Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and Seaview Orthopaedics, a partner practice of RWJBarnabas Health, have provided two women with the gift of mobility and restored quality of life this holiday season through Operation Walk USA, a nationwide initiative that provides free joint replacements to uninsured patients in need. MMC and Seaview Orthopaedics are the only facilities in New Jersey participating in Operation Walk USA this year. Over the past 14 years, Operation Walk USA has provided free joint replacement surgeries for more than 900 patients, with the value of these procedures exceeding $24 million.
Earlier this month, two patients received life-changing, no-cost joint replacement surgeries through Operation Walk USA. One recipient, Elizabeth Alaribe, a Nigerian native who now lives in Jamesburg, New Jersey, has endured over a decade of debilitating knee pain caused by severely bowlegged knees. A retired school administrator, she eagerly looks forward to walking without assistance and driving again after her upcoming bilateral knee replacement surgery at MMC. The second recipient, Miadea Esther Constance Ganda, is a 70-year-old resident of Lake Katrine, New York, who has suffered from constant pain and reduced mobility. After experiencing significant relief from a left knee replacement last year through MMC and Seaview’s participation in Operation Walk USA, she now had a second procedure on her right knee. The surgeries were performed by surgeons on staff at MMC and Seaview Orthopaedics, which will also provide free physical therapy services for the patients’ recoveries along with JAG Physical Therapy. Zimmer Biomet donated the implants for these procedures.
“For patients with advanced arthritis, knee and hip pain can be absolutely debilitating,” said Dr. David Chalnick, an orthopedic surgeon with Seaview Orthopaedics who serves as medical director of the Joint Replacement Surgery Program at MMC and is performing Elizabeth’s surgery. “Joint replacement can be an opportunity for patients to get back to daily activities that many of us take for granted, such as simply taking a walk. Through Operation Walk USA, we are able to help patients who may otherwise be unable to receive such treatment to get back on their feet and reclaim their lives.”
“These procedures are not just about relieving pain; they’re about restoring hope and improving overall quality of life,” said Dr. Joel Fechisin, an orthopedic surgeon with Seaview Orthopaedics and MMC, who is performing Miadea’s surgery. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see patients regain their mobility and the ability to enjoy everyday activities again.”
“Helping someone to walk again, and to return to a life without pain, is indeed a cause worth celebrating, and we are proud to once again participate in Operation Walk USA,” added Eric Carney, President and CEO of MMC as well as its Southern Campus in Lakewood. “Through programs like Operation Walk USA and the kindness and compassion of our dedicated physicians such as Dr. Chalnick and Dr. Fechisin, we’re able to provide this high quality care to patients in need.”
To learn more about orthopedic services at RWJBarnabas Health, visit www.rwjbh.org/ortho.
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.
About Seaview Orthopaedics
Seaview Orthopaedics is a multi-specialty orthopedic practice founded in Neptune, New Jersey, in 1982 with a mission to help patients overcome pain and return to a life of quality and activity. Over the past four decades, they have grown to serve communities across Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties, with six convenient office locations in Brick, Barnegat, Freehold, Ocean, Monroe, and Holmdel. In the coming year, they are excited to expand their presence with a new location in East Brunswick. They are proud to be the team physicians for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
Seaview provides a comprehensive range of orthopedic services delivered by 32 highly skilled doctors specializing in Sports Medicine, Hand & Upper Extremity, Neck & Back, Joint Replacement, Pediatric Orthopedics, Foot & Ankle, Pain Management, Concussion care, and Regenerative Medicine. To further support their patients’ recovery journeys, they offer physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and hand therapy at all six office locations. Their physical therapy program includes specialized Schroth physical therapy for scoliosis, ensuring personalized care for patients with unique needs. By working together, their team of physicians, therapists, and specialists creates a multifaceted approach to treatment, fostering optimal recovery and improved quality of life.
At Seaview Orthopaedics, they are dedicated to helping patients get back to quality living.