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Crestwood Medical Center continues to expand cardiac care with the addition of pulse field ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib). This procedure is performed by Dr. Quinton Foster, electrophysiologist and cardiologist.  Dr. Foster is an independent member of the medical staff at Crestwood Medical Center.

Understanding Atrial Fibrillation

“Atrial fibrillation is essentially a short circuit in the upper chambers of the heart,” Dr. Foster explains. “The electricity goes haywire, which can cause the heart to race, beat irregularly or feel like it’s fluttering.” Dr. Foster says atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke.

Treatment Options for AFib

There are several ways to treat atrial fibrillation. According to Dr. Foster, medications are often the first step, but AFib frequently returns despite medication therapy. Cardioversion, using an electrical shock to restore normal rhythm, can stop AFib temporarily but does not prevent it from coming back.

Dr. Foster says when medications or cardioversion are not effective, catheter ablation is often recommended. Ablation targets the source of the abnormal electrical signals in the heart.

“Ablation actually goes into the heart and treats the source of the short circuit,” Dr. Foster said. “The benefit is that it’s designed to prevent atrial fibrillation from coming back.”

What Is Pulse Field Ablation?

Pulse field ablation is the newest evolution in ablation technology. Traditional ablation methods use heat (radiofrequency) or freezing (cryoablation) to destroy the heart tissue causing the abnormal rhythm. Pulse field ablation, however, uses controlled electrical energy to treat AFib.

“I like to describe pulse field ablation as electricity, as opposed to freezing or burning,” Dr. Foster explained. “It selectively targets the heart muscle we’re trying to treat, without targeting surrounding structures.”

This targeted approach allows physicians to treat the “short circuit” in the heart more precisely, potentially reducing certain risks associated with other ablation techniques.

While traditional thermal ablations are still appropriate in some cases, pulse field ablation expands the options available to physicians and patients.

Shorter Procedures and Faster Recovery

Another benefit of pulse field ablation is a shorter procedure time. The amount of time spent in the left atrium of the heart, known as left atrial dwell time, is reduced, which may lower the risk of complications related to longer anesthesia and procedure duration. Overall, procedure times are typically 20% shorter compared to traditional ablation methods.

Recovery from pulse field ablation is similar to other catheter-based ablation procedures. Patients typically go home the same day, with no major incisions. Most people can return to normal activities within a few days, following simple precautions such as avoiding heavy bending or lifting.

Advanced Care, Close to Home

According to Dr. Foster, having pulse field ablation available gives patients a range of tools needed to safely and effectively treat heart rhythm disorders, while tailoring care to each individual patient.

For patients living with AFib, pulse field ablation at Crestwood offers a new option for heart care, one that combines innovation and safety for patients.

We are proud to share an exciting milestone for our Internal Medicine and Family Medicine Residency Program. Members of our first graduating class have successfully matched into highly respected fellowship programs across the country. This achievement marks a defining moment for our program and reflects the strength of our training, mentorship, and commitment to developing exceptional physicians.

As our inaugural class, these physicians helped shape the culture, standards, and identity of our residency program. Their success is a testament not only to their individual dedication and talent, but also to the collaborative environment created by our faculty, program leadership, and clinical partners.

Match and Career Placement Highlights

Tumpa Patra, M.D. — Nephrology, University of Rochester, New York
Indira Babu Poojary, M.D. — Infectious Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, East Tennessee State University
Junu Giri, M.D. — Infectious Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Maida Chaudhry, M.D. — Hematology, University of Minnesota Medical School
Ammar Al Heyasat, M.D. — Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida
Subekshya Khadka, M.D. — Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida
Rabi Shrestha, M.D. — Infectious Disease/Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida
Alexander Flugrad, M.D. — Emergency Medicine, MaineGeneral Health
Sayeda Basith, M.D. — Addiction Medicine, Institute of Living / Hartford Hospital

These placements span a wide range of competitive subspecialties and nationally recognized institutions.

Looking Ahead

We are incredibly proud of this historic class and grateful for the leadership they demonstrated as pioneers of our residency program. Their accomplishments set a strong foundation for future residents and reinforce our mission to train compassionate, skilled, and innovative physicians who will make a meaningful impact in healthcare.

We look forward to following their continued success and celebrating the many contributions they will make to their patients, institutions, and communities.

Congratulations to our graduates—we are honored to have been part of your journey.

For many people with severe hearing loss, even the most advanced hearing aids can only go so far. When conversations become exhausting, background noise drowns out every word, and when social situations feel overwhelming, it may be time for something more powerful.

Dr. Sabina Dang, an ENT specialist with Huntsville Ear, Nose & Throat Physicians, P.C. and an independent member of our medical staff, has performed the first cochlear implant procedure in North Alabama right here at Crestwood.

“A cochlear implant is a powerful device,” Dr. Dang explained. “Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, a cochlear implant directly stimulates the nerve of hearing using electrical signals. This provides a level of clarity that hearing aids just can’t provide.”

Candidates are typically people who have used hearing aids but still struggle to understand speech. After evaluation, they may find that a cochlear implant can help restore the clarity they’re missing.

The procedure is a short outpatient surgery, so patients go home the same day. After a few weeks of healing, the device is activated and patients begin working with an audiologist to fine-tune the implant.

Milestone for North Alabama

Until now, patients needing cochlear implants often traveled to Nashville or Birmingham for surgery and follow-up visits. According to Dr. Dang, this barrier often prevented patients from receiving a cochlear implant.

“Some of these patients are 80 or 90 years old,” said Dr. Dang. “A long day of travel, surgery, recovery, and multiple follow-up visits can be too much. Having this procedure available locally removes a major obstacle.”

Life-Changing Outcomes

When a cochlear implant is activated for the first time, the results are often emotional.

“It’s life changing,” Dr. Dang shared. “Patients go from hearing almost nothing to suddenly being able to hear ambient sounds again, the hum of the AC, footsteps, doors closing. Their world opens back up.”

Bringing Advanced Care Back Home

For Dr. Dang, offering cochlear implants in Huntsville carries personal meaning.

“I’m from Huntsville,” she said. “To bring this procedure back to my hometown and offer it to people who may otherwise never have access, it’s something I’m very proud of.”

Now, with cochlear implant services available at Crestwood, patients needing this technology can receive care close to home.

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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, November 3, 2025 – Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. and the statistics on the rates by age have surprised the medical community. Between 2012 and 2021, more colorectal cancer cases have been identified in adults under 50 each year while the rates for adults 50 and older have been going down over the same period. The American Cancer Society estimates about 107,320 new cases of colon cancer and 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer will be found in 2025.

Gastroenterologist, Dr. Smita Shah, says colorectal cancer screening is a critical tool to fight the disease, because precancerous growths can be detected and removed before they develop into cancer. The American Cancer Society and US Preventive Services task force both recommend the age to start screening for colorectal cancers is 45 for those at average risk.

For patients at higher risk, their physician may advise having an initial screening before age 45 or more frequent screening. These risk factors include:

• A personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or of certain types of polyps;
• A personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease;
• A history of radiation in the abdomen or pelvis, in treatment of previous cancer(s);
• A genetic and hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome.

In addition to colonoscopy, the most commonly known screening, several types of tests can screen for colorectal cancer. Fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy and DNA stool test are also used.

“While we are doing a better job of screening for and removing polyps before they become cancerous, the overall lifestyle and diet choices of our population are driving up the risk and incidence of these cancers,” says Dr. Shah.

Dr. Shah says that beyond regular screenings, there are a number of lifestyle factors you can manage to reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer. These include maintaining a healthy body weight; managing your Type 2 diabetes; minimizing red meats in your diet such as beef, pork, lamb and liver, and processed meats; avoiding smoking; and limiting your alcohol intake. Just as with heart health, staying active and maintaining a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limiting red meats and sugary drinks, may lower your risk.

Depending on your age, a colonoscopy screening may be a covered wellness test under your insurance plan – and most plans cover a colonoscopy completely as a follow-up test or diagnostic tool.

If you have a family history of colon cancer, or have reached age 45 or more, talk with your primary care provider to see if it’s time for you to begin screening, which test is right for you and how frequently to be screened.

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