The Medical Center Honored its Physicians for Their Hard Work and Dedication
Jersey City, NJ — Jersey City Medical Center, an affiliate of RWJBarnabas Health, recently unveiled a new Physician Legacy of Excellence Honor Wall dedicated to the hospital's physicians.
“As I looked back at the contributions of each of our honorees, I was moved beyond words to know that every day of the year, I have the privilege to know and work with some of the most outstanding physicians who have truly made a significant mark in our community,” said Michael Prilutsky, President and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center.
The event, which was held within the newly expanded Emergency Department’s new ED/OR Pavilion, honored each physician with personal remarks and a giveaway replica of their honor wall panel.
“The presence of our physicians on the Legacy of Excellence Honor Wall will serve as a constant reminder of their impact in Hudson County. We are proud to honor such hardworking individuals and celebrate their accomplishments,” said Carlos Lejnieks, the Medical Center’s board chair.
The following physicians were recognized on the Legacy of Excellence Honor Wall:
David Flores, MD, Pulmonary, Critical Care. Motivated by a strong desire to educate others, Dr. David Flores is most proud of his long career as a teaching attending physician. He believes that helping residents become better doctors, and by learning from them in the process, is the path to creating the best care for patients and a legacy of excellence for the hospital.
Beginning in 1992 as Director of the ICU, Dr. Flores and his multidisciplinary team focused on treating acutely ill patients. With this team he initiated and expanded programs focused on sepsis, palliative care, and critical care ultrasound, all of which aid in the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients. The team’s faculty outpatient practices have provided essential care to the surrounding community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICU team was tested and provided support for patients and families in crisis.
Dr. Flores is especially interested in using ultrasound in ICU and hospital settings, interventional pulmonology procedures, sepsis and septic shock, hemodynamics, and palliative care to name a few.
Pragnesh H. Gadhvi, MD, FACC, Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology. Board certified in adult cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, and interventional cardiology, Dr. Pragnesh H. Gadhvi has worked alongside world renowned pioneers in cardiology and offers his knowledge, acumen, and compassion to patients at Jersey City Medical Center.
In addition to his expertise as an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Gadhvi has long been a passionate advocate of preventative strategies to combat coronary artery and cardiovascular diseases, which are leading causes of death worldwide. That pursuit has led Dr. Gadhvi to pursue a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration.
Focusing on care that factors in racial and ethnic disparities, he co-created an ongoing initiative called RED SARI that raises awareness on screening and lifestyle modifcation techniques for area residents of South Asian descent, a population with a high incidence of heart disease.
In addition, Dr. Gadhvi was instrumental in developing screening, treatment, and evaluation programs for the community’s high-risk workers such as police, fire, and other first responders. For these and other public efforts, Dr. Gadhvi received a Legend of Hudson County award from Hudson County Chamber of Commerce.
Kenneth Garay, MD, Otolaryngology. As chief medical officer of Jersey City Medical Center from 2008 to 2019, and an ENT, head, and neck oncologic surgeon since 1982, Dr. Kenneth Garay has been an instrumental part of a leadership team that helped transform Jersey City Medical Center into a facility that attracts world-class doctors from primary care, medical, and surgical specialties. The result is that Jersey City Medical Center is a hospital people choose first for their healthcare needs—and those of their loved ones.
Dr. Garay considers himself a “doctor’s doctor” focused on forging relationships. In his role as a physician, administrator and educator, he inspired the collective team on a journey of quality, safety, and patient engagement. His colleagues turn to him for both medical expertise and advice.
He earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed post-graduate medical training at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He serves as Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Rutgers Medical School.
Bassam Haddad, MD, Nephrology. Dr. Bassam Haddad has spent his career serving the healthcare needs of the people of Hudson County, working tirelessly to expand access to quality medical care in the community. Board certified in nephrology and internal medicine, Dr. Haddad is credited with starting the area’s first mobile unit for dialysis care, which was expanded in 1993 to reach more patients throughout Hoboken and Jersey City. In addition, he was appointed to the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners by Governor Christine Whitman, a role to which he was reappointed each year for 11 consecutive years.
Born in Syria, he attended medical school at Damascus University and moved to the US in 1974, completing his internship and residency at the former United Hospitals Newark and a fellowship at Veterans Hospital. He has served on staff at Jersey City Medical Center since 1979.
Mohammed T. Javed, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Interventional Cardiology. An esteemed member of the Jersey City Medical Center team since 2001, Dr. Mohammad T. Javed started the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Jersey City Medical Center and performed the first angioplasty in Hudson County. Dr. Javed also played a key role in initiating programs for both coronary artery bypass graft surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures.
Trained by pioneers in the field of interventional cardiology, Dr. Javed is passionate about providing the highest quality care individualized to every patient who comes through Jersey City Medical Center’s doors. An assistant clinical professor of medicine at Rutgers University, Dr. Javed has mentored numerous medical students on their journey to becoming specialists in their field.
As President of the Medical and Dental Staff of Jersey City Medical Center, Dr. Javed has fostered collaboration among physicians within the medical center and across the community. Partnering with the Jersey City Medical Center Foundation, Dr. Javed helped build a culture of philanthropy among his colleagues.
Dr. Javed’s medical education began in his home country of Pakistan and continued at hospitals and medical schools across the northeastern US starting in 1992.
Vinod Kapoor, MD, Neurology. Compassionate. Timely. Personalized. Those qualities have all been used to describe the care provided by Dr. Vinod Kapoor, who has been treating patients throughout Hudson County since 1996.
As a neurology specialist focusing on multiple sclerosis, headaches, seizures, epilepsy, stroke, and memory disorders, Dr. Kapoor also recognizes the emotional and psychological health influences associated with neurological conditions such as anxiety and depression. He is board certified in both neurology and psychiatry.
He earned his medical diploma at London’s UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and completed his residency in neurology at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City and his fellowship in neurophysiology at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island.
Dr. Kapoor is a member of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and a respected teacher at Jersey City Medical Center, helping to guide the next generation of physicians.
Tyrone Kraus, MD, Cardiac Surgery. As Jersey City Medical Center’s Chief of Cardiothoracic and Chair of Surgery since 2012, Dr. Krause is highly regarded for his skill, his boundless energy, and for making patients feel at ease. He has performed more than 30,000 surgeries since entering the medical field.
He graduated in the top 10% of his class at New York Medical College, School of Medicine, achieving the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha distinction in 1985.
Board-certified in both general and cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Krause’s clinical interests include complex coronary bypass, aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement, aortic aneurysms, off-pump bypass, and minimally invasive techniques. He has a strong interest in clinical research and education and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and abstracts.
Dr. Krause’s energy, pursuit of knowledge and commitment to service in all of its forms led to enrollment in Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey School of Law, at night. He has been a licensed attorney since being admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association in 2008. In 2018, Dr. Krause was commissioned as a Commander in the US Navy Reserve.
Frank Liporace, MD, Orthopedics. Nationally recognized in revision joint replacement and orthopedic trauma surgery, Dr. Frank Liporace’s leadership and expertise helped forge an Orthopedic Department at Jersey City Medical Center that delivers the highest quality subspecialty care to patients regardless of their financial means and the complexity of the required care. He founded the Orthopedic Institute, a certified joint reconstruction center. Today, Jersey City Medical Center is one of the first places patients go for orthopedic surgical care.
An internationally recognized and awarded educator, Dr. Liporace regularly contributes clinical and scientific research to leading medical journals and lectures at orthopedic and orthopedic specialty society meetings.
Dr. Liporace has developed patents and implants used worldwide. He is the founding director of the Jersey City Medical Center Orthopedic Residency program, as well as the Complex Trauma and Adult Reconstruction Orthopedic Fellowship.
Born and raised in the New Jersey area, Dr. Liporace earned his medical degree at New York Medical College and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at NYU Medical Center’s Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Barry Maltzman, MD, Ophthalmology. As Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Barry Maltzman has been a valued member of the medical team since 1974. He was instrumental in pioneering intraocular lens implant surgery for the treatment of cataracts. At the time it was introduced, Jersey City Medical Center was one of the few hospitals in the state to offer the surgery.
The Ophthalmology Department makes state-of-the-art, life-changing surgical and laser techniques available in communities with few or no other sources of ophthalmic care, covering most specialty areas.
Dr. Maltzman has been associated with the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Ophthalmology Residency program in various capacities since 1971. The Residency Program at Jersey City Medical Center has been part of the Rutgers program since its inception. He has mentored and trained over 240 residents in his career.
During his notable career, Dr. Maltzman has designed ophthalmic surgical instruments, some of which are still in use today, and he has authored, co-authored, and contributed to countless medical research articles, books, and abstracts. He is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at both Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and St. George’s University School of Medicine.
Jyoti Matta, MD, FCCP, DABSM, Pulmonary. Dr. Jyoti Matta believes strongly in customizing evidence-based medical practices to each patient, a practice she has applied to the Jersey City Medical Center community throughout her career.
One of her guiding mottos is a quote from Sir William Osler, who is considered the father of modern medicine: “It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.”
Chief of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Services since 2020, Dr. Matta specializes in care of the respiratory system, including sleep disorders and lung cancer screening. She is the Medical Director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at Jersey City Medical Center established in 2019.
She is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, sleep medicine, and hospice and palliative care. In addition to her teaching and supervision responsibilities of medical students at Jersey City Medical Center, Dr. Matta is an Associate Professor of Medicine at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She speaks five languages.
Bruno Molino, MD, FACS, Trauma, Acute Care Surgery. Director of the state’s regional Level II Trauma Center in Hudson County, Dr. Bruno Molino and his team of trained and committed surgeons provide 24-hour trauma and emergency surgery care for adults and children in the community with severe illnesses and injuries.
Since joining Jersey City Medical Center in 2006, Dr. Molino has worked to expand the team and services, which include not only trauma and acute care surgery but also surgical critical care and injury prevention. A violence intervention program introduced in 2018 has helped drastically reduce the rate of return and provide intensive support and advocacy to patients returning to the community.
Dr. Molino is passionate about the education of surgical residents and medical students to ensure excellent care and positive health outcomes for patients into the future. He also trains health professionals at all levels on trauma care. Dr. Molino is a certified Advanced Trauma Life Support instructor.
Dr. Molino has contributed to various medical journal articles and scientific abstracts and has been invited to lecture on topics related to his trauma surgery specialty. Dr. Molino attended UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, went on to complete surgical residency training at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Anroy Ottley, MD, MSc, FACS, Surgery. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Anroy Ottley was inspired to pursue medicine at the age of eight. Witnessing a family member who succumbed to traumatic injury, he vowed to one day learn the skills that would have saved his beloved Uncle Keith’s life.
Dr. Ottley serves as Chief of Robotic Surgery. He is part of a small but growing group of physicians in the US employing single-incision robotic surgical procedures for a variety of conditions focused on the abdomen and related organs, which reduces recovery time and stress on the patient.
Since 2007, he has cared for some of the community’s most critical patients, working to improve and save lives with expertise and compassion. He is committed to ensuring patients receive care tailored to their individual needs.
In addition to his elective surgical practice, Dr. Ottley has distinguished himself as an attending trauma surgeon. In 2013, the NAACP of NJ recognized him with a Community Service Award for his outstanding contributions to surgical care in Hudson County, New Jersey.
Alejandro Romero, MD, Anesthesiology. Dr. Alejandro Romero has been providing dedicated, compassionate care to Hudson County residents since joining Jersey City Medical Center in 2009. As Chair of the Anesthesia Department, Dr. Romero leads the team to deliver superior care and contribute to an essential aspect of the patient experience – minimizing anxiety and relieving pain.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Romero is passionate about advocating for all members of the community, including those who are most underrepresented. He regularly lends himself to patients whose access to preventive healthcare is limited, largely due to language barriers or lack of a support system to navigate health concerns.
Under Dr. Romero’s leadership, the Anesthesia Department has expanded to meet growing needs and areas of specialty. Dr. Romero is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist skilled in transesophageal echocardiography, advanced cardiac life support, ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks and central line placement, allowing him to provide the highest quality of care to his patients.
Dr. Romero completed his residency and fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center and is a graduate of New York Medical College and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.
Paul Rotunda, DMD, Dentistry & Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Rotunda has proudly served as Chairman of Jersey City Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery since 2004. He led a program of excellence as Jersey City Medical Center evolved to become part of the finest healthcare system in the state and recognized nationwide.
As Program Director, Dr. Rotunda has exemplified Jersey City Medical Center’s mission to place patient care and well-being above all else. It has been his honor to extend his impact and train young graduates in the art and skills required to provide exemplary care throughout their careers.
Dr. Rotunda led a fearless care team who provided uninterrupted service through both the AIDS epidemic and the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. His team responded, no matter what time or day, to treat emergency patients with severe facial injuries and infections.
Jersey City Medical Center has been an integral part of Dr. Rotunda’s life professionally and personally, providing collaboration with outstanding leadership, committed staff, and exceptional doctors, all of whom demonstrated an inspirational level of selflessness and dedication. He has experienced its clinical excellence in the delivery of his own sons and as a grateful patient recipient of a life-saving procedure.
Dr. Rotunda’s years at the Jersey City Medical Center have taught him humility, compassion and gratitude. Dr. Rotunda earned his dental degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry and completed a general practice residency at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair.
Robert Spira, MD, Gastroenterology. Jersey City Medical Center’s Gastroenterology Division is headed by Dr. Robert Spira. A graduate of NYU Medical School and board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, he is an expert endoscopist and skilled clinician. He has been a dynamic and forward thinking leader for the division and has successfully expanded services to treat the full range of gastrointestinal conditions encompassing both diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures.
With an eye to the future, Dr. Spira has implemented a Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at Jersey City Medical Center to train the next generation of physicians.
Dr. Spira’s practice combines medical expertise with a strong emphasis on the specific needs of each and every patient. This guiding principle is echoed in a favorite quote from Dr. Oliver Sacks “there is only one cardinal rule, one must always listen to the patient.”
A frequent recipient of regional and national best doctor’s rankings, Dr. Spira focuses on research in the field, publishing numerous original papers in peer review journals.
About Jersey City Medical Center
Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is Healing, Enhancing, and Investing in Hudson County. It is a comprehensive full-service acute and sub-acute care 348-bed teaching hospital. A not-for-profit hospital, the Medical Center is a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center with close to 16,000 admissions and over 80,000 Emergency Department visits annually. The hospital specialty services include women’s health, orthopedics, heart and vascular care, and behavioral health. JCMC is the only full-service heart hospital in Hudson County, offering access to outstanding cardiologists and sophisticated and advanced treatments, such as cardiac surgery and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center are in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. JCMC is also a state designated stroke center, a regional comprehensive cardiac center, a perinatal intensive care center, a regional level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for critically ill newborns, and home to the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical program in Hudson County. JCMC, a provider of Advanced Life Support for Hudson County, runs 911 Medical Call Screening for Hudson County and operates one of the state’s busiest EMS systems.
Contact:
Veronica Lavarro
Office: 201-395-7569
Mobile: 201-912-5143
E-mail: Veronica.Lavarro@rwjbh.org