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Dabo Xu, MD, is a board-certified physician in gastroenterology, hepatology, and internal medicine at the Gastro Center of Maryland, with locations in Annapolis, Columbia, Olney, Riverdale, Timonium and Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Dr. Xu treats a wide variety of conditions at the practice, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and other gastrointestinal conditions. 

Dr. Xu completed his medical residency at St. Agnes Hospital, as well as a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Michigan. He has conducted clinical and translational research on several topics, such as GERD, intestinal inflammation, liver diseases and cancers, and gastrointestinal pharmacology. His works were published in the most prestigious gastroenterology journals and presented at national and international medical conferences.

He has more than 20 years of clinical experience in gastroenterology and hepatology. Dr. Xu has a special interest in preventive care, often working alongside patients to prevent disease and improve their quality of life through precise and effective personalized treatments.

With a passion and dedication to patient experiences, Dr. Xu believes it’s important to build relationships with those in his care and enjoys helping patients find better health and wellness.

Dr. Thi Khuc, MD, is a board-certified physician specializing in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Gastro Center of Maryland's location in Riverdale, Maryland. Trained with expertise in evidence-based medicine and clinical research by national and international authorities in the field, Dr. Khuc is committed to providing quality, personalized patient care. Dr. Khuc values her patients’ opinions in the medical decision-making process.

Dr. Khuc completed her medical degree at the University of Virginia, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Loma Linda University in California. Thereafter, she completed her Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship under the Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Maryland and Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She was elected as a 2023 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Innovations Fellow for the Center for GI Innovation and Technology and is currently a member of the AGA and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Dr. Khuc is skilled in colonoscopy, endoscopy, video capsule endoscopy and esophageal manometry and breath testing interpretation. She treats a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders including colorectal cancer screening, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, microscopic colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), constipation, infectious diarrheal disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In her spare time, Dr. Khuc enjoys painting, traveling, and trying new ice cream flavors with her family and friends.

Dr. Laughlin’s nurse Patricia Donoho has been in plastic surgery nursing for over 30 years. She is a phenomenal nurse who’s been working with Dr. Laughlin since 1994. Before working with Dr. Laughlin, Pat was a plastic surgery nurse for 10 years. She assists with all surgeries offered at Laughlin Plastic Surgery and also performs sclerotherapy.

Dr. Erika M Benns graduated from the MCP- Hahnemann University School of Medicine in 2000. Dr. Benns completed her internship and residency at the Atlanta Medical Center in Georgia. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Benns has an interest in preventive health care, especially in the areas of hypertension and diabetes.

Jessica Campbell is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons College in Boston, Mass. She is a certified Emergency Department Nurse and worked at the emergency department at AAMC for 20 years prior to becoming a nurse practitioner. She is from Iowa and was a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman for eight years. She has a special interest in preventive medicine, orthopedics and women’s health. She also enjoys doing home visits for our wellness exams and for sick visits if needed

Dr. Charles W. Phelps graduated from the University of Maryland in 1988 and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Phelps has experience in private practice and started the hospitalist program at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Dr. Phelps was Chief of Medicine at AAMC. In addition, Dr. Phelps received the Washington-Baltimore Top Doctors award for several years

Suresh Kumar Misra, MD, is the newest member of Anne Arundel Gastroenterology Associates, P.A., seeing patients from the offices in Bowie and Greenbelt, Maryland. He identifies with the pronouns he/his and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. 

Inspired by his grandfather’s dedication to medicine in India, Dr. Misra is passionate about listening to his patients with the goal of improving their health and quality of life. He strives to be a knowledgeable and accessible expert resource, both to his patients and to the community he serves. 

After completing his undergraduate degree at Tulane University, Dr. Misra received a Doctorate of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. He continued his training at Temple University Hospital to provide much-needed quality care to the economically distressed area of North Philadelphia. 

After obtaining his Internal Medicine Board Certification, Dr. Misra practiced as an internist for six years. The highlight of his post-graduate career was serving the diverse community of Astoria, Queens, as an ICU hospitalist and completing a one-year Hepatitis Fellowship at the Institute of Liver Medicine in the Mount Sinai Health System. The fellowship focused on hepatitis and general hepatology. Dr. Misra’s practice in New York inspired him to pursue a Gastroenterology Fellowship, which he completed at the University of Arizona in Tucson. 

His research has included the pulmonary complications of cirrhosis and the predictors of liver cancer. He has published multiple reviews on Hepatitis C and presented the results at national conferences. 

Dr. Misra values diversity, equality, integrity, and caring for others. He is currently taking new patients and is excited to serve the community of Annapolis and the Maryland area.

Since moving to Maryland in 2010, I have practiced in a number of medical establishments, including Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, Ginger Cove Subacute Rehabilitation, and Potomac Physicians. Setting up my own medical practice has finally allowed me to practice medicine in an atmosphere that feels welcoming, caring, and unhurried to my patients. My goals are to provide quality, evidence-based care to my patients in the fields of medical and physical wellness, preventive medicine, nutrition, mental and emotional health, gynecological care, and management of chronic medical conditions. The practice will offer comprehensive physicals, sports physicals, college physicals, annual gynecological exams, preoperative examinations, chronic care visits, follow-up visits, and sick visits.

Patricia G. Gao, MD specializes in primary care at her private practice in Glen Burnie, Maryland. She started the practice in 2004, affiliating with Baltimore Washington Medical Center also in Glen Burnie. Dr. Gao’s mission is to diagnose and treat acute and chronic diseases, and to help patients understand and maintain good health and make better lifestyle choices. Dr. Gao believes in the power of preventive medicine. She obtained certifications for dermatologic procedures at the National Procedures Institute, Austin, Texas in 2003 and at the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine, Las Vegas in 2011. Dr. Gao is highly experienced at meeting a variety of dermatological needs including removal of skin tags, moles, cysts, and performing skin biopsies. She also has unique skills in Botox®  and filler injections.

Dr. Gao has seventeen years of experience practicing internal medicine as a primary care physician. After graduating from Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangdong, China, Dr. Gao came to the United States where she performed cancer research at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston. She received a master’s degree in molecular biology from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas, Houston. She began her internship at Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Gao completed her internal medicine residency and worked as a hospitalist and teaching physician at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.

Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician
Founder & CEO – Midwest Wellness & Wound Care

Dr. Kinya Kamau, MD, is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Wellness & Wound Care, a physician-directed multi-state medical organization specializing in mobile wound care, chronic disease management, and telemedicine services.

With more than 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Kamau has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for medically complex patients through evidence-based care delivered directly at the bedside. Her work focuses on patients living with chronic wounds, diabetes, vascular disease, mobility limitations, and other conditions that interfere with healing.

Dr. Kamau leads a physician-directed wound care program that delivers advanced bedside wound management in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, rehabilitation centers, and private residences across multiple states. Her model integrates Internal Medicine expertise, regulatory compliance, and structured clinical workflows to improve healing outcomes while supporting healthcare facilities with Medicare-aligned documentation.

Her mission is simple but powerful: provide compassionate, evidence-driven care that restores health, mobility, and dignity for patients living with chronic wounds.

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Professional Credentials

Dr. Kamau brings more than two decades of medical experience in Internal Medicine and complex chronic disease management. Her clinical background includes extensive experience caring for medically fragile adults in hospital, outpatient, and post-acute care settings.

She has dedicated much of her career to treating patients with:

• chronic wounds

• diabetes

• vascular disease

• renal dysfunction

• mobility limitations

These conditions frequently impair wound healing and require a comprehensive medical approach.

Dr. Kamau earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nairobi, where she developed a strong academic foundation in internal medicine, complex disease management, and patient-centered clinical care.

She later completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma, where she refined her expertise in diagnosing and managing complex medical conditions affecting adult patients.

Following residency, Dr. Kamau completed advanced fellowship training in nephrology, expanding her expertise in:

• kidney disease

• hypertension

• electrolyte disorders

• metabolic conditions

• systemic illnesses that influence wound healing

Dr. Kamau currently maintains active medical licenses in multiple U.S. states, allowing her to oversee physician-directed wound care services across diverse healthcare environments including:

• skilled nursing facilities

• assisted living communities

• rehabilitation centers

• private residences

Through Midwest Wellness & Wound Care, she leads a multi-state physician wound care program designed to deliver advanced bedside wound treatment while maintaining strict alignment with Medicare documentation standards and regulatory compliance requirements.

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Quick Credentials Summary

Board Certification
Internal Medicine

Medical School
University of Nairobi – Doctor of Medicine

Residency Training
Internal Medicine – University of Oklahoma

Fellowship Training
Nephrology- University of Oklahoma

Clinical Experience
20+ years in Internal Medicine and complex chronic disease management

Clinical Focus

• Mobile wound care

• Chronic wound management

• Diabetic wound care

• Pressure injury management

• Post-acute care medicine

Practice Model

Physician-directed mobile wound care and telemedicine services

Practice Leadership

Founder & CEO – Midwest Wellness & Wound Care

Practice Settings

• Skilled nursing facilities

• Assisted living communities

• Rehabilitation centers

• Private residences

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Medical Education and Training

Dr. Kamau earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nairobi, where she developed a strong foundation in internal medicine, complex disease management, and patient-centered clinical care.

She later completed her Internal Medicine residency training at the University of Oklahoma, where she further refined her expertise in diagnosing and managing complex medical conditions affecting adult patients.

Internal Medicine training provides a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected systems that influence healing. Conditions such as:

• diabetes

• cardiovascular disease

• kidney dysfunction

• malnutrition

• vascular compromise

frequently contribute to delayed wound healing.

Dr. Kamau’s training enables her to evaluate wounds within the full medical context of the patient rather than focusing solely on the skin surface. This systemic perspective forms the foundation of her approach to chronic wound management.

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Board-Certified Internal Medicine Expertise

As a Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician, Dr. Kamau approaches wound care through the lens of whole-patient medicine.

Chronic wounds rarely exist in isolation. They often develop because of underlying physiologic dysfunction that impairs tissue repair.

Common systemic contributors include:

• diabetes and poor glycemic control

• peripheral vascular disease

• venous insufficiency

• cardiac disease

• renal impairment

• malnutrition

• neuropathy

• immobility

• medication side effects

• chronic inflammation

By addressing these root contributors alongside local wound treatment, Dr. Kamau’s approach improves healing potential and reduces the risk of complications such as infection, hospitalization, or limb loss.

This integrated medical strategy is a key differentiator between physician-directed wound care and fragmented treatment models that rely solely on topical wound management.

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Founder of Midwest Wellness & Wound Care

Dr. Kamau founded Midwest Wellness & Wound Care to address a critical gap in post-acute medicine.

Many patients with chronic wounds live in environments where transportation to specialty wound clinics is difficult or unsafe. Skilled nursing residents, assisted living residents, and homebound individuals often experience delays in wound evaluation simply because they cannot easily travel to outpatient facilities.

The mobile wound care model solves this problem by bringing advanced wound care directly to the patient.

Under Dr. Kamau’s leadership, Midwest Wellness & Wound Care provides physician-directed bedside wound care services that allow patients to receive specialized treatment in the environment where they live.

This model improves:

• access to care

• early wound detection

• treatment timeliness

• interdisciplinary communication

• patient comfort and safety

It also allows physicians to observe real-world factors affecting wound healing, including mobility limitations, pressure exposure, nutritional status, and environmental risks.

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Multi-State Medical Practice

Dr. Kamau currently holds active medical licenses in numerous states across the United States, allowing her organization to expand access to physician-directed wound care services across diverse regions.

States where Dr. Kamau is licensed in over 40 states. 

Operating across multiple states requires a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, payer policies, and state medical board requirements.

Dr. Kamau’s leadership includes oversight of:

• multi-state physician licensing

• Medicare credentialing

• payer enrollment

• corporate practice of medicine compliance

• telemedicine regulations

• Medicare Administrative Contractor policy alignment

This regulatory fluency allows Midwest Wellness & Wound Care to expand safely while maintaining strict compliance with healthcare laws and reimbursement guidelines.

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Mobile Wound Care: Bringing Advanced Treatment to the Bedside

Mobile wound care represents a major advancement in how chronic wounds are treated.

Traditional wound care models rely heavily on outpatient clinics or hospital-based services, which can create barriers for medically fragile patients.

Dr. Kamau’s physician-directed mobile wound care model places advanced wound care directly at the bedside.

Patients may receive care in:

• skilled nursing facilities

• assisted living communities

• rehabilitation centers

• long-term care facilities

• private residences

By eliminating transportation barriers, patients receive faster evaluations and more consistent follow-up.

Early intervention is one of the most important factors influencing wound healing outcomes.

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Chronic Wounds Treated

Dr. Kamau’s clinical program manages a wide range of wound conditions commonly seen in post-acute medicine.

These include:

Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Neuropathy, vascular compromise, and metabolic dysfunction contribute to tissue breakdown.

Pressure Injuries
Prolonged pressure restricts blood flow and damages tissue.

Venous Leg Ulcers
Venous insufficiency and edema lead to chronic lower extremity wounds.

Arterial Ulcers
Poor arterial circulation limits oxygen delivery to tissues.

Post-Surgical Wounds
Incisions may fail to heal due to infection or systemic illness.

Traumatic Wounds
Skin tears and injuries are common in elderly populations.

Chronic Non-Healing Wounds
Persistent wounds require a comprehensive medical approach.

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Structured Wound Evaluation

Every wound evaluation follows a standardized clinical protocol that includes:

• precise wound location documentation

• wound length, width, and depth measurement

• tissue type identification

• exudate evaluation

• periwound assessment

• infection surveillance

• perfusion evaluation

• pressure offloading strategies

This structured methodology supports accurate monitoring of wound progression and Medicare-compliant documentation.

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Advanced Wound Treatment Modalities

Treatment plans are tailored to each patient and may include:

• conservative sharp debridement

• antimicrobial dressings

• moisture-balance therapy

• collagen-based wound matrices

• compression therapy

• edema management

• negative pressure wound therapy

• cellular and tissue-based products when appropriate

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Medicare-Aligned Documentation

Providing wound care in long-term care environments requires careful adherence to Medicare documentation standards.

Dr. Kamau’s program emphasizes:

• medical necessity documentation

• CPT coding accuracy

• ICD-10 diagnosis specificity

• Local Coverage Determination adherence

• wound progression documentation

• treatment response monitoring

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Telemedicine Services

In addition to mobile wound care, Dr. Kamau oversees telemedicine services that expand access to medical care.

Services may include:

• primary care consultations

• chronic disease follow-up

• medication management

• behavioral health support

• preventive care evaluations

Telehealth allows patients to receive ongoing medical support between in-person visits while maintaining continuity of care.

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Commitment to Patient-Centered Care

At the center of Dr. Kamau’s work is a commitment to improving the lives of patients living with chronic wounds and complex medical conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wound Care Physicians What does a wound care physician do?

A wound care physician specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, venous leg ulcers, arterial ulcers, and non-healing surgical wounds. They provide advanced wound treatments, debridement procedures, and medical oversight to support healing.

When should someone see a wound care physician?

Patients should see a wound care physician when a wound does not improve after several weeks of standard treatment, or when conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease, or immobility increase the risk of delayed healing.

Can wound care physicians treat patients in nursing facilities?

Yes. Many wound care physicians provide bedside services in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, rehabilitation centers, and private homes to ensure patients receive timely evaluation and treatment.

Ndubuisi Okafor, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 20 years of experience. At his practice, Okafor Medical Associates, located in Washington, DC, Dr. Okafor offers patients compassionate care for a variety of conditions including chronic disease management, ADHD, and internal medicine concerns as a leading primary care physician.

Dr. Okafor obtained his medical degree from the Howard University Hospital and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also specially trained in Advanced Trauma Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support.

Dr. Okafor is a registered Civil Surgeon with the United States Center for Immigration Services, so he can provide Immigration Medical examinations with all the required tests in the facility. In addition, is a Registered Certified Medical Examiner with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, so he can provide medical examination and certification for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

When he is not treating his patients, Dr. Okafor enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing his hobbies which include football, soccer, and running. Dr. Okafor also speaks English, Ibo, Yoruba, and Hausa.

He looks forward to meeting new patients and giving them the best care possible.

Gowri Kularatna, MD, specializes in gastroenterology at GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Maryland. She has years of experience in the medical field and uses her knowledge to diagnose and treat patients. 

Dr. Kularatna attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology. She then received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.  

Dr. Kularatna completed her internal medicine residency at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts and a gastroenterology fellowship at The Barnes-Jewish Hospital through Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Dr. Kularatna is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. She is also a professional member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association.

At GI Associates of Maryland in Waldorf, Dr. Kularatna works closely with patients to ensure she provides expert care. She has a comfortable office setting and takes an evidence-based approach to treat her patients.