started the only narcolepsy center in the Kanawha Valley. No matter what he was working on, Atassi kept his goal of improving rural health care at the forefront.
He started the Riverside Medical Group, a multi-specialty group that brings physicians in internal medicine, pulmonary and cardiology to the Upper Kanawha Valley. He also started a mobile ultrasound and echocardiography service that brings modern technology to rural clinics and introduced the first bone density machine to the Upper Kanawha Valley.
“ Seeing the health improvements in generations of families has been the most rewarding,” Atassi says.“ I was able to continue the legacy of my predecessor, who started as a coal camp doctor, by bringing good health care to the coal fields.”
In fall 2025, the West Virginia Rural Health Association named Atassi the 2025 Outstanding Rural Health Provider of the Year. Having stepped down from his chief of staff position at Montgomery General, Atassi is now focusing on internal medicine and teaching the next generation.
“ Interacting with young people keeps me young,” he says.
Atassi is a clinical assistant professor at the WVU School of Medicine, where he helps guide students through their rural health clinical rotations. He also lectures for Charleston Area Medical Center’ s Internal Medicine Residency program and is an adjunct professor at the University of Charleston.
Atassi’ s career in West Virginia hasn’ t been without struggle, but he says he can’ t picture his life anywhere else.
“ Montgomery and the Upper Kanawha Valley welcomed me and accepted me, and it has been home ever since,” he says.“ Taking care of multiple generations of families is a unique experience that cannot be achieved elsewhere. It has been a privilege.” •
Serving in the Air National Guard
Sammar Atassi, M. D., FACP, FAASM, medical director of Montgomery Rehab Nursing and Montgomery Extended Care Unit, and staff physician at Montgomery General Hospital, serves as a major for the U. S. Air National Guard. He joined in 2021 after witnessing the Guard’ s positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“ Joining the Air National Guard is a high point in my professional life where I was able to give back and utilize my experience to serve my country,” he says.
After joining, Atassi was assigned to the CBRN— Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear— Unit, created by U. S. Congress after 9 / 11.
“ Our mission is to protect the nation’ s capital from such attacks,” he says.“ We are the first responders during the presidential inauguration and the State of the Union.”
For Atassi, serving with this unit has been a great way to use his extensive medical and teaching skills.
“ Our guardsmen are well-trained medics in life-saving procedures and in search and rescue. Using my 30 years of experience gave them a non-military approach to medical emergencies,” he says.“ I even used my sleep medicine background to educate pilots on ways to adjust their circadian rhythm to different time zones, an issue that is common in their profession.”
In 2024 and 2025, the U. S. Air Force and U. S. Army awarded Atassi with the Air and Space Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. In December 2025, the National Guard Bureau approved Atassi’ s promotion to lieutenant colonel.
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