Meet NJ's Top Medical Department Chairs

Mark D. Schlesinger, M.D.

Chair, Department of Anesthesiology

Dr. Schlesinger is currently the Chairperson of the Department of Anesthesiology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) in Nutley, New Jersey. Dr. Schlesinger has served on several HUMC committees including the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees, and the Medical Board. Additionally, Dr. Schlesinger’s passion for philanthropy is demonstrated through his role as Chairperson of Special Events for the HUMC Foundation, and is instrumental in numerous fund-raising activities.

Dr. Schlesinger graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He completed his internship and residency at New York University Medical Center. He also completed fellowships at NYU Medical Center in cardiovascular anesthesia and intensive care medicine. Additionally, Dr. Schlesinger served as Chief Resident at NYU Medical Center from 1985 to 1986.

Dr. Schlesinger is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Anesthesiology. He has held appointments with the Bergen County Board of Trustees and the New Jersey Committee of Young Physicians and served as a delegate to the Medical Society of New Jersey. Dr. Schlesinger is a member of many professional societies including the American Medical Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, International Anesthesia Research Society, New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists, and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists.

Dr. Schlesinger is involved in several ongoing studies, which have been published in numerous medical journals. He has also delivered presentations and lectures nationally and internationally including the American Society of Anesthesiologists National Meeting, Critical Care Conferences, and Anesthesia Grand Rounds.

Gregory Sugalski, M.D., M.B.A.

Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine

Gregory Sugalski, M.D., M.B.A., serves as Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, the flagship hospital of Hackensack Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey that offers a complete range of medical services, innovative research, and life-enhancing care. Dr. Sugalski also serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Previously, Dr. Sugalski served as Chief of Service in the Department of Emergency Medicine at University Hospital in Newark. A decorated veteran of the United States Army, he served as an attending physician at Brooke Army Medical Center with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to medicine, including the Rutgers Health Award for Outstanding Commitment to Clinical Excellence and the designation as a Top Peer Reviewer by the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Sugalski holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at UMDNJ, where he also served as Chief Resident. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Sugalski has published broadly in the peer-reviewed literature on topics including emergency department operations, infectious disease, and quality improvement.

In his spare time, Dr. Sugalski enjoys boating on the Hudson River and is an avid fan of the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and New Jersey Devils.

Elisabeth Wilson, MD, MPH, MS-HPEd

Chair, Department of Family Medicine

Prior to joining Hackensack Meridian Health, Dr. Wilson served as Chair of Community & Family Medicine at Dartmouth Health and Geisel School of Medicine (2022-26) and as Chair of Family Medicine at Maine Medical Center (2027-2022). Before moving East, Dr. Wilson was the Vice Chair of Education in Family and Community Medicine and the founding Director of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US) at the University of California San Francisco.

Laurie Jacobs, M.D., FACP, AGSF

Chair, Department of Medicine
Associate Dean, Faculty Development

Dr. Jacobs is a Professor and the Founding Chair of the Department of Medicine at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, and Associate Dean of Faculty Development. Dr. Jacobs is also the Chair for the Department of Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, since 2016.

Dr. Jacobs is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Chemistry), and Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed an internal medicine residency and geriatrics clinical and research fellowships at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the Bronx, New York, where she remained on the faculty as Geriatrics Division Chief, Vice Chair and Interim Chair of Medicine, as well serving on Einstein’s Executive Committee for Undergraduate Medical Education, prior to joining Hackensack Meridian.

Dr. Jacobs is a geriatrician, and in addition to clinical, administrative and leadership roles on faculty, she is a former Board Chair (2020) and President (2019) of the American Geriatrics Society, and served on the editorial board role for the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society for more than a decade. Her research interests include anticoagulant use and systems of care for older adults and accountable care. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades in geriatrics and medicine.

Dr. Jacobs leads primary care and medical subspecialty clinical, research and educational programs for Hackensack University Medical Center, including the COVID acute clinical response, research and post-COVID Recovery Center, and also practices clinical geriatrics. At the School of Medicine, she has held a leadership role in the appointments and promotions committee, built a departmental faculty and assisted with curricular development.

Dr. Jacobs brings teaching and medical education and leadership experience, as well as an enthusiasm for interdisciplinary care of vulnerable populations to her role at the School of Medicine.

Stanley Terlecky, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Medical Sciences
Vice Dean of Research and Medical Sciences

Dr. Terlecky is a biomedical researcher, entrepreneur, and educator. His research interests focus on the peroxisome – an intracellular organelle of critical importance in human health, disease, and aging. Dr. Terlecky is an awarded teacher of graduate and medical students – who has lectured extensively on topics in cell biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.

Education

• Ph.D. – Tufts University
• B.A. – New York University

Scholarship

• Bao, B., Mitrea, C., Wijesinghe, P., Marchetti, L., Girsch, E., Farr, R.L., Boerner, J.L., Mohammad, R., Dyson, G., Terlecky, S.R., and Bollig-Fischer A. (2017) Treating triple negative breast cancer cells with erlotinib plus a select antioxidant overcomes drug resistance by targeting cancer cell heterogeneity. Scientific Reports, (Nature Publishing Group), 7:44125 doi:10.1038/srep44125.
• Nell, H.J., Au, J.L., Giordano, C.R., Terlecky, S.R., Walton, P.A., Whitehead, S.N. and Cechetto, D.F. (2017) The targeted antioxidant, CAT-SKL, reduces beta-amyloid toxicity in the rat brain. Brain Pathology, 27: 86-94.
• Farr, R.L., Lismont, C., Terlecky, S.R., and Fransen, M. (2016) Peroxisome biogenesis in mammalian cells: the impact of genes and environment. Biomedica Biochemica Acta, 1863: 1049-1060.
• Giordano, C.R., Roberts R., Krentz, K.A., Bissig, D., Talreja, D., Kumar, A., Terlecky, S.R., and Berkowitz, B.A. (2015) Catalase therapy corrects oxidative stress-induced pathophysiology in incipient diabetic retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 56: 3095-3102.
• Giordano, C.R., Terlecky, L.J., Bollig-Fischer A., Walton, P.A., and Terlecky, S.R. (2014) Amyloid-beta neuroprotection mediated by a targeted antioxidant. Scientific Reports, (Nature Publishing Group), 4:4983 doi:10.1038/srep04983.

Florian P. Thomas, M.D., Ph.D.

Founding Chair and Professor Department of Neurology
Associate Dean, Office of Faculty Advancement

Dr. Thomas is the Chair of the Neuroscience Institute and interim Chair of the Department of Neurology at HackensackUMC, as well as Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Center of Excellence.

Dr. Thomas is board certified in neurology with subspecialty boards or fellowship training in spinal cord medicine, neural repair and rehabilitation, and neuroimmunology. His clinical and research interests include multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, sexual health, pain rehabilitation, neuromuscular diseases, neuroAIDS, neurogenetics, and immunology of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

He holds graduate degrees in medicine, psychology, and microbiology from University of Bonn, Germany, in experimental medicine from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and in health outcomes research from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. He trained in neurology at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and completed a neuro-AIDS fellowship at the Montreal Neurological Institute in Montreal, Quebec, and a neuroimmunology fellowship at Columbia University in New York.

Previously he was a tenured Professor of Neurology, Adjunct Professor of Physical Therapy, and Associate Professor of Molecular Virology at St. Louis University and directed the Regional MS Center of Excellence and Spinal Cord Injury Service at the St. Louis VA Medical Center, where he also founded the Pain Rehabilitation Center.

He serves on advisory boards for the National MS Society, the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation, and the St. Louis Center for Independent Living “Paraquad”. In 2006 he was awarded the Pathlighter Award by the St. Louis Chapter of the National MS Society, and in 2008 a Congressional Proclamation for his work on behalf of people with MS. He chairs the Advisory Board of the State of Missouri Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Research Program. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine and serves on several other editorial boards.

Patrick Roth, M.D.

Chair, Department of Neurosurgery

Dr. Roth is the Chairperson of the Department of Neurosurgery at HUMC and is a board certified neurosurgeon and founding member of North Jersey Brain and Spine Center. He serves as co-director of the Division of Spinal Surgery and is the site director of the neurosurgical residency program.

Dr. Roth has dedicated his practice to the care of patients with spinal disorders with a particular interest in minimally invasive surgery and the use of back strengthening to treat back pain. He advocates a holistic approach to patient care with a focus on the promotion of health rather than the treatment of disease. Treatments are considered in the context of the patient’s repertoire of activities and desired function. His interests range from technologically advanced computer-assisted surgery to more elemental approaches including the implementation of aggressive home exercise programs. He recently published a book focusing on the philosophy, paradoxes, and treatment of back pain.

Dr. Roth is a long-standing recipient of the New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors,” the Inside Jersey magazine “Best doctors,” the Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors in the Metropolitan Area,” the “Patient’s Choice Award,” the “Five Stars of Caring Award,” “America’s Top Surgeons,” and “Top Doctors” from Doctors Across America.

Dr. Roth is a member of the American Association of Neurosurgeons, the Congress of Neurosurgeons, the North American Spine Society, the American Spine Society, the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons, the New Jersey Spine Society, the New Jersey Medical Society, the Bergen County Medical Society, and was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society.

Manuel Alvarez, M.D.

Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Manuel Alvarez has been Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hackensack University Medical Center since 1996. Following residency training in anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, maternal fetal medicine and critical care medicine, Dr. Alvarez found his passion in providing obstetrical care to women. First, as Director of Obstetrical Services and Vice Chairperson at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and currently as the Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hackensack University Medical Center, Dr. Alvarez found his principle focus to providing women with the highest quality of medical care and to see that the care is rendered in a safe and efficient manner. Dr. Alvarez stays committed to his principle focus by providing care to thousands of patients annually regardless of their ability to pay.

Under Dr. Alvarez’s direction the department has developed the Surgical Center for Abnormal Placentation caring for patients with the most delicate and complicated surgical procedures in obstetrics where the patient’s placenta is not only invading into the uterus but also adjacent pelvic organs, especially the bladder. Obstetrical hemorrhage is the leading cause of death worldwide and remains to be on the incline in the United States due to this condition. Dr. Alvarez along with his physician colleagues are first in the tri-state area to implement the Gauss Triton System for Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) which is a key metric and patient safety initiative to provide a most precise measure of blood loss. Under his leadership the department has developed a robust research division, publishing many peer review articles in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The department consists of three divisions: Maternal Fetal Medicine, Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. Alvarez along with his team has re-organized the structure of the Residency and Fellowship Programs. These educational programs are now provided and supported through a centralized administrative structure, allowing for uniform compliance with all the regulatory elements of the RRC and ACGME. In April 2018, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was approved by the ACGME for its 1st Residency Program at Hackensack University Medical Center with the commencement of its 1st intern class in July 2019.

When Dr. Alvarez assumed his role as Chairperson in 1996, he inherited an obstetrical service that delivered less than 3,000 babies per annum with very little infrastructure for dealing with complex medical complications of pregnancy. Today, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology under Dr. Alvarez’s direction, is one of the busiest obstetrical centers in the tristate area. Delivering more than 6,400 babies annually with a multi-disciplinary perinatology division that can provide safe and efficient care to women with the most complex medical and obstetrical complications. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology is part of Hackensack Meridian Health comprising of 13 hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, and urgent care and after hours centers.

Andre Goy, M.D., M.S.

Chair, Department of Oncology

Andre Goy, M.D., M.S., is Chairperson and director, chief of Lymphoma, and director of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research at the John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, a member of Hackensack Meridian Health. He also serves as the Lydia Pfund chair for Lymphoma at the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, chief science officer of Regional Cancer Care Associates, and professor of medicine at Georgetown University.

Dr. Goy is widely-known for his work in mantle cell lymphoma where he was the lead investigator for the development of the three FDA approved drugs in the U.S. for mantle cell lymphoma: from the first proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) in 2006, to the first immunomodulator lenalidomide (Revlimid) in 2013 and the first BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in 2013 as well. He also participated in the pilot study for the first anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved in blood cancers: rituximab (Rituxan), which has had a profound impact in the management of B-cell lymphoma and leukemia as well as autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Goy’s interest as a lymphoma researcher focuses on novel therapies and new strategies to improve the outcome of lymphoma patients. He is currently leading numerous trials using novel agents or combinations in lymphomas including new monoclonal antibodies, Bcl-2 inhibitors and second generation kinase inhibitors among others. He is also working with his team exploring new non–chemotherapy options in certain subtypes of lymphoma.

Dr. Goy has published extensively and serves as reviewer for many journals in the field of hematology and oncology research.

Dr. Goy received his medical degree from University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France. He completed his training in hematology oncology at the Faculte of Medicine Cochin Port Royal in Paris and received a Masters in Tumor Immunology from University Pierre and Marie Curie and Pasteur Institute in Paris as well as a Master’s degree in Experimental Oncology from Kremlin Bicetre and Gustave Roussy Institute in Paris as well. He continued his training and care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and joined the John Theurer Cancer Center in 2005.

Dante A. Implicito, MD, FAAOS

Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Implicito is the Chairperson of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. Implicito is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey. He completed his general surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and its affiliated hospitals throughout Northern New Jersey. Upon completion of his orthopedic surgery residency, Dr. Implicito completed the San Francisco Combined Orthopedic Spine Surgical Fellowship at St. Mary's Spine Center in San Francisco.

Dr. Implicito's areas of special interest include degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine and particularly spondylolisthesis. His practice consists of the full gamut of conservative and surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine problems including diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injections, minimally invasive spinal surgery, disc arthroplasty and spine fusion surgery. Among Dr. Implicito's most notable accomplishments was the performance of the first laparoscopic spinal fusion at Hackensack University Medical Center in 1997. Dr. Implicito has been invited to participate in several FDA investigational studies concerning spinal implants and was one of the developers of the X-Stop device for the treatment of spinal stenosis.

Dr. Implicito has been recognized as a “Top Doctor in the Field of Spinal Surgery” by US News and World Report, Castle Connolly, LTD, and New Jersey Monthly Magazine. He was named Orthopedic Surgeon of the Year, 2018 by the NJ Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and he has received the HUMC Healthgrades Excellence Award in Spinal Surgery. Dr. Implicito is a member of the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the New Jersey Orthopedic Society, the New Jersey Medical Society, and the Bergen County Medical Society.

Brian Benson, M.D., FACS

Chair, Department of Otolaryngology

Brian Benson, MD is the Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Acting Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. Originally trained as a classical trumpet player, Dr. Benson is a graduate of the Juilliard School and former principal trumpet of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel. He received his medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons and completed his residency in Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at Rutgers University- New Jersey Medical School. He subsequently completed a fellowship in Laryngology/Neurolaryngology with Dr. Andrew Blitzer at Columbia University. His areas of clinical specialization include minimally invasive treatment of complex voice and swallowing disorders, airway stenosis, and head and neck cancer surgery, including trans-oral robotic surgery.

A member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, New York Laryngological Society, New York Head and Neck Society, and the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Benson is also a Trustee of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a public, not-for-profit organization that champions Humanism in Healthcare. Published broadly in the peer-reviewed literature, Dr. Benson has diverse research interests that include medical problems of instrumental musicians, botulinum toxin treatment of head and neck disorders, neurolaryngology, and medical student/resident education. He has lectured regionally, nationally, and internationally on these topics as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as the chair of the Elisabeth Morrow School Medical and Dental Advisory Committee.

At Hackensack University Medical Center Dr. Benson has previously served as Chief of the Division of Laryngology, Vice Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Co-Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology at the John Theurer Cancer Center, and Member of the Medical Executive Committee.

Ciaran M. Mannion, M.D.

Chair, Department of Pathology

Dr. Mannion is the Chair of the Pathology Department at HUMC. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, with added qualification in Cytopathology. He completed his residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, where he served as chief resident and received the Leo M. Davidoff Award. Following residency, he completed a Cytopathology fellowship under the world-renowned cytopathologist, Professor Leopold Koss. From 1996 to 2000, he was a staff member at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in the Department of Gynecologic and Breast Pathology. During his time at the AFIP, he was the recipient of the Callender-Binford Award and the Herbert B. Taylor Award. For much of his time at the AFIP, in addition to his service responsibilities, he was also responsible for reviewing slides submitted by radiologists attending the AFIP’s Radiologic Pathology course. Dr. Mannion, who joined the Pathology Department at HUMC in 2000, has lectured nationally and internationally on a variety of topics in the fields of Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology and Telepathology.

Alfin “Didi” Vicencio, M.D.

Chair, Department of Pediatrics

Dr. Alfin "Didi" Vicencio is Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, North Region and Professor and Academic Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio and completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at Babies and Children's Hospital (Columbia University) and Yale University School of Medicine, respectively.

Much of Dr. Vicencio's career has focused on applying minimally-invasive bronchoscopic techniques to children with complex airway and lung conditions. He was among the first to offer educational courses introducing such techniques to pediatric pulmonologists around the United States and globally. In 2024, he became one of three co-founders for the Pediatric Chapter of the American Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, and he continues to contribute to this still evolving discipline. Throughout his career, Dr. Vicencio has been recognized by New York Magazine, Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report as a Top Doctor, and he has won numerous awards for excellence in physician communication.

In his spare time, Dr. Vicencio loves karaoke and college football.

Sara Cuccurullo, M.D.

Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dr. Sara Cuccurullo received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate in 1987 and completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ)/JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. She was board certified in 1992.

Dr. Cuccurullo joined the staff at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in 1991 and has served as the Residency Program Director since 1998. She is dedicated to resident education and has taught the Board Review Course for PM&R residents since 1991. She has received the Teacher of the Year Award six times and the Rutgers/RWJ Volunteer Faculty Award. In addition she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from SUNY Downstate in 2012. She also received the Edward J. Ill Award and the Middlesex County Award for excellence in teaching in 2016. She also initiated and currently oversees the Resident Education Fund which supports the JFK/RWJ PM&R Residents.

Dr. Cuccurullo published the first edition of The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Board Review Textbook (Demos Publishing) in 2004, and the second edition in 2009, and the third edition in 2014. She is Editor in Chief of the textbook. This textbook reviews board related topics in an attempt to help residents prepare for the PM&R Boards. All royalties of this textbook are donated directly to the JFK Johnson PM&R Resident Education fund. She has authored over 31 book chapters and has also authored and 20 articles and over 70 abstracts regarding resident education, resident competencies and clinical consult related issues. She is an invited editor for The American Journal of PM&R.

Dr. Cuccurullo heads the PM&R Residency Competency Committee at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and, with other members of the competency committee, has developed a competency model that has been presented nationally at the AAP (Association of Academic Physiatrists) and the AAPM&R (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) meetings. She has published seven peer reviewed papers on this model. Dr. Cuccurullo is actively involved with the RWJ medical students and runs a course for third year students addressing LCME (Liaison Committee for Medical Education) requirements: cancer, pain and end-of-life issues. She has presented this course at the National AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) Meeting in Washington, DC. She is also the Associate Dean of Academic Affiliate Hospitals, a Medical Student Advisor and sits on the GME (Graduate Medical Education) Committee at Rutgers RWJ Medical School. In addition she is on the curriculum development committee for the Joining Forces Initiative Program, a program focused on teaching students about the medical care of our veterans.

Dr. Cuccurullo also cares for patients on the JFK Medical Center Consult Service, where she has assisted in developing the Total Joint Protocols and Stroke Protocols used in the acute care hospital. She is the Past President of the National Residency and Fellowship Program Directors Council for the AAP. She is on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Academic Physiatrists (AAP). She is the Co-Chair of the Women in Academic Physiatry Task Force of the AAP. She is Vice President of the Chairman’s Council of the AAP, in addition to being on the Advisory Board for the RFPD Council. She was a member of the Program Committee of the AAP for over 14 years and has been a Course Program Director and lecturer for multiple separate three day courses over this time. She also peer reviews abstracts to be presented at the AAP National Meetings. In addition she is a mentor in the National Program for Academic Leadership (PAL).

Dr. Cuccurullo was appointed Chairperson of the Department of PM&R for Rutgers RWJ Medical School and the Medical Director and VP for the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in February 2014. As Chairperson of the Department of PM&R she oversees all faculty, Residents and Fellows in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers- RWJ Medical School and is on the Rutgers RWJ Executive Council and the Chair Council. As the Medical Director of the JFK-Johnson Rehabilitation Institute she oversees all Clinical Services and medical issues related to care of patients in the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. Clinically she cares for patients on the JFK Medical Center Consult Service. During her time as Medical Director she has been involved in program development, including the development of a Comprehensive Aftercare Program for the continued care of the rehabilitation patients discharged from the JFK-Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Cuccurullo also developed and implemented the JFK Johnson Comprehensive Stroke Recovery Program. With this initiative she is the Co-Principle Investigator of two IRB Proposals researching the benefits of a comprehensive rehabilitation program to treat stroke patients including cardiovascular conditioning sessions during their recovery. Efforts in this research are focused on decreasing mortality, readmissions and incidence of new strokes in addition to improving Functional Outcomes. This research is being done in conjunction with the Rutgers- RWJ Cardiovascular Institute, the Rutgers-RWJ Department of Neurology, and the JFK Neuroscience Institute. Other Program Development includes expansion and development of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, Sports Program, Cancer Program implementation of a comprehensive Concussion Clinic and the Multidisciplinary Pain Program.

In January 2018 Dr. Cuccurullo was appointed the Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Department of PM&R at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall and is on the Chair Council. She is committed to patient care, education, scholarly activity and the academic and clinical advancement of the faculty, resident, fellows and medical students of the department of PM&R at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.

Gary Small, M.D.

Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Gary Small, MD, is Chair of Psychiatry, Hackensack University Medical Center, Behavioral Health Physician-in-Chief and the Hovnanian Family Foundation Chair, Hackensack Meridian Health, as well as Chair and Professor of Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Dr. Small is an expert on brain health and aging and former president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. He is also a co-inventor of the first brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan to show the abnormal protein deposits in Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) in living people.

Dr. Small graduated UCLA phi beta kappa and summa cum laude, received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, completed a general psychiatry residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at UCLA. Prior to moving to New Jersey in 2020, he was Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, the Parlow-Solomon Professor on Aging, and Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, as well as Director of the UCLA Longevity Center.

He has authored more than 500 scientific publications and written a dozen popular books, including the international best seller, The Memory Bible. Dr. Small has received numerous awards and honors including the Jack Weinberg Award from the American Psychiatric Association and the Research Award in Geriatric Psychiatry from the American College of Psychiatrists. In 2022 and 2023, he was included in the NJBIZ Power 100 list, New Jersey’s leading business journal’s recognition of the top 100 influencers in the state. Scientific American magazine named me one of the world’s top 50 innovators in science and technology.

George Ferrone, M.D.

Chair, Department of Radiology

Dr. Ferrone graduated from Boston College where he majored in Mathematics and received his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. He completed his internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital followed by a diagnostic radiology residency at Albany Medical College. Additionally, Dr. Ferrone completed an Interventional Radiology fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is certified by the American Board of Radiology in Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology. He was an attending physician at Long Island Jewish Medical Center before joining Hackensack University Medical Center and is a member of several professional organizations including the Society of Interventional Radiology, the American College of Radiology as well as the American Medical Association.

Dr. Ferrone joined the Hackensack University Medical Center medical staff in 2002 and has been the longstanding Chief of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Ferrone was elected President of the Medical and Dental Staff and held this position from 2020-2022. He is the current Chair of Radiology at HUMC, Chair of Radiology at Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley, Co-Chair of Radiology at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center as well as Assistant Professor of Radiology and Chair of Radiology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Dr. Ferrone is a capable and thoughtful leader who enjoys working collaboratively and collegiately with other members of the patient care team. Dr. Ferrone has a strong interest in continuously learning and fostering an academic environment where he and others share their knowledge and experience with students, residents and colleagues. Dr. Ferrone is especially excited to lead Radiology into the future with the adoption of cutting edge techniques and use of state of the art technology continuing growth of Radiology in the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and at HMH!

Howard Ross, M.D.

Chair, Department of Surgery

Howard Ross Howard Ross, M.D., holds the M. Martin Ross Distinguished Chair in Surgery at the Hackensack University Medical Center where he is also Surgeon-in-Chief. Howard is a passionate educator and a nationally recognized colon and rectal surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. Howard specializes in minimally invasive surgical approaches to treating colon and rectal cancer and provides leading-edge surgical care for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and other complex colorectal and anorectal conditions.

Dr. Ross’ research interests include the adoption of new technologies, surgical innovation, surgical education and addressing health disparities. Dr. Ross is broadly published, and is the editor of four noted textbooks, including “Robotic Approaches to Colorectal Surgery” and “Minimally Invasive Approaches to Colon and Rectal Disease.”

Michael D. Stifelman, M.D.

Chair, Department of Urology

He is an internationally recognized pioneer and leader in robotic urologic oncology and upper tract urinary reconstructive surgery. He has pioneered over a dozen minimally invasive surgeries; is an invited lecturer and guest surgeon in 16 different countries spanning six continents; has published 186 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, 20 invited reviews/book chapters and 32 surgical technique videos; and is recognized by Castle Connolly as one of the Best Doctors of America, Best Cancer Doctors, Best Doctors in the New York Metro Area, and New York Magazine’s Best Doctors.

His pioneering research, which has led to numerous prestigious awards, focuses on developing and evaluating new technologies and defining their exact roles in the operating room. He also has played key developmental roles in designing and launching near infrared fluorescence imaging for renal surgery, drop in technology to enhance surgeon autonomy, tissue grafting for ureteral reconstruction and the use of inter-operative 3D virtual imaging.

Dr. Stifelman received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. He performed his internship in general surgery and urology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. He received his fellowship in endourology and laparoscopy at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell, New York, New York and is board certified in urology.