News

A Message to Our Community

March 2026

At Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber, we remain committed to keeping our patients, employees, and community informed about important developments across our organization. As part of that commitment, we will continue to share regular updates about services and initiatives that support healthcare access throughout our region.

Here are a few recent developments and upcoming …

Community Care Center Opens to Expand Access to Community-Focused Care

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber is pleased to announce the opening of its new Community Care Center, now operating in the former Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic location within the Professional Building. The Center is accessible from Parking Lot F, located off 7th Street.

The Community Care Center supports the Medical Center’s mission of providing accessible, community-focused …

CSSMCW Welcomes Family Medicine Physician Dr. Kavitha Manjunath

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is pleased to welcome Kavitha Manjunath, MD, a board-certified Family Medicine physician, to its primary care team. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Manjunath brings a compassionate, holistic approach to caring for individuals and families in the Windber and Johnstown communities.

“I became a family physician to …

CSSMCW’s Dr. Elliot Smith Appointed Chief Medical Officer

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elliot L. Smith, MD, as the organization’s new Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Dr. Smith, a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, joined WindberCare Physicians in 2023 and has become a trusted provider known for his dedication to patient-centered care and clinical excellence. In …

WindberCare Physicians Welcomes Elliot L. Smith, MD

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is pleased to welcome Elliot L. Smith, MD to WindberCare Physicians. He joins David Bencie, MD; J. Eric Wieczorek, MD; Ralph Aiken, CRNP; Michelle Corle, CRNP; and Jackie Springer, CRNP. Together they specialize in family and internal medicine and are dedicated to providing personalized, quality care.

The …

WindberCare Physicians Adds New Downtown Johnstown Location

On June 15, Dr. Jyothi Gella’s practice transitioned to Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center of Windber, as a second location to our WindberCare Physicians practice. Dr. Gella is relocating and leaving the area.

Through the summer, WindberCare Physicians providers will see patients at the Richland location at 1511 Scalp Avenue. Patients who had previously scheduled appointments …

WindberCare Physicians Welcomes Jackie Springer, CRNP

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is pleased to welcome Jackie Springer, CRNP to WindberCare Physicians. She joins David Bencie, MD; Lakshmi Madduru, MD; Ralph Aiken, CRNP; and Michelle Corle, CRNP and began seeing patients this month.

Together they specialize in family and internal medicine and are dedicated to …

CSSMCW Welcomes New Primary Care Physician and Geriatrician, Dr. Lakshmi Madduru

Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is pleased to welcome Lakshmi Madduru, MD, who will see patients at WindberCare Physicians beginning in July, with extended evening hours. She joins Lawrence Beatty, MD; David Bencie, MD; Ralph Aiken, CRNP; and Michelle Corle, CRNP. Dr. Madduru comes to the hospital with 11 years of experience, and …

Introducing Our Newest Physician – Candice Widuch-Mert, MD

WindberCare Physicians is pleased to welcome Candice Widuch-Mert, MD. Dr. Widuch-Mert provides personalized, quality care for patients of all ages – from birth to end of life – with a special interest in pediatrics and women�s health, including contraceptive management.