From Left to Right: First Row: Phillip Hwang, MD, Bariatric Surgery Fellow; Pia Salazar, RN, Bariatric Nurse Coordinator; Alan A. Saber, MD, MS, FACS, FASMBS, ABOM, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program Director; Sharifa Spence, Bariatric Program Manager; Christian Luciano, PA;
Back Row: Jomara J. Pena, RN, BSN, CBS, Clinical Patient Navigator; Nala Velez, Scheduling Coordinator; Beth Coplan, RDN, CDCES, CCTD, Registered Dietitian; and Andrea Jobst, MS, RDN, CDN, Registered Dietitian.
Newark, NJ, (October 1, 2026): Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program has now performed more than 2,000 weight loss surgeries, including laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic revisional bariatric surgery.
The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program offers medical weight loss interventions including guided nutritional counseling, lifestyle modifications, obesity medications, and surgical interventions to both adults and adolescents aged 15-18 years old as part of their Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program. It is a destination Center of Excellence for metabolic and bariatric surgery in the region.
"It takes the dedication and expertise of a coordinated team of professionals to reach this milestone. I am extremely proud of our interdisciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, nutritionists, physician assistants, and social workers who all worked together to reach this milestone,” Alan A. Saber, MD, MS, FACS, FASMBS, ABOM, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program Director at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Comprehensive Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and Adolescent Program is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Saber recently received the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Service of Distinction Award at the 2026 ASMBS Annual Conference. This highly selective national honor recognizes elite surgeons who have made significant, lasting contributions to the field of bariatric and metabolic care.
“At Newark Beth Israel, we are committed to delivering world class care to our patients. Dr. Saber and his team exemplify our ability to deliver excellent care to our patients,” said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., MHA, MPH, FACHE, FHELA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40.3% of U.S. adults are affected by obesity, more than 100 million people, roughly 2 in 5 adults living with the condition. Obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity.
To refer a patient and learn more about the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center call 973-926-7402 or use this link to request an appointment.
About Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is a 665-bed regional care teaching hospital that provides comprehensive health care. Newark Beth Israel is a Top Teaching Hospital and home to one of the nation’s top 15 heart transplant centers, which has performed more than 1,100 heart transplants; RWJBarnabas Health’s Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program; New Jersey’s only Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program and a Valve Center that performs complex cardiac valve procedures, including minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs). Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is also home to Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), which cares for children from birth through adolescence, with more than 30 specialized pediatric services including New Jersey’s largest Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; and the Children’s Heart Center that offers a complete range of medical and surgical treatments for the most complex cardiac abnormalities. The Newark Beth Israel robotic surgery program is the most experienced in northern New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health and The Frederick B. Cohen, MD, Comprehensive Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Breast Health Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. Newark Beth Israel also offers many preventive health programs that promote wellness in the community, including The Beth Greenhouse, which provides access to fresh produce and health and wellness education to resident.