Our Bariatric Surgeons
Alexander Abkin, MD, FACS
Co-Medical Director, Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-410-9700
Dr. Alexander Abkin is a board-certified general surgeon and co-medical director of the Center for Weight Loss Surgery, a Bariatric Center of Excellence®. Over the past 10 years, he has performed over 2,500 weight-loss surgeries. Among the procedures he performs are the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Dr. Abkin performs majority of bariatric procedures laparoscopically, averaging eight to 10 procedures per week.
Dr. Abkin received his medical degree from First Leningrad Medical University in St. Petersburg, Russia, graduating at the top of his class in 1986. He completed his general surgery residency training at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 1996. Dr. Abkin completed specialized training in laparoscopic bariatric surgical techniques under the guidance of Dr. Phillip Schauer in Pittsburgh in 1999. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the American Medical Association (AMA). He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Dr. Abkin has been named as part of New Jersey Monthly's annual list of Top Doctors in 2007 and 2008. His extensive list of presentations, publications and other accomplishments can be found on his practice website.
Nicholas A. Bertha, DO, FACS
Co-Medical Director, Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-410-9700
Dr. Nicholas A. Bertha is a board-certified general surgeon and a Center of Excellence bariatric surgeon. In six years, he has completed over 1,600 procedures. He performs several forms of bariatric surgery including the Roux-en-Y, vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Dr. Bertha specializes in performing bariatric procedures laparoscopically, averaging eight to 10 procedures per week. He also offers specialized endoscopic services such as the Rose Procedure and endoscopic stent placements.
Dr. Bertha received his medical training from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he received his DO in 1990. He completed his residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bertha also has specialized training in laparoscopic and bariatric surgical techniques from Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and the American Medical Association. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is currently directing several bariatric clinical research programs at Saint Clare's.
Jordan Garrison, MD, FACS
Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-570-2221
Dr. Jordan Garrison is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery. He has performed hundreds of procedures since he conducted his first bariatric surgery in 1997. He is fellowship trained in gastric banding and also performs the Roux-en-Y approach to gastric bypass surgery, averaging two to three procedures per week. All cases are done laparoscopically. He also has vast experience in general surgical procedures involving the gastrointestinal tract.
Dr. Garrison received his medical training from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), where he received his M.D. in 1983 and completed his residency in 1989. He has specialized training in bariatric surgery from New England Medical Center and Jersey Shore Medical Center. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Surgeons.
Vincent A. Iannace, MD
Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-410-9700
Dr. Vincent A. Iannace is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery. Since he began performing bariatric procedures in 2004, he has performed more than 1,000 procedures. He performs several forms of bariatric surgery including the laparoscopic gastric bypass, banded gastric bypass, vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and the sleeve gastrectomy. Dr. Iannace specializes in performing bariatric procedures laparoscopically.
Dr. Iannace received his bachelor of science degree, cum laude, in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1992, where he went on to complete his medical education and receive his MD degree in 1996. He completed his internship and residency in the Department of Surgery at Brown University in Rhode Island. Dr. Iannace also has training and experience in advanced trauma life support and advanced cardiac life support. He has coauthored many recent articles in peer-reviewed journals advancing the science of bariatric surgery. He completed a bariatric fellowship at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Anthony E. Pucci, DO
Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-627-3410
Dr. Anthony Pucci is a board-certified general surgeon who is fellowship trained in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. Dr. Pucci received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he served as chief surgical resident.
Dr. Pucci specializes in advanced topics of bariatric surgery, laparoscopic ventral hernias and flexible endoscopic surgery. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Dr. Pucci's medical writings have been published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and other major medical journals and he has presented on bariatric surgery topics to various physician audiences across the country.
Edward A. Pucci, DO
Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-627-3410
Dr. Edward Pucci is a Center of Excellence bariatric surgeon and is certified by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Additionally, he serves as a Medical Director for a bariatric program in New York, where he helped that program to achieve Center of Excellence recognition. His experience in bariatric surgery is well known nationally and he is board-certified by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Pucci received his fellowship training from The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and he completed his general surgery residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he served as a chief resident. The New Jersey native received his medical degree from The University of Health Sciences in Kansas City.
He has published extensively and has presented at national meetings on the topic of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery. While at The George Washington University Medical Center, he gained experience in several research trials including Laparoscopic Electrical Stimulation for Weight Loss. A benchmark publication of his in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, where he reviewed the alterations in gastrointestinal physiology after the Roux-En-Y gastric bypass.
Dr. Pucci's awards acknowledge the great pride he takes in his patient care and surgical abilities. These awards include the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement Award (2002) and the Hughes D. Dougan, MD Outstanding Surgical Resident Award, an award given by his peers in recognition of the surgical resident who exemplifies devotion to patient care, attention to detail and excellence of surgical technique.
Richard A. Pucci, DO
Bariatric & General Surgeon
Office Phone: 973-627-3410
Dr. Richard Pucci is a Center of Excellence bariatric surgeon and is certified by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He completed his medical degree at Des Moines University in Iowa. He then went on to his surgical residency at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and further specialized in a Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at The Medical College of Virginia, where he served as a clinical instructor.
Dr. Pucci has trained with some of the world's most renowned and prestigious bariatric and minimally invasive surgeons at some of the finest institutions including Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Pucci performs several bariatric procedures including the gastric band and the laparoscopic gastric bypass. Dr. Pucci's interest and research has led to numerous publications and oral presentations for the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He has done significant research relating to the resolution of diabetes, hypertension and co-morbidities after weight loss surgery. Other research areas of interests include long-term sustained weight loss, and comparisons between the laparoscopic gastric bypass and the gastric band.
