Practitioners
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Eric Avezzano, M.D.
Dr. Avezzano is a graduate of Stony Brook Medical School. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at George Washington University in Washington D.C. and his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Georgetown University. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Avezzano has been named in The Consumer Research Council Guide of America as well as Castle Connolly Guide as one of the "Top Gastroenterologists", and is the CEO and Managing Partner at Bergen Medical Associates. He serves on the Joint Venture Board for Hackensack University Medical Center at Pascack Valley and is the founding member and Medical Director at the Endoscopy Center of Bergen County. Dr. Avezzano is a Governing Board member at the Rockland and Bergen Surgery Center.
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Jenny Ayala, M.D.
Dr. Ayala received her medical degree from Saba University School of Medicine, Netherlands Antilles. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY and her Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in NY where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She also completed the Einstein-Cordozo Bioethics Certificate Program at the Benjamin N. Cordozo School of Law. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Dr. Ayala served as an attending in Hospital Medicine at Jacobi Medical Center, holding an academic appointment of Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Pain and Palliative Care through the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She also served as the Medical Director for a hospice agency in the Bronx, followed by joining a hospitalist group in Westchester, NY. Dr. Ayala is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine and speaks fluent Spanish. -
Matthew Bassan, D.O.
Dr. Bassan is a Board Certified Family Medicine physician who is fellowship trained in sports medicine with special interests in wellness and weight management. He is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his Residency in Family Medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, NY, and his fellowship in Sports Medicine from North Shore - LIJ Plainview Hospital. He promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle to optimize wellness and achieve personal fitness and weight goals. Dr. Bassan employs many innovative and cutting edge non-surgical approaches and treatments to getting patients back to their activities in a safe and timely manner.
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Alyse Bellomo, M.D., FACG
Dr. Bellomo earned her Medical Degree at Albany Medical College where she was awarded the Albert M. Yunich Prize for excellence in Gastroenterology. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency, Chief Residency and Clinical Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY. She is a Fellow of The American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Bellomo is Board Certified in Gastroenterology.
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Reyhan Berkel, M.D.
Dr. Berkel received her medical education at Michigan State University and continued her Internship and Residency at Rutgers Medical School in Newark, NJ. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, she was in private practice and also served as a Hospitalist for Hackensack University Medical Center. Dr. Berkel is committed to continuous, comprehensive, compassionate and personal care of her patients through every life stage. She specializes in Family Medicine, Urgent Care, Diagnostic Tests, Medication and Hospital Admissions. Dr. Berkel is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and is fluent in Turkish.
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Bhavik Bhandari, M.D.
Dr. Bhandari graduated with honors from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Internal Medicine Residency program where he served as Chief Resident. He completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Drexel University, serving as Chief Fellow. Dr. Bhandari was on faculty at Drexel University as Director of their Digestive Health Center prior to joining the faculty at Rutgers RWJ. He served as Program Director for the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program leading the training for future gastroenterologists. He has won outstanding teacher and scholarship awards and has authored and co-authored several articles, chapters, abstracts and case presentations in the field of Gastroenterology. His special areas of interest include GERD, esophageal diseases, colon cancer and challenging endoscopic cases. Dr. Bhandari has working knowledge of Spanish and Hindi and is fluent in Gujarati. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.
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Alan Briker, M.D.
Dr. Briker is a graduate of Yeshiva University/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his Internship at Metropolitan Hospital and his Residency at Lenox Hill Hospital. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates in 2003, Dr. Briker was in private practice for 28 years. Dr. Briker is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
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Crystal Broussard, M.D.
Dr. Broussard earned her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, followed by her Fellowship in Gastroenterology at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Broussard’s comprehensive medical training has afforded her a diversified experience in the management of gastrointestinal diseases. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is the recipient of the Patient’s Top Doc Choice Award, Top Doctor Award by NJ Monthly, and Castle Connolly.
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Alicia Carti, APN
Alicia Carti specializes in adult primary and acute care advanced practice nursing. She received her BS in Nursing from Seton Hall University- Caroline Schwartz College of Nursing where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was Valedictorian. Alicia completed her MS in Nursing from the same institution. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Alicia practiced Internal Medicine in NJ and was a Nurse Practitioner and diabetes educator for a NJ endocrinology group. Additionally, she worked as both a visiting nurse and staff nurse for the Valley Health System. Alicia’s approach and style of practice is to educate her patients and manage their care through prevention and disease management. She is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner in Adult Primary and Acute Care and a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
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Jeff Chung, M.D.
Dr. Chung graduated from State University of New York, Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY. He completed his Residency and Fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. He is Board Certified in Rheumatology and has been practicing medicine in New Jersey since 2004. Dr. Chung’s special interest is in caring for patients with arthritis and treating diseases that cause arthritis as well as inflammatory autoimmune conditions and muscle disorders. He is conversant in Chinese, both Cantonese and Mandarin dialects.
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Melissa Connolly, P.A.
Melissa Connolly received her Master's degree from Seton Hall University as a Physician Assistant and specializes in women’s health. Her areas of expertise include infertility, gynecological surgery and family planning. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Melissa practiced at Community Medical and Dental Care Center and has a strong and loyal patient base. Her approach to medical care includes sharing acquired knowledge and skills in health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention and collaborative means for women throughout their life cycle. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants; and is Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Melissa is licensed to practice in New York and in New Jersey and is fluent in Spanish as well as her native English language. -
Margaret Co, M.D.
Dr. Co is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. She completed her Residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and her Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell Campus. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, she was in private practice in Ridgewood, NJ for over 20 years. Dr. Co is Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology and sees both adults and children. She believes in the importance of patient education and partnership in managing their conditions. Her special interests include food allergy, asthma, allergic skin disorders and immune therapies. Dr. Co is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in her field.
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Holly Doolittle Cullen, M.D.
Dr. Cullen is a graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She has completed both her Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology training at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey where she served as the Chief Medical Resident. Dr. Cullen provides comprehensive care for digestive diseases and primary care. She performs a full range of diagnostic endoscopic procedures and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology.
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Anthony DeLillo, M.D.
Dr. DeLillo is a graduate of Cornell University Medical College. He completed both his Internal Medicine residency and Clinical Fellowship in Gastroenterology at The Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Dr. DeLillo has a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease and esophageal manometry studies. Dr. DeLillo is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and is fluent in Italian. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology.
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Veena Desai, M.D.
Dr. Desai is a graduate of the University of Birmingham Medical School. She completed her Residency in Family Practice at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ and is Board Certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Desai was born and raised in Coventry, England. She has a special interest in preventative care and is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine.
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Adil Farooki, M.D.
Dr. Farooki received his medical education at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. He earned his Masters of Public Health from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Public Health in Newark and continued on with his residency from UMDNJ. Dr. Farooki most recently served as a Hospitalist in Bayonne, New Jersey and worked in Outpatient Primary Care in Bergen County. Prior to that, he spent several years as a Hospitalist at Chilton Memorial Hospital and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County. Dr. Farooki is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
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Anne Marie Finneran, APN
Anne Marie Finneran is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with expertise in Internal Medicine and Primary Care. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. and her Master of Science in Nursing from the College of New Rochelle in New York where she received the award for academic and clinical excellence. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Anne Marie worked as a Nurse Practitioner for a medical group in Bergen County and prior to that, as the Clinical Director at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY. She also specializes in Episodic, Occupational and Travel Medicine and has keen diagnostic and treatment skills for acute and chronic care.
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Susan Amy Flanzman, M.D.
Dr. Flanzman holds a bachelor of science from Brown University and a doctorate from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her residency at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Her approach to medical care is based on fostering a therapeutic partnership with each patient, aimed at helping people understand their unique biology and empowering them to achieve their full potential for optimal health. Dr. Flanzman is trained in Functional Medicine, and she integrates this paradigm of health promotion and disease management into her clinical practice. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
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Richard Garden, M.D.
Dr. Garden received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and received his Medical Degree from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1987. He continued his training at Mount Sinai, completing his internship and residency in Urology, serving as Chief Resident during his final year. He is licensed to practice medicine in both New York and New Jersey. Dr. Garden is Board Certified by the American Board of Urology and is a member in the American Urological Association. He has contributed to several articles regarding the latest developments in urology conditions and treatments and is the recipient of the American Urological Association Grand Prize for clinical research for work performed regarding bladder cancer. Dr. Garden has been practicing in New Jersey for over 20 years.
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Kedar Gokhale, M.D.
Dr. Gokhale graduated Magna cum Laude from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He also has special interests in the prevention of foreign travel related disease and in the prevention of hardening of the arteries. He is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine and has been practicing in Bergen County for over fifteen years.
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Allen Griggs, D.O.
Dr. Griggs received his medical education at the College of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. He then went on and completed both his Internship and Residency at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Griggs is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been practicing in Bergen County since 1977.
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Sanchita Gupta, M.D.
Dr. Gupta is a graduate of Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr Gupta has a Masters in Public Health and a special interest in preventive care. She has recently moved to the tri-state area after practicing medicine in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Gupta is a member of the American Medical Association and is fluent in Hindi.
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Homayoon Hatefi, M.D.
Dr. Homayoon Hatefi received his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. His post graduate training included an Internship at Lawrence Hospital - NY Presbyterian in Bronxville, NY, his first year Residency at Montefiore Medical Center, Wakefield Campus in the Bronx, and his 2nd and 3rd years Residency at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ. Dr. Hatefi completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Bergen Region Medical Center in Paramus, NJ. He has been in practice for more than 20 years, most recently in Ridgewood, NJ. He is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. -
Eui Kim, APN
Eui Kim is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with expertise in Internal Medicine and Family Care. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio, after completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing where she graduated with honors. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Eui worked as a Nurse Practitioner at a medical center in Brooklyn, NY practicing primary care and internal medicine with a focus on women’s health. She also spent several years working at Seoul National University Hospital as a Registered Nurse. Eui is a member of the Korean Nurses Association and speaks fluent Korean and English. -
Andy Koo, M.D.
Dr. Koo completed both his M.D. and Internal Medicine residency at the NYU School of Medicine and completed his Gastroenterology training at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Dr. Koo was also a post-doctoral fellow in the study of various liver diseases at the University of Washington. He treats all aspects of gastrointestinal conditions and has special interests in the management of inflammatory bowel disease and therapeutic endoscopy. Dr. Koo is also trained in biliary endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, and endosonography. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology.
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Vivian Lan, M.D.
Dr. Lan received her medical education at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and continued her Internship and Residency at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Lan has a special interest in women’s health issues and geriatric medicine, and is an Associate of the American College of Physicians. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been listed repeatedly in the Castle Connolly Guide as one of "The Top Doctors in the New York Metropolitan Area."
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Robert Levine, M.D.
Dr. Levine earned his Medical Degree at Georgetown University, after which he completed training programs in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at George Washington University. Dr. Levine has advanced training and expertise in the technique of endoscopic gallstone removal from the bile ducts. He enjoys all aspects of Gastroenterology and is especially passionate about the doctor-patient relationship. He believes it is central to the practice of healthcare and is the foundation for the delivery of high-quality care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Dr. Levine is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He has been named One of Americas Top Physicians by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.
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Yair Litvin, M.D., FACE
Dr. Litvin graduated from the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, and completed a Fellowship in Endocrinology at same Hospital and later at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Hospital in the Bronx, NY. For the past two years, Dr. Litvin has been at Cortland Hospital in Upstate NY as the Director of Endocrinology, and prior to that in private practice in NJ for 25 years working in General Endocrinology. He sees patients with all endocrine-related disorders in all non-pediatric age groups, including patients with Diabetes. Dr. Litvin is Board Certified, and is a member of the Endocrine Society, and the American Association for Clinical Endocrinologists.
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Stephen Margulis, M.D., FACP
Dr. Margulis is a graduate of Brown University’s Alpert School of Medicine. Following the completion of his Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology training at The New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, he was an Assistant Professor on the Cornell University’s Medical School faculty. Dr. Margulis has a special interest in liver diseases and is a specialist in hepatitis. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Margulis has been repeatedly named in the Castle Connolly Guide as one of “The Top Doctors in the New York Metropolitan Area.”
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Francis McGorty, M.D.
Dr. McGorty is a graduate of UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. He completed his Internship and Residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and at The University Medical Center of Princeton. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Dr. McGorty was in private practice in Ridgewood, NJ. Earlier in his career he worked at Health Insurance Plan of New Jersey and at Pascack Valley Hospital in the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. McGorty is a member of The American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.
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Neeta Motiwala, M.D.
Dr. Motiwala is a graduate of Grant Medical College, Mumbai, India. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at UMDNJ, Newark, NJ and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Dr. Motiwala practiced in Bergen County for over 22 years in ambulatory care and private practice. She is fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi and has a special interest in preventive care.
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Deana Nes, D.O.
Dr. Nes is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY where she received her DO as well as her MS in Neuromusculoskeletal Medical Sciences. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the Icahn School of Medicine – Mount Sinai St. Luke’s - Mount Sinai West Hospital Center in NY, NY and is currently finishing her Rheumatology Fellowship at New York Medical College – Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. She has vast teaching and research experience including designing and implementing a teaching curriculum for residents in training. She is fluent in English, Russian and conversant in medical Spanish. Dr. Nes is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Board Eligible in Rheumatology in October 2019. -
Robert Pittman, M.D.
Dr. Pittman completed his postgraduate training in Gastroenterology at Mt. Sinai in New York. While he treats a wide variety of gastrointestinal conditions, Dr. Pittman has a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease and is skilled in capsule endoscopy and radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus. He has authored peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on both inflammatory bowel disease and capsule endoscopy. Dr. Pittman serves on the medical advisory committee of the NJ Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America and is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He serves as Chief Medical Officer for Bergen Medical Associates and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology. -
Jennifer Randall, M.D.
Dr. Randall graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA and received her Doctor of Medicine degree from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine from The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Dr. Randall’s special interest is in preventative medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association and American College of Physicians. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
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Christine Roque-Dang, D.O.
Dr. Roque-Dang received her medical education at UMDNJ- School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Internship at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, NY and her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Following her Residency, she completed her Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, and Sports Medicine at Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Roque-Dang is a Board Certified Physiatrist and specializes in the non-operative treatment and rehabilitation of acute and chronic musculoskeletal, neurologic, and pain disorders.
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Maria Rosalie, M.D., FACOG
Dr. Maria Rosalie, a native New Yorker, completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of the Northwell Health Network. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten. During her medical training, she had the opportunity to gain experience at multiple hospitals in New York, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. Dr. Rosalie spent the last few years practicing Obstetrics and Gynecology in Northern New Jersey and believes gynecology plays a vital role in a woman’s health care. She has training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries as well as open procedures. Dr. Rosalie is fluent in Spanish. -
Samantha Rosenzweig, DPM
Dr. Rosenzweig graduated from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She then went on to complete her podiatric surgical Residency with an added credential in reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, she spent some time in private practice in upstate New York. Dr. Rosenzweig believes that most foot problems can be treated non-surgically, however, she does specialize in surgical management of forefoot deformities especially arthritis of the big toe. She also takes a special interest in Diabetic foot care including wound management, sports medicine, and pediatric foot conditions. Dr. Rosenzweig is a former collegiate athlete who still competes locally in multiple soccer leagues and has completed several half marathons and century cycling rides. -
Laurie Schlussel, R.D., M.A.
Laurie received her Masters of Arts in Nutrition at New York University and completed her Dietetic Internship at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, in Newark, NJ. She has over 20 years of experience working in a variety of health care settings and has been involved in individual and group counseling situations, national cardiac and diabetes programs and is currently teaching college nutrition classes. Laurie is a Registered Dietitian and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has been consulting with Bergen Medical Associates since 1999 to help improve our patient’s health status through medical nutrition therapy.
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Dawn Sheafe, APN
Dawn Sheafe is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner with expertise in Diabetes education and management. She graduated with honors from Liehard School of Nursing at Pace University in New York where she received her Masters of Science. Dawn has over 20 years of diverse experience in Nursing, most recently holding the position of Diabetes NP at an Endocrinology practice in Morristown, NJ. Prior to that, she was the Diabetes Program Director at a Medical Center in Newark, NJ. Dawn is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Society of Nursing and is a Certified Diabetes Educator. -
Kathleen Staunton, APN
Kathleen Staunton is a Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in the care of Internal Medicine patients. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Nursing from Saint Peter's College. Prior to joining Bergen Medical Associates, Kathleen worked at the Valley Center for Women’s Health in Bergen County for 3 years and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for 12 years. She is passionate about wellness and prevention and has a special interest in women’s health/peri and post-menopausal issues. Kathleen’s focus is on the ‘whole’ of each patient and understands the importance of how particular conditions and effects of illness influence patient’s lives as well as their families.
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Peter Svider, M.D.
Dr. Svider earned his medical degree at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. He completed his Residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, which provided him experience in advanced thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Dr. Svider completed his Fellowship in Rhinology from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ where he was selected to one of 30 spots awarded for this specialized training. He has expertise in all facets of Otolaryngology, including minimally invasive approaches for nasal obstruction, sinus disease, pituitary tumors, head and neck cancers, sleep medicine, voice procedures, facial plastic surgery, and allergies. In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Svider has co-authored over 180 articles and textbook chapters. His research related to chronic sinus disease, head and neck cancers, and thyroid disease has been cited over 2,800 times in medical literature. -
Sabrina Tempesta, D.O.
Dr. Tempesta is a graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine. She also completed her Internship and Residency at UMDNJ-SOM and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Tempesta is an Adjunct Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has a special interest in diabetes and preventative medicine.
