UNION TOWNSHIP - Dr. Arturo Roa, an ear, nose and throat specialist, talks often about his commitment to serve his patients - and last week he brought that commitment to Lawrence County in a big way

Dr. Roa began seeing patients in his office at the Liberty Circle Professional Building last Wednesday. The office is a satellite office of Tri-State Otolaryngology, which is located in Huntington, W.Va.

"We really want to work hard and serve our patients," Dr. Roa said.

The 14,000 square-foot building is located at 96 Township Road 369, adjacent to the Three Gables Surgery Center on State Route 7 west of the Proctorville bridge. The cost of the project was more than $2 million dollars.

Dr. Roa said the location will be very convenient, as he will be able to perform surgeries in the morning and see patients in the afternoon. The facility is also easily accessible to the Huntington hospitals if patients need urgent care, as well as the nearby Three Gables Surgery Center.

Roa said that the office space will also be shared by the other members of Tri-State Otolaryngology: Dr. Phillip Stevens, Dr. Thomas Jung and Dr. Mark Sheridan.

The office will have a full audiology department, in which hearing aids will be sold, a voice and swallowing center and a sinus and allergy center, Roa said. The physicians will perform minor procedures at the site, with most major surgeries performed across the street at Three Gables.

Currently, two people from the Huntington office are employed at the site, but as the office grows, additional staff may be added as necessary. Eventually, Roa said they hope to have two doctors on staff.

Paula Peoples, an employee with Dr. Roa for the past eight years, said she is very excited about being in the new location.

"We, as a whole, see this as an opportunity to help the medical community," Peoples said.

Dr. Roa said that hopefully this is the first of many medical offices in the Lawrence County area as the current facility is still in the finishing touches. Roa said that one suite is in the process of being rented and they have advertised to rent the remaining spaces.

"We're glad to be here and glad to be a part of Lawrence County," Dr. Roa said. "The county has given us a great welcome."