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Tag: Hackensack Meridian Health

  • New Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) Drives Forward Discovery and Innovation to Combat Infections, Cancer, and Inflammatory Diseases

    New Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) Drives Forward Discovery and Innovation to Combat Infections, Cancer, and Inflammatory Diseases

    Newswise — Nutley, NJ, October 12, 2023 – The Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has formed a new institute aiming to fight infections, cancer, and inflammatory diseases by finding a better way to restore and bolster the human immune system in its responses to disease. 

    The Institute for Immunologic Intervention (or “3i”) is searching for ways to unleash new advances in immunology to beat disease and save lives. The expert scientists in this new institute include basic researchers, physician-scientists, and leading clinicians who are working seamlessly to tackle major health problems of our time. 

    The Institute is dedicated to advancing the understanding of fundamental mechanisms of infectious immunity, tumor immunity, alloimmunity, and autoimmunity within clinical contexts. By fostering collaborations with the CDI, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center and its consortium partner Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and beyond, the 3i strives to apply this knowledge towards innovative strategies that enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, interventions for autoimmune and alloimmune conditions, and the prevention of infections.

    “We have recruited world-class talent to give this Institute critical mass,” said David Perlin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and executive vice president of the CDI, and professor of medical sciences at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “These scientists are tackling disease at the basic level of discovery – but with an eye toward finding real-world solutions in the near future. This is what the CDI is all about.” Perlin is also a professor at Georgetown University.

    “We are excited about the possibilities – and also about the collaborations already happening among this group of scientists,” said Binfeng Lu, Ph.D., the director of the 3i. 

    The scientists whose work is critical to the 3i, and their fields of expertise, include: Lu: cancer immunology and immunotherapy, and inflammatory biology; Yi Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.: (CAR) T cell biology, tumor immunity and alloimmunity; Hai-Hui “Howard” Xue, M.D., Ph.D.: T cell biology, tumor immunity; Johannes Zakrzewski, M.D.: cancer immunotherapy and immunosurveillance; Rachel Rosenstein, M.D., Ph.D.: inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; Sivia Lapidus, M.D., M.D.: pediatric rheumatic conditions and autoinflammatory disorders; Jigar V. Desai, Ph.D.: innate immunity, fungal infections; Benjamin Tycko, M.D., Ph.D.: genetics and epigenetics in human development and disease; Rena Feinman, Ph.D.: influence of the gut microbiome on antitumor immunosurveillance in patients with multiple myeloma (MM); Kevin Tong, Ph.D.: modeling the genetic progression of colorectal cancer for targeted therapies and personalized medicine; and Alvin Makohon-Moore, Ph.D.: evolutionary dynamics of cancer. 

    Virtually all of these 3i scientists also have faculty appointments at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. 

    The research cores supporting the 3i include flow cytometry, microscopy, tissue biorepository bank, bioinformatics and statistical analysis, gene-editing, computational chemistry, and clinical immunology assays, among other expertise. 

    “The expertise brought together in this one Institute at the CDI is a thrilling development,” said Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, president of Academics, Research and Innovation for Hackensack Meridian Health, the founding chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute (HMHRI) of which CDI is part, and also associate dean of clinical integration and professor and chair emeritus of urology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “Working across an ecosystem like this is what will drive our science forward.” 

    The 3i laboratories are all supported by federal grants. Most recently, in support of this mission, the 3i received a philanthropic grant in the amount of $500,000 to support the Institute’s work in immunology and multiple myeloma research from the D’Aloia Family Foundation, led by G. Peter D’Aloia, an accomplished business executive who previously worked at several large national corporations, and his wife Marguerite. Mr. D’Aloia previously made a major gift to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center.

    “I believe that the CDI has a great approach to finding cures for some of today’s most difficult diseases, in particular its work on using the body’s immune system to fight cancer and its focus on treatment and cures for multiple myeloma,” said Peter D’Aloia. “It is my hope that this gift provides meaningful help in allowing the CDI to continue the good work being done within the organization.”

    To make a gift in support of the Institute for Immunologic Intervention (3i) at CDI, please visit GiveHMH.org/CDI or call William Evans, executive director at the CDI, at [email protected] or 201-880-3100.

    ABOUT THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION

    The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a member of Hackensack Meridian Health, translates current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients. More than 29 laboratories, 185 professional researchers and physician-scientists at the CDI have set their sights on cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and other acute and chronic diseases. Clinical need drives the scientific insights, and their application, for these researchers, as shown in the real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in new diagnostics, therapies, and surveillance abilities. The CDI leverages a new wave of scientific advances involving genetics, cell engineering of the human immune system, and imaging to better diagnose, treat and prevent disease through personalized medicine approaches. For additional information, please visit www.hmh-cdi.org.

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

    Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey. 

     

    The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.  

     

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HMHRI): 

    HMHRI leads and organizes a connected ecosystem bringing together clinicians, scientists, and educators to respond to the health problems of our time, in real-time. HMHRI is dedicated to accelerating discovery, innovation, and translation of scientific breakthroughs that address unmet clinical needs. 

     

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  • Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Commencement 2023: Ceremony Sends Graduates Into Residencies

    Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Commencement 2023: Ceremony Sends Graduates Into Residencies

    Newswise — June 8, 2023, Nutley, NJ – Eighty-five students from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine have received their medical degrees – and will now start their careers. 

    The medical students came from the 2019 cohort of the medical school (56 students) who graduated after four years; and also the 2020 cohort (29 students), who completed their education in three years. 

    The commencement’s keynote was delivered by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who commended the school for its continuing commitment to medical education in the state.

    “It is a great honor to have the Governor deliver the speech at our first commencement as a fully-accredited institution,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “It further validates what our medical school is doing for the health of all New Jerseyans.”

    “The Governor’s words, as usual, are inspirational as we continue our mission to train the best, most compassionate doctors anywhere,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., dean and president of the School. 

    Fifty-seven percent of the Class of 2023 (48 students) will train in New Jersey for the first year of residency. Of these, 39 of the students matched into a Hackensack Meridian Health program. Other states where students matched for residency include New York (20 students) and California, Florida, and Pennsylvania (with three doctors apiece), among other states. 

    Residencies where this class has matched include: Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital; Montefiore Medical Center, Einstein Campus; New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center; New York University, Grossman School of Medicine; Tufts University Medical Center; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and many others.

    The specialties the students matched into include: Internal Medicine (21); Psychiatry and Psychiatry-Neurology (13); General Surgery (6); and Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and Pediatrics (5 each), Neurology (4),

    Obstetrics and Gynecology (3), Internal Medicine – Pediatrics (2) Radiology – Diagnostic (2)

    Dermatology (1) ,Ophthalmology (1) Otolaryngology (1),Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (1), Plastic Surgery (1), Radiology – Diagnostic (2). 

    Applications and enrollments have increased since its founding. The School of Medicine’s inaugural class in 2018 included 60 students. The latest incoming class numbers more than 160, admitted from greater than 6,000 applicants.

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 

    The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Hackensack Meridian Health assumed its independent operation in July 2020. The school achieved full accreditation in February 2023. The school’s vision is that each person in New Jersey, and in the United States, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, will enjoy the highest levels of wellness in an economically and behaviorally sustainable fashion. The School’s unique curriculum focuses on linking the basic science with clinical relevance, through an integrated curriculum in a team-oriented, collaborative environment. The school prides itself on outreach, through programs like the Human Dimension, which is active in communities across New Jersey. 

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

    Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit healthcare organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey. To learn more, visit www.hmsom.org.

    The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.  

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  • Hackensack Meridian Health Recognized for Excellence with ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditations

    Hackensack Meridian Health Recognized for Excellence with ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditations

    Newswise — The American College of Cardiology has recognized all eligible Hackensack Meridian medical centers for their demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. They were recently awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditations based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staffs’ ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. 

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year.  The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.

    Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also known as coronary angioplasty. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.

    Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ and JFK University Medical Center in Edison, NJ, earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.

    Hospitals that have received this accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they comply with standard Chest Pain Center protocols and are equipped with a robust hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest treatment. These facilities also maintain a “No Diversion Policy” for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

    Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ; Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ; Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, NJ; Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, NJ and Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, NJ, earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.  Hospitals that have received this accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they have streamlined their systems from admission to evaluation to diagnosis and treatment all the way through to appropriate post-discharge care and recommendations and assistance in patient lifestyle changes. In addition, they have formal agreements with other facilities that regularly refer heart attack patients to their facility for primary PCI.

    Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, NJ, earned ACC Chest Pain Center Accreditation.  Hospitals with this accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms. They have streamlined their systems from admission to evaluation to diagnosis and treatment all the way through to appropriate post-discharge care and recommendations and assistance in patient lifestyle changes. 

    “Hackensack Meridian Health has demonstrated its commitment to providing New Jersey with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Hackensack Meridian medical centers with Chest Pain Center Accreditations.”

    Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center Accreditations from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.

    “Depending on a variety of factors, patients experiencing a heart attack are treated with clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolysis), balloon angioplasty (PCI) and stenting, surgery or a combination of treatments,” said Elizabeth A. Maiorana, MBA, MSN, R.N., vice president, Cardiovascular Care Transformation Services, Hackensack Meridian Health.  “I’m proud of our medical centers’ cardiac teams for achieving excellence in providing these treatments, done accordingly with their licensure.” 

    For information about Hackensack Meridian’s heart care services, visit

    www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/services/heart-care.  For a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.

    The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Hackensack Meridian’s access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.

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  • Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center Performs 1,000th Single-Port Robotic Procedure – More Than Any Other Hospital in the Country

    Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center Performs 1,000th Single-Port Robotic Procedure – More Than Any Other Hospital in the Country

    Newswise — Surgeons at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center performed their 1,000th Single-Port Robotic surgery with the da Vinci single port (SP) system on March 23.

    Hackensack University Medical Center, a center for excellence in advanced robotic surgery, was the first and only hospital in New Jersey to have access to this groundbreaking technology in 2018 and is now the first hospital in the country to perform the most procedures with it. 

    “Performing 1,000 Single-Port Robotic procedures is a tremendous accomplishment for our entire team and for our patients,” says Michael D. Stifleman, MD, director of Robotic Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health Network. “The more procedures we perform with this state-of-the-art technology, the greater the benefit for our patients as it further minimizes the trauma associated with surgery while enhancing precision and control compared to traditional techniques.”

    The da Vinci SP technology’s revolutionary design involves a single arm that delivers three multi-jointed instruments and camera, making it an innovative, dynamic instrument for narrow, deep spaces. A single, one inch incision helps surgeons perform complex procedures in the most  minimally invasive way, resulting in less pain and fewer complications, especially with urologic procedures, including prostate cancer; kidney cancer; head and neck cancers; and advanced urinary tract reconstruction surgery. Click here to learn more about the future of single-port surgery in an episode of “Operation: Reimagine Surgery,” a Freethink original series produced in partnership with Intuitive, which created the world’s first commercially available robotic surgery system in the 1990s.

    “Surgeons at Hackensack University Medical Center performed New Jersey’s first robotic surgery more than 20 years ago,” says Mark D. Sparta, FACHE, President & Chief Hospital Executive of Hackensack University Medical Center and President, North Region, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Our academic medical center now has the largest and most experienced robotic surgery program in the state and one of the busiest in the nation.”

    Experience matters as close to  25% of the nation’s single-port robotic procedures are completed at Hackensack University Medical Center by renowned surgeons including  Chan W. Park, M.D., head and neck oncology surgeon; Brian E. Benson, M.D., interim chair of Otolaryngology; and  Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., director of the Urologic Bladder Cancer Program; and Dr. Michael Stifelman, who is also professor and chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

    “Single-port robotic surgery places Hackensack University Medical Center’s urology program on the world stage with surgeons visiting us from the most prestigious medical centers nationally and internationally to see how we do it here in Hackensack,” says Dr. Ahmed. “Hackensack University Medical Center is focused on bringing the most advanced technologies and the most experienced surgeons together to constantly improve patient outcomes. The single-port technology is transformative and enables our surgeons to perform the most complex surgeries in the hardest to reach places, through just one small incision.”

    Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., director of the Urologic Bladder Cancer Program using the Single-Port Robot

    ABOUT HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

    Hackensack University Medical Center, a 803-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital, was Bergen County’s first hospital founded in 1888. It was also the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet®-recognized hospital for nursing excellence, receiving its sixth consecutive designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The academic flagship of the Hackensack Meridian Health network, Hackensack University Medical Center is Nationally-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report 2022-2023 in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. The hospital is home to the state’s only nationally-ranked Urology and Neurology & Neurosurgery programs, as well as the best Cardiology & Heart Surgery program. It also offers patients nationally-ranked Orthopedic care and one of the state’s premier Cancer Centers (John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center). Hackensack University Medical Center also ranked as High-Performing in conditions such as Acute Kidney Failure, Heart Attack (AMI), Heart Failure, Pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Diabetes and Stroke. As well as High Performing in procedures like Aortic Valve Surgery, Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG), Colon Cancer Surgery, Lung Cancer Surgery, Prostate Cancer Surgery, Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement. This award-winning care is provided on a campus that is home to facilities such as the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion, which houses the Donna A. Sanzari Women’s Hospital and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, the children’s nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. Hackensack University Medical Center is also home to the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and is listed on the Green Guide’s list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. Our comprehensive clinical research portfolio includes studies focused on precision medicine, translational medicine, immunotherapy, cell therapy, and vaccine development. The hospital has embarked on the largest healthcare expansion project ever approved by the state: Construction of the Helena Theurer Pavilion, a 530,000-sq.-ft., nine-story building, which began in 2019. A $714.2 million endeavor, the pavilion is one the largest healthcare capital projects in New Jersey and will house 24 state-of-the-art operating rooms with intraoperative MRI capability, 50 ICU beds, and 175 medical/surgical beds including a 50 room Musculoskeletal Institute. 

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

    Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey. The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.

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  • Daylight Savings Begins This Weekend, Hackensack Meridian Sleep Experts Available on Health Impact, How to Prepare Your Body for the Loss of Sleep and Why They Want US to Stop “Springing Forward” to Daylight Saving Time

    Daylight Savings Begins This Weekend, Hackensack Meridian Sleep Experts Available on Health Impact, How to Prepare Your Body for the Loss of Sleep and Why They Want US to Stop “Springing Forward” to Daylight Saving Time

    Newswise — Daylight saving time begins this weekend, meaning clocks will move ahead one hour this Sunday. This means while you will gain more hours of daylight for the spring and summer, people will initially lose an hour of sleep, and this can have big health impacts.

    Sleep experts say patients can prepare for the loss of sleep, by slowly shifting their bed time incrementally in the days leading up to daylight saving time on Sunday. 

    Adjusting your body to the time change will not fully blunt the impact of daylight saving time. Sleep experts believe it’s not just the loss of an hour of sleep but the long term impact of being on daylight saving time accounts for additional absences from work, increased incidence of atrial fibrillation and even car accidents. Daylight saving time disrupts the natural circadian rhythms of the body. Circadian rhythms not only control a person’s sleep schedule but it also impacts bodily hormones including thyroid and cortisol levels.

    There is legislation in Congress to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, meaning the clocks would remain on spring and summer time and not fall back for the fall and winter. While it may seem desirable to have more daylight hours while most Americans are awake, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocates we permanently stay on standard time, because it is more in line with a person’s natural bio-rhymes and produces less negative health outcomes. 

    Hackensack Meridian Health’s Director of Sleep Medicine, Adrian Pristas, M.D. is available for interviews on the dangers of Daylight Saving Time and how to prepare for it.

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  • World Obesity Day – March 4, 2023 – What Really Works for Weight Loss?

    World Obesity Day – March 4, 2023 – What Really Works for Weight Loss?

    Newswise — As a popular diabetes drug takes social media by storm as a quick fix for weight loss, experts warn, not only is there no magic pill when it comes to losing weight, but this off-label use can actually backfire, possibly doubling the weight that was lost, once the medication is stopped. 

    According to the National Institute of Health, more than 2 in 5 adults are obese. With obesity linked to a number of diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancers including breast and colorectal, these statistics are a major cause for concern. 

    But there is hope according to a new study published in the journal Obesity that found people with severe obesity, who underwent bariatric surgery, were significantly less likely to die from heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, compared with people with severe obesity who didn’t have the surgery.

    “Bariatric surgery alters the digestive system to help people lose weight,” explains Dr. Hans Schmidt, chief, Bariatric Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. “The benefits of bariatric surgery can far outweigh the possibility of any complications.”

    Dr. Schmidt says when multiple attempts at weight loss fail, bariatric surgery is often the best option because it actually reduces the stomach’s storage capacity, limiting food intake to help people feel full, faster. 

    Nobody knows this better than 38 year old Alex Monteleone, a detective with the Palisades Park Police Department, who underwent bariatric surgery in 2018. Alex not only lost nearly 100 pounds, he’s also no longer on the verge of diabetes or high blood pressure.

    Alex Monteleone

    For more information on this life saving procedure or to book interviews with Dr. Schmidt and his patients, contact . 

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  • Cardiovascular Specialist Needed for Your Cancer Treatment?

    Cardiovascular Specialist Needed for Your Cancer Treatment?

    Newswise — As cancer treatments have evolved over the years, cancer survival has improved, but the new forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause lasting damage to the heart. 

    Accomplished physician and pioneer in cardio-oncology research and education, L. Steven Zukerman, M.D., FACC, medical director of the Cardio-Oncology Program at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, is addressing this concern.

    The program is designed to minimize the impact of cancer treatments on patients’ hearts and provide continuing cardiac care to cancer survivors and provides patients access to experts in cardiology and oncology and advanced imaging services.  “Our multidisciplinary program provides patients with seamless and expert care as we monitor and protect their hearts before, during, and after cancer treatment,” says Dr. Zukerman.

    A range of patients can be treated and monitored through the cardio-oncology program.  They include patients who will begin chemotherapy or radiation therapy and have risk factors for heart disease or are being treated for heart disease.  Patients who are experiencing cardiac symptoms or complications during cancer therapy are also candidates for the program, this includes high-blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and heart arrhythmias.  Screening for radiation-induced coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and pericardial disease is also provided.

    Cancer patients currently receiving treatment receive regular heart function assessments.  Patients who are cancer survivors, including those who received cancer treatment as children, are monitored for heart disease risk and if needed, receive continuing medical care to maintain heart function.

    Dr. Zukerman is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and completed his internal medicine internship at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.  He completed his internal medicine residency, cardiology fellowship, and his clinical cardiac electrophysiology training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.

    The program, located in the cancer center on the academic medical center’s campus in the HOPE Tower, was funded in part through a gift of $500,000 from one of Dr. Zukerman’s grateful patients, given to at the time, the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Foundation.

    Interviews are available with Dr. Zukerman.  He can provide information about how cancer treatment impacts the heart, the importance of cardiac care before, during and after cancer treatment as well as the modalities of this care and heart monitoring.  Especially relevant during February, National Heart Month.     

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  • The Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley Behavioral Health Program at Hackensack Meridian Health to Benefit from Generous $100,000 Gift

    The Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley Behavioral Health Program at Hackensack Meridian Health to Benefit from Generous $100,000 Gift

    Newswise — Edison, NJ – December 22, 2022 – Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous $100,000 gift from an anonymous private foundation to benefit behavioral health patients at Hackensack Meridian Retreat and Recovery At Ramapo Valley, a division of Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic, a nationally recognized leader in substance use disorder treatment and care. 

    The Retreat & Recovery at Ramapo Valley, located in Mahwah, was established in 2019 as a tremendous effort of community collaboration, including the inspired vision of foundation friends and benefactors Caryl and James Kourgelis. 

    “We are truly grateful for this much-needed support to benefit our critical programs at The Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley,” said Michael Loch, director of development, Behavioral Health, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. “Philanthropy is crucial in providing our team and patients with what they need, especially as the mental health crisis continues to grow. The generous gifts we receive allow for a greater number of those in need to receive the best treatment they deserve, close to home.”

    Funds will be used to support the important work of The Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley’s treatment team and programs grounded in evidence-based practice, wellness and integrative medicine. The facility’s holistic care model provides every aspect of support and intervention necessary to address the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

    “What a heartwarming gift,” said Patricia Toole, president and chief hospital executive, Carrier Clinic. “Community support and philanthropy play a vital role in helping us achieve our maximum potential. The Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley provides comprehensive clinical care designed to meet the specific needs of each patient, and we are so thankful.” 

    To learn more about Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation or how to support Behavioral Health, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Give. 

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION

    Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), is the philanthropic division of Hackensack Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The foundation oversees fundraising for the network’s three academic medical centers, two children’s hospitals and seven community-based medical center foundations, as well as key initiatives, programs and services offered by Hackensack Meridian Health, including nursing support, behavioral health, children’s health, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.  

    Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation has been designated as both a High Performer Overall and Healthcare System High Performer by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) within their 2022 Report on Giving. 

    Visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Donate for more information.

     

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

    Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey. 

    The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org. 

     

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  • Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director to Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

    Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director to Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

    Newswise — Edison, NJ – December 22, 2022 – Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation is proud to announce that Sheila Wolfinger has been appointed executive director at Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, where she will lead integral fundraising efforts for Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

    “Sheila brings an impressive wealth of knowledge and significant fundraising experience to this role,” said Joyce P. Hendricks, president and chief development officer, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. “There are many areas within Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine that can benefit from donor support, including endowed chairs and scholarships for medical students. I look forward to all that Sheila will accomplish to help advance medical education in collaboration with our dedicated faculty, medical students and philanthropic partners.”

    Before joining Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, Wolfinger was executive director for principal gifts and strategic imperatives at Seton Hall University. In her role, she created, led and implemented the Principal Gifts program campus-wide; oversaw a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects with a capacity of more than $1 million; collaborated in the development of principal gift strategies to continually identify, cultivate, solicit and provide stewardship to donors; and worked closely with university leadership and academic partners to coordinate strategic development and fundraising activities that support interdisciplinary centers and programs, thereby emphasizing campaign imperatives. Prior to that, Wolfinger also held development roles at Montefiore Medical Center, Changing our World, Inc. and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. 

    Wolfinger received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Temple University and is currently pursuing her Master’s of Public Administration in Non-Profit Management at Seton Hall University. 

    “I am so pleased to welcome Sheila to our School community,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., dean, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “The School of Medicine faculty and team look forward to working closely with her to support our mission: providing the best, most patient-and community-centered medical education to our students. This will enhance the future of health care in New Jersey, and beyond.”

    Wolfinger will work closely with Dr. Boscamp, as well as other School of Medicine leadership and the board of trustees, to lead vital fundraising initiatives for the school and its programs. 

    “I am delighted to join Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation and lead important fundraising initiatives at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine,” said Wolfinger. “I strongly believe in the School of Medicine, its forward-thinking mission and its dynamic leadership, and I am thrilled to be a part of the team.”

    To learn how you can make a gift to Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, please email [email protected] or visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Give.

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION

    Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), is the philanthropic division of Hackensack Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The foundation oversees fundraising for the network’s three academic medical centers, two children’s hospitals and seven community-based medical center foundations, as well as key initiatives, programs and services offered by Hackensack Meridian Health, including nursing support, behavioral health, children’s health, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.  

    Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation has been designated as both a High Performer Overall and Healthcare System High Performer by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) within their 2022 Report on Giving. 

     

    Visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Donate for more information.

     

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 

    The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Hackensack Meridian Health assumed its independent operation in July 2020. The school’s vision is that each person in New Jersey, and in the United States, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, will enjoy the highest levels of wellness in an economically and behaviorally sustainable fashion. The School’s unique curriculum focuses on linking the basic science with clinical relevance, through an integrated curriculum in a team-oriented, collaborative environment. The school prides itself on outreach, through programs like the Human Dimension, which is active in communities across New Jersey. 

     

    ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

    Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey. 

    The network’s notable distinctions include having more U.S. News-ranked hospitals than any other health system in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2022-23. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties, more than any other hospital in New Jersey. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, are ranked #1 in the state and top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital Report. Additionally, their combined nephrology program ranks in the top 50 in the United States. To learn more, visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.  

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  • Elizabeth S. John, M.D., Gastroenterologist, Joins Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Group

    Elizabeth S. John, M.D., Gastroenterologist, Joins Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Group

    Newswise — Montclair, NJ – (November 14, 2022) – Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Group has announced that Elizabeth S. John, M.D., gastroenterologist, has joined the practice.

    A fellowship trained gastroenterologist, Dr. John is passionate about her specialty. “I have always loved gastroenterology as our digestive system really does affect so much of what we do outside of how we digest our food,” Dr. John shares. “The mind-body-gut axis is crucial to understand as our gastrointestinal symptoms can affect our psyche, and alternatively be affected by our psyche. Additionally, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract can have serious implications if not diagnosed early, and as such, I am passionate about teasing out important details of my patients’ symptoms to diagnose, treat, and prevent early.”

    Dr. John received her medical degree from University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey before completing her gastroenterology at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Texas.  Dr. John is experienced in research with over 25 publications in academic journals, and over 60 presentations at academic meetings.  She has received number of awards and distinctions from the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, and including the “Top 25 GI Fellows to Know” distinction, the “Early Career Investigator” distinction, the “Radhika Srinivasan Gender-Based Research Award”, and the “Presidential Award”.

    “We are pleased to welcome Dr. John to Mountainside Medical Group,” says Tim O’Brien, chief executive officer. “Our commitment is to the community and by expanding our physician network, we are better equipped to provide the highest level of quality care to area residents.”

    When not treating patients, Dr. John enjoys spending time with family and friends, enjoying the art of music, learning new languages, cooking, and baking, finding ways to promote wellness.

    Virtual care and in-person visits are available.

     

    About Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Group

    The Mountainside Medical Group is a network of physicians specializing in primary care, OB/GYN, endocrinology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology and plastic surgery created by Mountainside Medical Center. We believe people who establish a personal relationship with their doctors experience better health and quality of life. Start well and stay well with Mountainside Medical Group. Offices are located in Montclair, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Glen Ridge, Montville, Nutley, Verona, West Caldwell, and Woodland Park. For more information, visit www.mountainsidemedicalgroup.com

    About Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center

    Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891. The hospital provides patients access to innovative and effective treatment in specialized centers within the hospital focused on radiology, women’s health, oncology, surgery, bariatrics, neurosciences, stroke, and cardiovascular services. Mountainside is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and The New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services and is one of only a few community hospitals licensed by the State to perform emergency cardiac angioplasty and emergency neuro-endovascular procedures. To learn more about Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center visit www.mountainsidehosp.com.

     

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  • Jersey Shore University Medical Center Adds Advanced Technology to Detect Movement Disorders

    Jersey Shore University Medical Center Adds Advanced Technology to Detect Movement Disorders

    Newswise — Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neuroscience Institute recently added a new, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging system to its Nuclear Medicine program.  GE Healthcare’s DaTscantm camera is one of the most advanced diagnostic imaging technologies available, utilizing single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to visualize dopamine transporter levels in the brain.  It enables clinicians to view the brain with exceptional clarity while using a low dose of radiation.

    “In Parkinson’s Disease, there is a steady loss of dopamine transporters in the brain. Dopamine transporters (DaT) mediate the flow of the neurotransmitter dopamine between nerve cells,” said Alan Colicchio, M.D., chair of Neurology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center and medical director, Neuroscience Care Transformation Service, Hackensack Meridian Health, Southern Market.  “The loss of DaT disrupts the communication between nerve cells and the transport of information from the brain to the muscles causing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.” 

    “DaTscan enables us to understand dopamine metabolism deep in the brain, which may help to diagnose certain neurologic diseases,” said Shabbar F. Danish, M.D., FAANS, chair of Neurosurgery, Jersey Shore University Medical Center.  “It’s a great tool for our clinicians and a gamechanger for the care of our patients.”

    Dr. Danish leads the Surgical Movement Disorder Program at the academic medical center.  Movement disorders refer to a group of neurological conditions that cause abnormal, increased or reduced body movements that are typically involuntary.  Three of the major disorders are Parkinson’s Disease, Essential Tremors, and Dystonia.  The program’s multidisciplinary team of experts, including neurologists, nurse practitioners, neuropsychologists, and neuro rehabilitation specialists provide an array of medical and surgical treatments to specifically address and manage movement disorders.  They include complex medical management, Botulinum Treatment, deep brain stimulation (DBS), MRI-guided laser therapy, physical, occupational and speech therapy and nutrition counseling.

    “This is a great example of how we arm all our clinical specialists with the tools and resources they need to provide our patients with the best care and treatments,” said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, president and chief hospital executive, Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

    The Neuroscience Institute provides patients with a comprehensive lineup of services for spine injuries, concussion, epilepsy, MS, ALS, brain tumors, memory, and more, as well as the region’s only Stroke Rescue Center.  Jersey Shore University Medical Center was recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care and with Neuroscience Excellence Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as well as the new Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award in 2022.

    “We continue to expand our Neuroscience Institute with new patient services, advanced technology and highly specialized clinicians, as well as finalize construction of a new centralized and exceedingly patient-accessible location at Jersey Shore for many of our neuroscience services,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, Southern Market, Hackensack Meridian Health.

    To make an appointment with the Movement Disorders Program specialists in Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s HOPE Tower, 19 Davis Ave., Neptune, NJ, call 732-974-0003.  For more information, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/Services/Neurosciences/Parkinsons-Movement-Disorders.

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