moved to Cleveland to join North Shore Gastroenterology in 2011 and is currently the Medical Director of our Brooklyn, Ohio location.
His areas of special interest include Barrett’s esophagus, celiac disease, colon cancer screening, GERD, hemorrhoid treatment, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and polypectomy.
Dr. Tully is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Erika Warton, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Kent State University 2017, BSN
Chamberlain University 2021, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Special Interests
Cirrhosis
Esophageal disorders
Irritable bowel disease
Management of patients in acute care (hospital) setting
Nicole Zambory, MSN, NP-C
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Education
Duquesne University 2014, BSN
Kent State University 2019, MSN
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American College of Gastroenterology
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society
Special Interests
Colon cancer screening
Liver disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Irritable bowel syndrome