16 Local Doctors Named Physicians of the Year at Ocean Medical Center

Sixteen local doctors and specialists have been recognized as Physicians of the Year at Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ. The physicians were selected by the nurses at Ocean Medical Center as part of an annual tradition that has been celebrated at the hospital for twelve years.

Each year, the nurses at Ocean Medical Center celebrate the special relationship that they have with members of the medical staff by nominating physicians that they feel have exceeded their jobs with their dedicated service, enthusiasm, and support.

Receiving awards this year are Minako Abe, M.D., Rana Ali, M.D., Jonathan Banibensu, M.D., Joseph Bogdan, M.D., Lance Dillon, M.D., Sukrut Dwivedi, D.O., Mohamed Elsawaf, M.D., Kent Fung, M.D., Paul Haynes, M.D., James Higgins, M.D., Ajay Mathur, M.D., Andrew Lee, M.D., Michael Levitt, M.D., Aarti Patel, M.D., Michael Rothberg, M.D. and Lisa Zahn, M.D.

Ocean Medical Center physicians are able to collaborate with their entire team, utilizing their own skills and knowledge along with that of others to provide promising results. Dr. Abe is a perfect example of this. “Of her many wonderful qualities, the one we admire most is that Dr. Abe values nursing judgment and input as well as that of the X-ray technologists,” Ocean Medical Center nurses say. “She conducts her practice utilizing a team approach and integrates all resources available.”

According to Regina Foley, chief nurse executive and VP nursing at Ocean Medical Center, “Our nursing team and physicians have a very special relationship. They work collaboratively to provide exceptional, quality care, and have the highest regard for each other’s profession. These annual awards give the nurses an opportunity to recognize physicians who exemplify the expertise, compassion, and commitment that is indicative of Ocean’s medical staff.”

Nurses at Ocean Medical Center value doctors who help ease patient concerns. A nurse from the Woman’s Imaging Team recommends Dr. Dillon for this very reason, saying, “When I am prepping a patient for their procedure and I tell them Dr. Dillon is the best, I really mean it. His calm demeanor not only provides comfort to our patients, but to our team as well.” 

In addition to clinical excellence, a personal approach to care is an important part of a patient’s experience.  “Dr. Patel is a warm, friendly, and compassionate caregiver,” say the nurses of the cardiac catheterization lab. “Whether it’s holding a frightened patient’s hand or giving reassurances to a family member, Dr. Patel goes above and beyond to treat each patient as if they were her only patient.”

About Ocean Medical Center

Standing out as a premier medical center along the Jersey Shore, Ocean Medical Center is home to exceptional talent, state-of-the-art technologies, and a growing medical campus, all surrounded by a community that offers quality of life for individuals and families of all ages. Ocean is a 281-bed non-profit community hospital located in Brick, New Jersey that provides health care programs and services in all major medical disciplines. Some key services include designation as a Primary Stroke Center; brain lab and neurological surgery; DaT Scan and advanced imaging technology; general, thoracic, and vascular surgery; comprehensive cancer care and radiation therapy technologies; a Joint Commission accredited orthopedic program; one of the nation’s most advanced cardiac catheterization laboratories and cardiac services; maternity, Acute Care of the Elderly, and critical care services. The Medical Center has begun a four-level Master Facility Plan that will transform the campus through an $82 million project that sets a foundation for future decades of growth. The main component of the project is a new 44,300 sq. ft. Emergency Department. The Medical Center features Magnet award winning nurses who work in collaboration with the medical staff, and is a System Partner, along with the other Meridian Health facilities, with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Ocean Medical Center also operates the state’s first Satellite Emergency Department in Point Pleasant, called the Ocean Care Center. The Medical Center has grown tremendously since opening in 1984 and is well positioned to evolve and respond to the changing community and health care landscape.