SALISBURY — It was a day to celebrate.

An Aug. 29 special grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony were held to mark the opening of Northeast Digestive Health Center’s newest location at 510 Corporate Circle, Salisbury.

While they officially opened their doors Aug. 19 and are seeing patients at the clinic, the ribbon-cutting was held Thursday with a ceremony followed by refreshments and tours of the center and the nextdoor Salisbury Endoscopy Center, which is set to open on Oct. 14.

The endoscopy center is a joint venture between Northeast Digestive and Novant Health, said Taylor Blackman, executive director of the center.

Being here in this new location “means the world,” said Blackman. “They have a need, which is why we partnered with Novant to come up here and provide gastroenterology services, and then Novant was very adamant about providing a lower cost location for patients to have procedures.”

Representatives from Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, the newly opened digestive health center, members of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, town officials and other guests gathered at the front of the building for the ribbon cutting.

Elaine Spalding, president of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, welcomed everyone and shared how excited they were “to be a part of this very special ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration.”

Terry Osborne, chairman of the local chamber, congratulated the group “for this wonderful addition to this community, and we’re so excited for you all and I know you have been excited waiting for this moment.”

Mayor Karen Alexander likewise expressed her gratitude as she said, “thank you guys so much for your partnership.”

On behalf of the center, Dr. Mark Aldous, managing partner of Northeast Digestive Health, thanked everyone that was there and said they are “so grateful for the opportunity to be able to work in Rowan County and take care of the patients from Rowan County in Rowan County.”

He added his appreciation for “Gary and his team and all that they have done to help put this together as well.”

In sharing that it is a partnership with Northeast Digestive Health, Gary Blabon, president and COO at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, said “it really just expands the care that we are able to give in the community.”

Blabon noted that they had worked with them over the past few years, “but to have them open up a facility here just really brings that remarkable care closer to home.”

Blackman said that this is the third location and the first in the area, to which Blabon added that this new location “will just allow them to be able to treat citizens within Rowan County and surrounding areas.”

Tours were provided during the event giving everyone an opportunity to walk through the two facilities and see the 10 exam rooms and two infusion bays in the digestive center portion and the seven bays and two procedure rooms in the endoscopy center, along with the nurses stations on both sides.

Leigh Ann Owen, an endoscopy tech, pointed out the various bays, noting that some would be for prep and others would be for recovery, indicating those bays were located right in front of the nurses station. 

She also pointed out where patients would go to and return from their procedures and the private and convenient area to be picked up afterward.

In addition to Aldous, additional healthcare providers on hand for the special event were Drs. Alan W. Chiemprabha and Nirav Chiniwalla. They likewise joined in the tour and pointed out the various rooms. Chiniwalla showed one of the procedure rooms and noted how nice and large it is.

Hours at the clinic are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays.

For additional information about the center, including services, providers and more, check out its website.