Meet the General Surgery Faculty
Peter M. DeVito, MD, FACS
Dr. DeVito began his Surgery Directorship at Western Reserve Health Education in 2006. He is a native of Ohioan, who earned his BS/MD in 1991 from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, now known as Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in Rootstown, Ohio. Dr. DeVito completed his Surgical Residency at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio and built a successful private practice thereafter. Dr. DeVito holds an appointment as the Chairman of the Surgical Education Committee. He is member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee. Dr. DeVito’s particular areas of interest include Hernia and Advanced Laparoscopic techniques. He enjoys spending time with his family, skiing, basketball, art, opera and piano.
John Ambrosino, MD
Dr. Ambrosino was born in Brockton, MA. He received his BS & MS from Tufts University and his MD from University of Vermont Larner Medical School. Dr. Ambrosino did his residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Vascular Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He went on to practice at Brocton Hospital as Chief of General Surgery and Director of Surgical Education. He was also an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine
In 2005, Dr. Ambrosino moved to southwest PA, becoming Chief of Vascular Services at Excela Health. He then moved to Sharon Regional Hospital in 2012. He is Board Certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery and currently serves as Chairman for Department of Surgery and Chief of Surgical Education at Sharon Regional Hospital, a Steward Medical Group facility.
Shawn Clark, MD
Shawn C. Clark, DO, received his bachelor's degree in Biology from The Ohio State University in 2009 and went on to attend the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating in 2014, he completed two years of Internal Medicine residency at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga falls, OH before transitioning to Western Reserve Hospital's General Surgery residency in 2016 which he then completed in 2020. Upon completion of residency training, he started his practice in Salem, Ohio where he practices as a community general surgeon with a specific interest in minimally invasive colorectal surgery and hernia repair. He lives in Canfield with his wonderful fiance and two puppies and enjoys spending time on his hobbies of golf, classic cars, and motorcycle racing.
Brandon Dessecker, MD
Pablo Giuseppucci, MD
Pablo Giuseppucci, MD, FACS, earned his medical degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina and completed a General Surgery Residency at Hospital General de Agudos I. Pirovano in Argentina. Dr. Giuseppucci was the Chief Resident from June 1999 to May 2000. While in Argentina he also completed special training in minimally invasive surgery, benign and malignant esophago-gastric surgery and complex abdominal wall reconstruction.
He then completed a second residency in General Surgery at Western Penn and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Giuseppucci's clinical interests include robotic and minimally invasive surgery, oncological surgery, upper GI surgery and abdomen wall surgery.
Penelope Mashburn, MD
Penelope Mashburn, DO, earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Mashburn then completed residencies in general surgery at NYU Langone in Brooklyn, New York and Hackensack-Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, New Jersey. She is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Her clinical interests include breast surgeries, colon and gallbladder surgery and minimally invasive hernia repair. Her husband is in seminary school and they have a teen age son. Being from Miami, she loves the beach, snorkeling, and nature walks.
Joshua K. Phillips, M.D.
Joshua K Phillips, MD, received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University in 2008 and went on to attend Ross University School of Medicine. After graduating in 2013 he completed a 5-year general surgery residency in Youngstown, Ohio. After completing residency, he went on to complete a one-year surgical fellowship in minimally invasive advanced gastrointestinal surgery at The George Washington University in Washington DC. He came back to start his practice in Youngstown, OH where he specializes in robotic and advanced laparoscopic surgery with a particular interest in robotic colorectal and foregut surgery as well as robotic abdominal wall surgery. He has a beautiful wife and 2 kids and enjoys golf, hunting and being outdoors.
Brandon Dessecker received his MD from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 2015. He completed surgical residency at Western Reserve Health Education in 2020. Following that he pursued fellowship training in advanced GI laparoscopy and metabolic and bariatric surgery at Gundersen Health System, graduating in 2021.
James Smith, MD, FACS
Dr. Smith is originally from New York. He attended the University La Salle SOM in Mexico City, Mexico, and completed a Fifth Pathway at the University of California College of Medicine. His General Surgery Residency was completed at Northside Regional Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio. Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Surgery at NEOMED in Rootstown, Ohio. He specializes in GI and breast surgeries. During his free time, he enjoys running and makes at least one trip per year to an underdeveloped country to help those less fortunate. He enjoys when a resident is able to accompany him on these trips.
Dave Thomas, MD
Dr. Thomas earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a General Surgery Residency at Western Reserve Care System. Dr. Thomas continues to serve as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio. Clinical Interests include:
• Robotic & Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Hiatal Hernia Repair
• Surgery for Reflux/Heartburn
• Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery
• Breast Surgery
• Endoscopic Procedures
