Lake Erie Medical Services

03/16/2026

Meet Dr Shephard,

Dr. Shephard is an orthopedic-trained surgeon with over 15 years of clinical experience in orthopedics. He possesses sub-specialty, advanced training in hand surgery. His specialty area includes a same-day, minimally invasive, anterior hip replacement which supports a faster recovery time for patients. Dr. Shephard also specialized in Trauma/fractures.

He received his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. While at Michigan State, Dr. Shephard was able to take advantage of the International Medical/Surgical Student Experience in Blantyre Malawi, Africa, where he received additional training in orthopedic and general surgery.

Dr. Shephard created the first outpatient, total joint program for a network of over 14 hospitals while working in southeast Kentucky. he comes to our community from Caterra Health System in Louisville, Kentucky. He is welcoming new patients at three Chautauqua County office locations – 419 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, 268 W Main St Fredonia and 107 Institute Street, Jamestown. Dr. Shephard has surgical privileges at Brooks-TLC Hospital, 529 Central Ave., Dunkirk.

Dr. Shephard and his family relocated to Fredonia in December 2023 and his three children are enrolled in the Fredonia Central School District.

03/13/2026

Call now 716-672-2000

03/11/2026

Meet Dr Askar!

From a very young age, Joe Askar has had a passion for helping people. His natural tendency for compassion, his mother’s influence and his academic excellence all contributed to his decision to become a doctor. And after nearly 35 years in medicine, he can’t imagine being anything else — unless, he says, only half joking — he could be a professional golfer.

He came to the Dunkirk-Fredonia area in 1997 and quickly established his private practice with surgical privileges at Brooks Memorial Hospital. For over 27 years he has lived in and served northern Chautauqua County residents, developed a sustained and loyal partnership with patients, and practiced in the context of family and community.

Dr. Askar received his Doctor of Medicine Degree at St. Joseph University School of Medicine in Beirut, Lebanon and completed residencies in: thoracic surgery at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Ma., and general surgery at the New York Medical College at Stamford Hospital, in Stamford, CT.

His specialties include: Colonoscopy, EGD, Appendectomy and Gall Bladder Removal, Abdominal, Hernia Repair, Mediport and Breast Surgeries (cancer, lumpectomy, aspiration). He is excited to be a part of a group practice with other medical providers who share the same.

03/08/2026

In honor of International Women’s Day, we are proud to recognize the incredible women of Brooks-TLC Hospital and Lake Erie Medical Services — and the women who inspire them every day. 💙

Your dedication, compassion, leadership, and teamwork help create a strong and supportive community for our patients and one another. While we can’t capture everyone in a single post, today we celebrate each and every woman who makes a difference within our hospital, our practices, and beyond. A special shout-out to the men who shared photos of the women who inspire them, we love seeing this celebration from every perspective!

03/08/2026

At Lake Erie Medical Services, we are proud to work alongside so many incredible women whose dedication strengthens both our organization and our community every single day. Bringing compassion, intelligence, and tireless commitment to their patients while also carrying the equally important responsibilities of family and home. The balance they maintain often sacrificing their own time and energy so others can thrive is nothing short of remarkable. As a group, these women represent the heart of LEMS: professionals who care deeply, work incredibly hard, and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around them. Today and every day, they deserve to be recognized and appreciated for the extraordinary work they do!

Thank you Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Inc. for helping us celebrate these women and all those who inspire us every day!

03/08/2026

It’s blood drive time! 🩸

Join us for our first ConnectLife Blood Drive of the year on Wednesday, March 11. We’ve also returned to Wednesdays for our 2026 drives. Save the following dates for upcoming collections throughout the year: Wednesday, 6/24; Wednesday, 9/16; and Wednesday, 12/9.

If you’re able, please sign up in advance using the information in the graphic, but walk-ins are always welcome. Thank you to everyone who donates and to the teams who help support their coworkers while they give. It truly takes a village!

03/08/2026

Meet Dr Kukreja,

Dr. Kukreja is an orthopedic-trained surgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience in orthopedics, and advanced subspecialty training in simple and complex spine surgery. After completing medical school and his orthopedic surgery residency in India, Dr. Kukreja was awarded fellowships in the United States which further developed his expertise.

The majority of his extensive, clinical training focused on the spine, Dr. Kukreja’s primary area of interest. Two of those experiences took place in the northeast region of the U.S., one in the University at Buffalo Spine Fellowship Program, the other, in Harvard University’s Pediatric Orthopedic and Spine Fellowship Program.

Dr. Kukreja comes to our community from Glen Rock, New Jersey, where he was an orthopedic and spine surgeon at CitiMed NY. he welcomes patients at the LEMS office, 419 Central Ave. Dunkirk and has surgical privileges, for orthopedic and spine surgeries, at Brooks Hospital, 529 Central Ave., Dunkirk.

He and his family have purchased a home in Fredonia.

03/06/2026

Meet Lisa Barrett ANP-BC!

An alumna of Lakeshore Central School, Lisa Barrett, ANP-BC, was a junior in high school when she enrolled in the BOCES nursing program. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at D’Youville College, in Buffalo, and a Master’s of Science in Adult Nurse Practitioner from Daemen College, in Amherst.

Lisa began her career as a registered nurse at the Erie County Medical Center on the Step-down Trauma Unit. She has worked throughout Western New York and area residents are sure to recognize her from her clinical rotation at Sharma Family Medicine, TLC Health Network, Medicor Associates (Silver Creek) and the VA Dunkirk Outpatient Clinic.

With over 20 years of healthcare experience, Lisa provides compassionate, non-judgmental care in a friendly clinic setting for preventive medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of chronic and acute illnesses and diseases.

When not seeing patients, her favorite activity is spending time with her husband of 24 years, their three children, and her “fourth baby” — an adored German Shephard named Klaus. A close second to family is spending time with friends.

Lisa is accepting patients – now including same-day appointments – at 268 W. Main St., Fredonia.

03/05/2026

Meet Dr. Shahzad!!

Abdul R. Shahzad, MD, FACS, FCCWS, CWS, joined LEMS as general surgeon in the spring of 2021. Dr. Shahzad earned his medical degree in the Dominican Republic, with honors, and, as the youngest student to graduate in 1983. He completed a residency in general surgery at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY.

As a practicing surgeon for over 40 years, with a clinical focus in general and laparoscopic surgery and trauma wound care, he brings years of specialization in laparoscopic appendectomy and gallbladder surgeries, and cancer surgeries. Prior experience includes practical and teaching experience at a level one trauma center.

Dr. Shahzad served as director of surgery at Ellenville Regional Hospital, NY, a rural healthcare network. Prior to that, in his role as chief of surgery at Catskill Regional Medical Center, Dr. Shahzad’s department was recognized by Healthgrades for three consecutive years with a five-star rating in appendix and gallbladder surgery outcomes in New York state.

03/04/2026

02/28/2026

02/27/2026