USF Health Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing and Balance Center

Dr. Jeffrey Lester graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor degree in finance in 1996. He returned to USF in 1997 to earn a degree in chemistry, completed in 2004. Dr. Lester attended Ross University School of Medicine and graduated with a doctor of medicine degree in June 2004. In July 2004 he started his internal medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa and became board certified in internal medicine in 2007. He completed his training in medical genetics at the University of Miami in 2009. In November 2009 Dr. Lester moved to Maryland and worked for Family Health Centers of Baltimore, a small community health center serving with the National Health Service Corps for three years treating low income, indigent patients in internal medicine. In September 2013 Dr. Lester joined the Tampa General Medical Group to open the Sun City Center location. He is a general internist and sees patients 18 years of age and older.

Dr. Lester treats patients 18 years of age and older.
Dr. Lester is recognized by the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program.

Esmeralda Young is a nurse practitioner certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated from St. Petersburg College with a degree in nursing and received her master of science degree in nursing from South University.

Prior to joining Tampa General Medical Group, Esmeralda worked in Tampa General's Medical and Surgical Oncology Unit providing acute nursing care to medical, surgical and oncology patients. Most recently, she practiced with the Community Health Centers of Pinellas in St. Petersburg, FL, providing primary care services and working to maintain continuity of care for patients by establishing diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic illness with health promotion and disease prevention.

Esmeralda is a member of the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Nurses Council, West Coast Council of Advanced Nursing Practices and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Esmeralda treats patients 18 years of age and older.

Dr. Walgampaya is a board-certified internal medicine physician. After completing his undergraduate studies in biology and pre-medicine, Dr. Walgampaya received his medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his internal medicine residency program at Seton Hall University/St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark, NJ. Previously, Dr. Walgampaya served as a medical director, chief medical officer and coroner, worked in an emergency room, and practiced both traditional and outpatient internal medicine. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering, reading, traveling, gardening, cycling and running. Treats patients 18 years of age and older.

Dr. Petrus is board certified in family medicine. He attended medical school at Southeastern University in North Miami Beach, Florida, where he earned his doctorate degree in osteopathy. Dr. Petrus completed his residency at Suncoast Hospital in Largo, Florida. As an undergraduate, he earned his bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Petrus is a member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Petrus treats patients 18 years of age and older.

Dr. Peter Chang is the Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer at Tampa General Hospital (TGH). He is responsible for designing forward-looking healthcare strategies to improve clinical quality, efficiency and care coordination while decreasing the total cost of care.

As part of this mission, Dr. Chang led the design and implementation of TGH's Hospital at Home program. Prior to his role in design, he created and operated TGH's Clinical Command Center focused on system-wide efficiency and quality (CareComm) and served as an assistant professor of medicine in the department of Hospital Medicine.

Dr. Chang earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and he completed his Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of South Florida. He is a board member of MORE Health Inc. and the Tampa General Medical Group. He has been honored with several industry awards and presents regularly on the topics of healthcare innovation and technology.

Dr. Gieron developed Pediatric Neurology Program at Morsani College of Medicine dedicated to teaching Medical Students, Residents and to provide the highest level of care to patients with a broad range of disorders of the brain, nerves and muscles in children.