Belleville, NJ – Clara Maass Medical Center, a facility of RWJBarnabas Health announced today the appointment of Naveen Ballem, M.D., FACS to the position of Chief Clinical Effectiveness Officer for Clara Maass Medical Center.
In his new role, Dr. Ballem will provide leadership through oversight, planning and execution of initiatives in the areas of Quality Improvement, Performance Excellence, Regulatory Compliance, Patient Safety and Infection Control. In addition, he will be responsible for implementing quality improvement initiatives, operational and clinical performance initiatives, take the lead as we transform on our journey as a High Reliability Organization, and he will also oversee the appropriate utilization of clinical resources.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Ballem in this new role that will elevate further our clinical performance and outcomes for those we serve as well as assisting us on our journey of becoming a High Reliability Organization” said Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center.
Dr. Ballem, an expert and widely-known bariatric surgeon in New Jersey is currently the Medical Director of Bariatric Services at Clara Maass Medical Center. Under his leadership, the Bariatric program at Clara Maass Medical Center has earned national recognition as a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic (ASMBS) and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons, a designation awarded as a result of having established clinical pathways, outcomes reporting, nursing and physician education to improve patient outcomes. As an active member of the ASMBS, Dr. Ballem serves on the clinical consensus committee and has collaboratively published national guidelines for Bariatric Surgery.
A native of Montclair, Dr. Ballem earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Boston College, and a medical degree from the University of West Indies Medical Sciences. He completed a surgical internship and residency at Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center in 2005, where he was Chief Resident from 2005-2006. He was a Clinical Scholar in Endocrine and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, and completed a fellowship in advanced endoscopy and laparoscopy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
His professional associations and memberships include his service as President of the ASMBS-New Jersey Chapter and as the past President of the Essex County Medical Society. He is also associated with the Endocrine Society, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons; he is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Currently enrolled in an executive graduate program in health care leadership at Harvard Business School, Dr. Ballem was featured in 2018 as a Top Doctor by New Jersey Monthly magazine.
About Clara Maass Medical Center
Located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass recently completed state-of-the-art campus expansion project featuring a new four-story 87,000 square foot building with a private, 32-bed Intensive Care Unit, new Main Entrance and Lobby, Retail Pharmacy, Patient Registration Area and designated new space to accommodate our future Emergency Department expansion. Clara Maass’ services include: The Cancer Center, Center for Breast Health and Disease Management, Radiation Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Cardiac Services Elective and Emergency Angioplasty and Cardiac Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Joint & Spine Institute, a Vascular Lab, The Vein Center, The Wound Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders, The Bariatric Surgery Center, Rehabilitation; Therapy Services which includes, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, The Eye Surgery Center, Maternity Services and Parent Education, Pediatrics, Center of Excellence for Latino Health, and the Health and Wellness Center. Clara Maass has been recognized twelve Grade ‘A’ scores for patient safety and quality by The Leapfrog Group. It is listed by the American Hospital Association as one of Healthcare’s Most Wired hospitals. In 2016-17 Clara Maass has received the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. Clara Maass received Disease Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Congestive Heart Failure, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Advanced Certification in Palliative Care. Clara Maass earned Clara Maass’ steadfast commitment to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves is exemplified through award winning programs including the nationally recognized HELP Volunteer program, recipient of the American Hospital Association 2017 HAVE Award, and the Wellness Assessment Van for Elders (WAVE) which was recognized as the New Jersey Hospital Association’s 2017 HRET Community Outreach Award. For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123.
CONTACT: Stacie J. Newton
Office: 973-450-2989
Mobile: 201-424-9678
E-mail: Stacie.Newton@rwjbh.org