Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA), Realty Trust Group (RTG) and elected officials in attendance broke ground on July 2 to start building a $15 million GIA facility at the Dowell Spring business park. The new location will feature an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Center of Excellence for the treatment of Crohn’s and Colitis, and Comprehensive Weight Management Center. Pictured from left to right: GIA founder Dr. Bergein “Gene” Overholt; state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey; Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett; GIA CEO Jeff Dew; and RTG President Greg Gheen.

KNOXVILLE — A groundbreaking ceremony for a gastroenterology care center in Dowell Springs was held on July 2nd. Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) is investing $15 million to build the facility which will feature an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Center of Excellence for the treatment of Crohn’s and Colitis, and Comprehensive Weight Management Center.

The ceremony was hosted by GIA and Realty Trust Group (RTG) and was attended by staff, physicians, neighbors from the Dowell Springs business park and elected officials.

“Our staff and physicians are committed to providing the very best patient care experiences in gastroenterology in Tennessee,” GIA co-founder Dr. Bergein “Gene” Overholt said. “Our Dowell Springs location will serve as the premier health care facility in the region for endoscopic procedures like screening colonoscopies, the diagnosing and treating of Crohn’s and Colitis and other clinical services centered around our patients’ health.”

“The opening of the new facility also will mark the launch of our newest service area – an innovative and personalized weight management program. The GIA team will work to deliver the same superior results and proven quality care in weight management as we have in gastroenterology over the past 44 years.”

The facility is scheduled to open in summer 2016. It will absorb the operations and services currently housed at GIA’s nearby Weisgarber Road location. GIA plans to continue to work with RTG on plans for the Weisgarber office after the successful transition to the Dowell Springs facility, and until that time, the Weisgarber Road location will continue to operate as normal.

GIA also will continue to operate its two additional Knoxville locations at 629 Delozier Way off Emory Road in Powell and at 11440 Parkside Drive in West Knox County.

Gastrointestinal Associates is one of the Southeast’s leading GI practices and is the only GI practice in Knoxville that operates three licensed and certified endoscopic ambulatory surgery centers in the north, central and west areas of Knoxville and Knox County. For more information, visit www.gihealthcare.com.

“GIA’s investment is significant – not only in the real estate terms of the economic impact and state-of-the-art features of the facility, but most importantly, in terms of the health care services provided to our region,” said Greg Gheen, president of Realty Trust Group. “We’re proud to partner with GIA on this Dowell Springs development and the future of their Weisgarber office space.”

Published July 5, 2015