Our History
Did You Know?
Seven Hills Surgical Associates is still in the original building at 1911 Thomson Drive. The building has undergone some modifications over the years with annexation and renovation of the squash courts into business offices and the conversion of the former pool room and bar space to storage.
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A History of Excellence
Seven Hills Surgical Associates
The surgical practice that was to become Seven Hills Surgical Associates was started by Dr. Dick DeNord who opened his practice in Lynchburg in 1960. He built the building that houses the practice in the early 1960’s. The building was originally part doctor’s office and part squash club with courts, locker rooms, showers, sauna, a bar and pool table in the basement and back of the building and exam rooms and waiting area in the front. The practice grew and Dr. Stuart Harris joined Dr. DeNord in 1965. Dr. Harris was a board-certified general surgeon and the first board-certified cardio-thoracic surgeon in Lynchburg. Dr. Jensie Teague, also boarded in general and thoracic surgery joined the group in 1967.
The practice continued to grow and Dr. Bill Gayle joined in 1978, followed by Dr. Greg Alty in 1991. Harris, Teague, Gayle and Alty (Dr. DeNord left the group in 1976) took on Dr. Lynn McRoy, the first female surgeon in Lynchburg, in 1996. With this addition the group decided to adopt the name of Seven Hills Surgical Associates to simplify matters as partners retired and were added. Dr. Jeff Widmeyer, the first surgeon in Lynchburg to be specialty boarded in vascular surgery, joined the group in 1998 and was joined by a second vascular and general surgeon, Dr. Larry Poletti in 2001. Dr. Robert Bass also joined Seven Hills in 2001.
Dr. Harris retired in 2004 after an inspiring career than spanned over 40 years. Over the next several years, there were a number of arrivals and departures at the group, reflective of trends in surgical groups nationwide. Dr. Mark Salvaggio joined the group in 2005 and Dr. Peter Ploch was hired in 2008.
Seven Hills Surgical Associates is still in the original building at 1911 Thomson Drive. The building has undergone some modifications over the years with annexation and renovation of the squash courts into business offices and the conversion of the former pool room and bar space to storage.
The present partners, Drs. Poletti, Bass, Salvaggio and Ploch aspire to carry on Seven Hills Surgical Associates’ tradition of excellence and innovation.
