A primary care physician (usually trained as a family doctor or an internal medicine doctor) is often the first doctor you go to when you aren’t feeling well. But their role extends far beyond a sick visit—a primary care physician is an essential partner in your health and well-being. A trusted relationship with your primary care physician can last a lifetime and keep you and your family on the path to good health.
PRIMARY CARE SERVICES
Visiting a primary care physician for an annual checkup is the first step toward maintaining good health. Regular visits allow your doctor to understand your medical history, identify any disease risk factors you may have, and recommend appropriate lifestyle modifications for a healthier life.
Trained in family medicine or internal medicine, primary care physicians can:
- Diagnose symptoms you may have and recommend the right course of treatment
- Help you prevent and manage common chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), along with other conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, and back pain
- Answer questions about medications, diet, exercise, and many other health-related topics
- Refer you to appropriate physician specialists when needed
- Serve as an advocate and trusted partner in helping you navigate your health care needs
A physician who practices internal medicine is often referred to as an “internist” and is usually pursued by other physicians when in need of consult on a patient’s condition in which the physician is having difficulty diagnosing or treating. Internists can care for hospitalized and ambulatory patients. Physicians practicing internal medicine should not be confused with a family doctor. Internal medicine training consists of long clinical training and has special training in the use of prescription drugs and chronic illnesses, instead of other medical training specialties, such as surgery.
Internists may specialize in subspecialties including:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology
- Infectious disease
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Rheumatology
CentraState’s internists are highly trained in adult health and illness, and offer specialized care when treating CentraState Medical Center’s patients.
Family doctors are trained to diagnose and deliver primary care to patients of all ages. At the Freehold Family Health Center, our doctors serve a vital role in coordinating care. They assist patients in navigating the increasingly complicated health care delivery system and accessing specialty care.
The Freehold Family Health Center also serves as a teaching site for resident physicians in family medicine through our Family Medicine Residency Program, operated in conjunction with the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Our residents are on site daily under the supervision of experienced practitioners, including family doctors and medical educators.
The Freehold Family Health Center provides a range of services, including:
- Preventive medicine, including physical examinations, health screenings, and counseling
- Minor surgery, cryosurgery, and stitches
- Women’s health services, including PAP smears and maternity care
- Well baby and well child care
- Immunizations
- Diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses
- Office procedures and treatments
- Management of chronic conditions
- Follow-up services
- Prescriptions and refills
- Patient and family education, group discussions, audios, and videos
- Family consultations
- Pre-marital and marital counseling
- Adolescent and adult care
- Geriatric care and special programs for the elderly
The Freehold Family Health Center is certified as a HealthStart Comprehensive Maternity Care and HealthStart Pediatric Care provider by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
CentraState offers urgent care in East Windsor, Brick and Marlboro in affiliation with Immediate Medical Care Walk-In. Urgent conditions and services include:
- Allergic reactions
- Bronchitis
- Bruises & minor burns
- Colds & coughs
- Eye & ear infections
- Sports-related injuries
- School & DOT physicals
- Crutches, boots, splints, & braces
- Immunizations
- X-rays
- Blood & urine tests
Open 7 days a week. Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. Most health insurances and self-pay accepted.
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
Maria Ciminelli, MD
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Robert Pedowitz, D.O.
Family Medicine
Ayesha Chaudhary, MD
Internal Medicine
Alicia Dermer, MD
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Richa Gopal, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Neil Agrawal, M.D.
Family Medicine
Joseph Raccuglia, M.D.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Sabine Paul-Yee, M.D.
Family Medicine
Leslie Sojka, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Fiolakemi Sowemimo, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Spencer Kroll, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Farag Mankarios, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Hammad Abdelquader, MD
Family Medicine
Marc Feingold, M.D.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
NA
Natalya Avanesova, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Shira Meyer, DO
Internal Medicine
Philip Angello, M.D.
Family Medicine
Anand Shah, MD
Family Medicine, Geriatrics
Stuti Agrawal, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Edward Stoner, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
AG
Alexander Goldberg, M.D.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
JC
James Covalesky, DO
Internal Medicine
Paul Axelrad, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
JT
Jayanthi Talamati, M.D.
Internal Medicine
RP
Rupa Panchal, M.D.
Internal Medicine
ML
Magda Louka, DO
Family Medicine
MK
Miah Kim, D.O.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Ronald DuBow, MD
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
Nancy Peters, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
AG
Antero Gonzales, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
VS
Vinod Shetty, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Nicole Castro, MD
Family Medicine
Nivedita Sharma, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
DL
David Lombardi, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Julie Stern, M.D.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
IG
Indu Gopal, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Aileen Estavillo, MD
Internal Medicine
Taru Sinha, MD
Family Medicine
Atul Bhasin, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Zeeshan Khan, MD
Family Medicine, Geriatrics
RG
Rekha Gohel, M.D.
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine
Charisma Lanez, DO
Family Medicine
Frederic Heitzer, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Christopher Skeehan, M.D.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Kenneth Eng, D.O.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
Christopher Wong, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Joshua Raymond, MD
Family Medicine, Geriatrics
Omar Nabulsi, M.D.
Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine
MN
Minakshi Nijhawan, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Jaclyn Guliano, MD
Family Medicine
Jacqueline Zuckerbrod, D.O.
Family Medicine, Primary Care
FH
Farida Hassan, M.D.
Internal Medicine
RB
Rudolph Borgersen, D.O.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
HK
Harneet Kaur, M. D.
Internal Medicine, Nephrology
AS
Akanksha Saxena, MD
Family Medicine
Saba Amir, MD
Internal Medicine
Anthony Chen, DO
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
SM
Sajida Mokhashi
Family Medicine, Geriatrics
IK
Irene Kotok, MD
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
Dan Sandru, MD
Family Medicine
VK
Vinod Kumar, M.D.
Internal Medicine
EF
Eduard Fuzaylov, M. D.
Internal Medicine
PD
Philip Dennis, M.D.
Family Medicine
SR
Sonia Rijh-Singhani, M.D.
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Primary Care
Abhijit Chatterjee, M.D.
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Primary Care
SY
Sherry Young, DO
Family Medicine
TM
Tushar Mistry, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
ME
Maria Elena Espinar Ho, M.D.
Family Medicine
PP
Prathibha Potharlanka, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Primary Care
KH
Kabeeruddin Hashmi, MD
Internal Medicine
VS
Vijay Saaraswat, M.D.
Internal Medicine
RR
Regina Rossi, DO
Internal Medicine
Charles Hayne, D.O.
Family Medicine
DP
Deepali Prasad, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Nephrology
ES
Elsayed Sahloul, MD
Internal Medicine
DP
Deshanki Pandya, MD
Family Medicine
MK
Mira Kaga, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Atul Maini, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Nephrology
PRIMARY CARE FAQs
We recognize that emergency situations arise and the CentraState physicians make every effort to address your needs promptly. If an emergency arises after business hours:
- For Freehold Family Health Center patients, our answering service will forward the message to the physician on call who will advise you on how to proceed. Check with your primary care physicians as they are likely to office the same service.
- In some circumstances, the CentraState Emergency Department may be used. If hospitalization is necessary, patients of the Freehold Family Health Center are cared for by the family medicine practice team at CentraState Medical Center.
- If not an emergent situation but timely care is needed, CentraState partners with Immediate Care for around-the clock-care in multiple locations throughout New Jersey.
All requests for prescription refills and referrals should be made during the Freehold Family Health Center’s regularly scheduled office hours by your family doctor. Please contact the Freehold Family Health Center at 732-294-2540 at least one week before your refill runs out.
A closed-circuit television monitoring system at the Freehold Family Health Center allows the faculty physicians to directly observe patient visits for the purposes of teaching and training. You may request that cameras be disconnected if observation will make you uncomfortable. If you agree to have your visit videotaped, you will be asked for written permission. If you request that cameras be disconnected, it will in no way adversely affect the treatment that you receive at the Freehold Family Health Center.
In addition to physicians, our professional staff includes registered and licensed practical nurses, certified medical assistants, a dietitian, a social worker, and a psychologist. A physician is on call 24/7 to provide assistance in case of an emergency.
Our team will refer you to the appropriate specialist. Your family physician will remain in contact with you, your family members, and the specialist during your treatment. Your family physician will continue to provide your care when the specialist is no longer required.
Specialty physician services (available by referral) include:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Care
- Endocrinology
- Eye Care
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Services
- Hand Care
- Hematology
- Infectious Disease Care
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Orthopedics
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Respiratory Care
- Rheumatology
- STD Care
- Surgical Care
- Thoracic Care
- Urology
