A marine, renowned detective, and motivational speaker twice nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, David Toma has spent his life helping others. Diagnosed with aortic stenosis, Toma turned to Drs. Bart and Joseph De Gregorio to receive the kind of support he was used to providing. Learning he was a candidate for TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement), Toma traveled an hour to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for the procedure and personalized care.
Posted February 21, 2018
January 18, 2018 — With the turn of the year, the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is launching The Rodgers Family Meditation Program to grow its array of holistic services and highlight the link between traditional medical treatment and mindfulness. The new wellness program expands meditation offerings to patients with chronic conditions such as cancer or heart disease, as well as to clients in good health looking to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and manage pain.
Among its additions are meditation for stress, anxiety, and depression, a class led by Mark Van Buren, mindful living trainer, yoga and meditation instructor, personal trainer, musician, and author; and meditation for stress and pain management, a class led by Jeri G. Kadison, a certified yoga and meditation instructor. Meditation for stress, anxiety, and depression, held on Monday evenings, teaches simple meditation techniques to help relax the body, center the mind, and build resistance to stress by incorporating meditation into the daily routine to boost mood, and better manage life stressors. Meditation for stress and pain management, held on Wednesday mornings, teaches mindfulness using breathing techniques and slight movement to reduce the risk of stress-related diseases.
Van Buren explains meditation as “cultivating the art of leaving things alone,” training those who practice to acknowledge stray thoughts, stress, anxiety, and sadness, but then accept and embrace these feelings instead of fearing them, ultimately fostering compassion, wisdom, and peace. “Know that anxiety and pain will come and go naturally,” Van Buren said. “It’s just a passing energy like a thunderstorm. You can’t do anything about a thunderstorm, you just let it do its thing and pass.”
Other classes include guided meditation in Spanish, pre- and post-surgery meditation, and acupuncture for stress and ailments. Additional special offerings include a well-being and weight loss six-session series, and events introducing Reiki, massage and meditation, and the healing power of sound.
Established in 2015, the Graf Center and its team of licensed and certified professionals provides evidence-based services to patients, their families, and the general community to promote prevention, recovery, and support in a safe, comfortable environment.
January 11, 2018 — Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has appointed Stephen Brunnquell, MD, president of its physician network and Hillary Cohen, MD, vice president of medical affairs.
Dr. Brunnquell’s position has been created in response to a shifting healthcare model in which hospitals are partnering with physician practices to provide care to the community. In his new position, Dr. Brunnquell will serve as the liaison between providers and MDPartners, the physician network of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, which, in less than 6 years, has grown to become a $100 million enterprise comprising close to 400 providers with 75 locations in 6 counties. For Dr. Brunnquell, who will step down from his current position of vice president of medical affairs at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, the decision was easy. “I am humbled to take on this role and to help continue to shape and grow this great group of doctors,” says Dr. Brunnquell. “As the industry continues to change, it is imperative that hospitals and health systems have a firm grasp on the issues, concerns, and happenings of their physicians – who better to understand and appreciate that than a physician.”
Dr. Cohen, who is currently chief of emergency medicine, has been selected to take on the role of vice president of medical affairs following the transition of Dr. Brunnquell. In her new role, Dr. Cohen will serve as a linkage between the medical staff and executive leadership of the hospital, with particular emphasis on population health and projects related to clinical care and efficiency throughout the continuum. Dr. Cohen will also serve as medical director of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center’s clinically integrated network. “As Englewood Hospital and Medical Center continues to grow and expand services beyond the walls of the hospital, it’s important that high-quality care remains at the forefront,” says Dr. Cohen. “It’s an honor to assume this position and work with our medical staff to continue to enhance our services across our organization.”
“Dr. Brunnquell and Dr. Cohen have both brought invaluable expertise, leadership acumen and passion to their current roles, and we’re delighted to welcome them to these new leadership positions,” says Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Having Dr. Brunnquell and Dr. Cohen in these new roles will be a great asset not only to our medical center, but the patients and communities we serve.”
Englewood, NJ (January 10, 2018) — Several local community leaders have been named to the Boards of Trustees of Englewood Healthcare System, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC), and its fundraising organization, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. Joining the healthcare system’s board are Richard Lerner and Leon Redensky; joining the medical center’s board is Lisa Sepulveda; and joining the Foundation’s board are Neil Piekny and Karen Singer.
“These appointments come during a pivotal time for Englewood Hospital and Medical Center,” said Thomas C. Senter, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and its parent organization, Englewood Healthcare System. “We recognize the integral role of our trustees, who will undoubtedly strengthen our medical center and help advance its mission as we enter an exciting new era of growth that will continue to revolutionize how we deliver care.”
“We recognize the important role that each of our new Board members will have. They will be invaluable in building upon our medical center’s impact in the entire region for years to come,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees of EHMC Foundation Jay C. Nadel.
“We’re very excited to welcome new members to our governing boards, whose visionary leadership, ideas, and perspectives will continue to move our mission forward,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Their insight and guidance provide an opportunity to build upon our legacy of medical excellence, while also innovating to meet the new demands of a modern healthcare model.”
Englewood Healthcare System
Richard Lerner is a partner at Housing and Healthcare Finance (HHC), one of the country’s largest financers of healthcare and senior housing real estate. Lerner is regularly consulted by senior members at the department of Housing and Urban Development and, through its Office of Healthcare Programs, advises on loans for hospitals and senior housing facilities. Previously a managing director at Credit Suisse, Lerner was responsible for the company’s healthcare and affordable multifamily housing loans. He was appointed to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Board in 2014, serves on various other boards, and is active with the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Lerner graduated from Dartmouth College with degrees in economics and English. He resides in Alpine with his wife, Amy, and two children.
Leon Redensky is the co-founder of Lynx Capital Partners, a financial trading and technology firm. He and his wife, Shiri, are also invested in philanthropic work, supporting local charities and foundations including the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and Hopes and Heroes. Redensky has been a member of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center board since 2015. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in bioengineering, with a minor in economics. Redensky and his wife live in Demarest with their three daughters.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Lisa Sepulveda is chief client officer at Edelman, the world’s largest independent communications marketing company, and a member of Edelman’s 10-person executive committee. With over 25 years of marketing experience, she has played an integral role in some of Edelman’s most successful work, including the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Her clients include eBay, GE, Mars, PayPal, SC Johnson, Starbucks, and Unilever. Sepulveda is known as a mentor among professionals, and was recently named in the 40 Women to Watch Over 40 ranking. She lives in Rockland County, New York with her husband Andrew, and is an ardent supporter of both her college-aged daughters and their rivaling sports teams.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation
Neil Piekny is a partner at Ernst & Young LLP with over 18 years of experience advising life science and other multinational corporations in a variety of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, structuring and divestitures, IPO planning, international tax planning, tax accounting and reporting, tax processes and systems, and accounting methods consulting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Piekny earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He and his wife, Jodi, support the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, and the American Diabetes Association of Central New Jersey. They live in Demarest and have two children.
Karen Singer, Psy.D. earned a doctorate in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked as a primary school psychologist from 2001 through 2014. Along with her husband Gary and their three children, Singer is a benefactor of several local and national organizations, including Adler Aphasia Center, Alpine Learning Group, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades—with a focus on the therapeutic nursery and special needs programs—Ronald McDonald House, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Lehigh University, The Jewish Home Family, and Temple Emanu-el of Closter. They are longtime Cresskill residents.
The New Year is an opportunity to make a fresh start and refocus our minds on taking good care of our health, in particular, our heart. Dr. Joseph Shatzkes, a board-certified cardiologist who focuses on general cardiology and prevention, shares some wisdom on making a good start for your heart in 2018.
Set realistic goals. I tell people it’s a marathon, not a sprint. When it comes to your heart, you want to make changes that you can continue lifelong. Set realistic goals, so you do not get discouraged.
Exercise. Finding ways to exercise is the first step toward a healthier heart. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. It can be as simple as going for a brisk walk. I tell my own dad, “Get off the subway a stop earlier. Walk the extra 10 blocks.” Getting your heart rate up is a good place to start.
Get an internist. Have a doctor with whom you have a good relationship.
Look at your own personal risk factors. If you have a sibling or parent who had cardiovascular disease, come in for an evaluation. Modifying risk factors can be very important for your own health.
Diet. Let’s face it, the holidays and winter are really tough. I suggest that people focus on goals. I preach moderation.
Quit soda. Quit drinking all soda. You’ll lose weight just by quitting soda, including diet sodas. Quitting soda can be a springboard to a healthier lifestyle.
Don’t eat late at night. The last thing you do for the evening shouldn’t be food. Doing something after dinner can make a difference. In my family, we go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. We’ve incorporated walking into our routine. My kids know it as going for a “moonlight walk.”
Lower your carbs. One thing you can do easily is focus on reducing your carbohydrate intake. Eat more protein.
Limit salt. If you have borderline high blood pressure, limit your salt intake. This doesn’t mean you have to cut it out completely, but start reading labels and become aware of how much salt is in your food.
Exercise. Exercise will help lower your blood pressure and increase your energy. It can help reduce the number and amount of medications you need to be on.
Quit smoking. Most of the time when we see young people—such as people in their 40s—with heart disease, they are smokers. If you smoke, your New Year’s resolution should be, “I quit yesterday.”
Get support. I’m a big fan of ancillary practitioners, such as nutritionists and personal trainers. They are good resources, especially for heart patients.
Be a “cheater”. Whether it’s improving your diet, exercising every day, or reducing your stress, focus on doing that thing most of the time. Being a cheater means that you’ve quit something and you cheat only occasionally.
I’m at the gym at 6 a.m. several mornings a week. I used to be a little heavier and I lost weight. It’s not easy, but I focused on it. I limit my snacking and try to keep it to fruit or nuts or other healthy options. A decade ago, I gave up soda. If I need to get moving, I ask my wife if she needs anything at the store and I’ll run an errand. I try to go do something rather than just sit.
I’m a big sports fan. I often exercise while watching my teams. During the Sunday football game, I try to go for a walk at halftime, so that I don’t spend the whole three hours just sitting on the couch.
As doctors, sometimes what we do is rule things out and reassure patients. Addressing something early is better than waiting. Early action can prevent so much down the road. Never be afraid to come in.
Going to the doctor does not have to be a cold experience. In my practice, we try to be super friendly and not scary. I like getting to know my patients as people . . . their families, their interests. I like seeing them in the community. I run into my patients at ShopRite!
For me, there is no greater joy than being able to take care of my neighbors and help them feel healthy. People know that they can rely on me to take care of their health. That’s why I became a doctor.
As a patient, you can come to Englewood Hospital and get the tender loving care of a community hospital without compromising any of the expertise or technology. Our interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons are superb. They perform advanced procedures, such as TAVR, that are often found only at academic medical centers, with outstanding results. I feel blessed to have joined a great group of academic cardiologists. In our practice, the patient comes first. We make it a priority to be available and to get patients in the next day if needed.
Posted December 2017
1. MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Don’t let stress get the best of you — emotionally or physically. Take a yoga class, try acupuncture, learn to meditate. Our Graf Center for Integrative Medicine offers all of these services in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment.
2. LEARN TIPS FOR EATING BETTER
Eating better is about more than willpower. Learn ways to cook easy and “clean” meals for you and your family at one of our cooking classes. Or learn to become a savvy grocery shopper with a guided tour of Whole Foods Market, led by our nutritionists.
3. QUIT SMOKING
We don’t need to explain why. If you’re finally ready to kick the habit for good, we’ve got a smoking cessation program that combines group sessions with acupuncture. It begins January 9 and space is limited, so register today.
4. LOSE EXCESS POUNDS
Losing weight is about more than looking good. It’s about your health. If you’ve struggled to lose weight, come to our weekly info session to meet our experts and see if weight loss surgery is right for you.
5. GET CHECKED OUT
Whether you need a routine visit with a primary care doctor, or want to have something checked out by a specialist, our MDPartners physician network has nearly 75 office locations throughout northern New Jersey. We also have an executive wellness program, where you can spend a full day getting a head-to-toe assessment while pampering yourself in the process.
6. AWAKEN YOUR SENSES
Lavender, vanilla, citrus, and sage — learn the power of aromatherapy to support your well-being. Or spend an hour listening to chimes and gongs at our sound therapy workshop. Let the gentle touch of a Reiki master relax your mind and restore your energy, or participate in an art therapy project.
7. EDUCATE YOURSELF
Knowledge is power — our lectures and workshops cover topics from cancer screening to joint replacement, CPR training to the benefits of acupuncture. Get relevant and expert tips from our doctors, so you can make 2018 a healthy and happy one for you and your family.
Posted on December 26, 2018
Englewood, NJ (December 8, 2017) — Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has once again been nationally recognized as a leader in providing exceptional and safe patient care by Healthgrades, The Leapfrog Group and Carechex®–an information service of Quantros, Inc. According to an analysis by Quantros, the medical center is among the top 10 percent in the nation and in New Jersey for overall medical care, and is No. 1 in the state for excellence and patient safety in major clinical areas.
At a recent award ceremony held at the medical center, representatives from Quantros and Healthgrades, another health rating agency, presented medical excellence and patient safety awards in the following clinical areas: cardiac surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, urologic surgery, neurosurgery/orthopedic surgery, pulmonology, vascular surgery, and women’s health.
These awards follow on the heels of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center’s twelfth consecutive Hospital Safety Grade “A” since 2012 from The Leapfrog Group. Only three hospitals in New Jersey and 59 in the nation have achieved this record of distinction. In addition, the 2017-18 issue of US News and World Report’s Best Hospitals named Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a “Best Regional Hospital.”
“Receiving national recognition for our care is truly humbling,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Each and every one of these honors is a testament to the dedication of our staff to ensure that our patients have the best possible experience and outcome.”
#1 in NJ and Top 10% in Nation
CareChex Medical Excellence
#1 in NJ and Top 10% in Nation
CareChex Patient Safety
Top 10% in Nation
CareChex Medical Excellence
Top 10% in Nation
CareChex Patient Safety
Top 10% in NJ
CareChex Medical Excellence
Top 10% in NJ
CareChex Patient Safety
Top 5% in Nation
Healthgrades Women’s Care Excellence Awards
Top 10% in Nation
Healthgrades Prostate Surgery Excellence Awards
5-Star Recipient
Healthgrades
Hospital-wide awards
In an effort to further prioritize patient safety and provider well-being, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center hosted the joint 23rd Annual Nursing Research Evidence-Based Practice Conference/9th Annual Northern New Jersey Nursing Evidence Based Research Consortium Conference, “Integration of Research for Safety of Patients and Nurses,” on Nov. 17, 2017.
Program presenters from several organizations provided unique perspectives to the 130+ attendees, comprising nursing professionals from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and consortium hospitals, nursing students, and other health care providers. Keynote speaker Dr. Patricia Dykes, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, kicked off the morning with a presentation on evidence-based fall prevention. In the afternoon, Dr. Neal Wiggerman, specialist research scientist at Hill-Rom, spoke on patient positioning in bed and implications for patient and caregiver safety.
Speakers from the Northern New Jersey Nursing Evidence-Based Research Consortium included Dr. Jill Cox from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Pam Pascarelli from Hackensack Meridian Health, Janet Pagulayan from St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Nicole Reyes from Jersey City Medical Center – RWJBarnabas Health, Bonnie Weinberg from The Valley Hospital, and Oksana Yakoff from Holy Name Medical Center. Ramapo College of New Jersey is also a member of the consortium.
Over the course of the day, discussion topics ranged from accompanying patients into the operating room, enhancing patient safety through accurate electronic weight, best practices to increase discharge of total joint replacement patients, using the teach-back method in discharge education, self-reported competence of entry-level registered nurses, and pressure injuries in the critically ill population.
Learn more about nursing education and professional development at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
November 14, 2017 — On November 3, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center hosted its 8th International Symposium on Patient Blood Management, featuring a panel of high-profile speakers from around the world working on projects in the field of patient blood management. These professionals presented to an in-person audience of 150+, while reaching almost 1,000 viewers from 15 different countries via live webcast over six hours.
With natural disasters occurring on an all-too-frequent basis, blood is a resource in desperate need of preservation. As members of the public line up with arms outstretched, ready to donate this priceless commodity, the importance of exploring other options is increasingly apparent.
Last week’s symposium was intended to educate both Englewood Hospital and Medical Center clinicians and the community at large on global advancements in patient blood management, including the scientific and clinical impact EHMC has made on the field.
The program’s speakers included:
These speakers had all been led by the Englewood vision of patient blood management, incorporating it into their work on national and international projects; they discussed how these principles can positively impact patient outcomes—reducing mortality, minimizing complications, and improving the economic delivery of health care across nations and continents. Their words provided a glimpse of what the rest of the world is doing in patient blood management, allowing those most invested to hear the latest in science and medical literature.
“We are very well aware of the culture here in bloodless and blood management,” Ozawa said, “but I think sometimes we don’t realize internationally the impact that we’ve had on others and where they’ve taken the work of this field from a scientific and a clinical perspective.”
Ozawa stressed that this year’s conference was particularly exciting, as work done at Englewood has influenced the most current international patient blood management project—the Western European Initiative. “It’s exciting to hear how others are doing this in other parts of the world and how Englewood has inspired them to do so,” she said.
For more information about Society for the Advancement of Blood Management, visit www.sabm.org. For more information about The Institute for Patient Blood Management & Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, visit www.BloodlessMed.org.
November 14, 2017 — Dr. Kenneth Rubin, gastroenterologist and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, has earned Advancement to Fellowship with the American College of Gastroenterology, and was recognized in October as one of the 50 most influential volunteers in the history of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s New Jersey Chapter.
Rubin has been involved with the American College of Gastroenterology for more than 30 years. The organization defines its advancement to fellowship as “recognition of significant professional achievement and superior competence within the field of gastroenterology.”
To obtain fellowship, members must show maintenance of educational status by attending ACG meetings regularly, and evidence of professional leadership in the fields of clinical practice and/or academic medicine, often by presenting publications at the ACG meetings. Endorsement by two fellows of the College is also required.
Rubin said his advancement is an honor, calling ACG “the most well-regarded clinical organization for gastroenterologists across the United States,” many of whom he met with at the College’s Annual Business Meeting in Orlando, Fla., where he received congratulations from ACG President Dr. Carol A. Burke.
While in Orlando, Rubin also attended the World Congress of Gastroenterology, a combined meeting with the ACG that welcomes gastroenterologists from all over the world to join and present from unique perspectives.
Rubin’s involvement in the field began with a two-year fellowship in gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where Dr. Burrill B. Crohn was the first to identify and describe Crohn’s disease. After his initial training, Rubin stayed on to teach as a full-time faculty member at Mount Sinai for one year, working closely with Dr. Henry Janowitz (who took over Burrill’s practice) and Dr. David Sachar, before going into private practice in Englewood. He continues to teach as a clinical assistant professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at Mount Sinai, several months a year.
Once in New Jersey, Rubin felt it was only natural to get involved locally with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “It’s a great organization that devotes itself to research and also educational formats for patients,” he said. “So I thought it was the perfect mix.”
In honor of the Foundation’s 50th anniversary, Rubin has been named among the top 50 volunteers in the history of the New Jersey Chapter. “As a valued partner in our chapter’s history, Dr. Rubin has committed to helping the Foundation find a cure for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis and to improving quality of life for his patients affected by these devastating diseases,” said New Jersey Chapter Executive Director Rosemarie Golombos.
Rubin was recognized in October at the chapter’s “50 & Fighting” event, a celebration including food, themed cocktails, dancing, and words from the evening’s honorees and patient speaker. “Fifty is a relatively small number, so I’m actually quite honored,” he said.
Rubin’s favorite part of volunteering with the Foundation has been networking with people committed to fighting IBD, including patients, family members, donors, and other physicians, all interested in the latest developments. He has served the New Jersey Chapter as its chairman of state’s medical advisory committee, and is an active member of its board of trustees. Rubin was previously recognized for his efforts in 2006, when the chapter presented him with the Dr. David Kaufman “Physician of the Year Award.”
For more information about the American College of Gastroenterology, visit www.gi.org. For more information about the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, visit www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org.
