2022 N.J. Top Cancer Doctors deliver quality and compassionate care, close to home – Jersey’s Best

If you or a family member have cancer, you need an expert and a compassionate treatment team, as well as a healthy dose of hope. And there’s no better place to find both than in New Jersey.  

The Garden State is home to some 500 oncologists and hematologists — nearly double the per-state average, based on American Society of Clinical Oncology workforce statistics. An estimated 150 radiation oncologists also practice here, as do many oncological surgical specialists. 

Unlike remote parts of the country, where some people live hundreds of miles from the nearest oncologist, New Jerseyans from Bergen County to Cape May are never far from high-quality cancer care. Everything from major teaching centers, to community-based cancer treatment networks, to local private practices, are within reach. Our leading oncologists treat the toughest cases throughout New Jersey, using the latest evidence-based treatments and technologies. For the most challenging cases, New Jersey oncologists also can draw from the vast expertise available at world-renowned cancer treatment centers in New York and Philadelphia. 

Aside from its reputation in cancer treatment, New Jersey also hosts many cancer-related clinical trials. These investigations, unfolding here and throughout the world, are uncovering valuable information about genetic, environmental and other factors behind tumor formation and growth, and have led to new medications and combination therapies that are improving outcomes in many cancer types. Oncologists also can use the ever-expanding bank of genetic knowledge to target treatment to each patient’s specific cancer type, further increasing the chances of a favorable outcome. 

So, rest assured, you can find an oncologist who will be with you throughout the turns of your cancer journey. But, with the many oncologists and treatment options within commuting distance, the search for the right fit can be daunting.     

This is where the Castle Connolly Top Doctors list comes in. 

For roughly 30 years, Castle Connolly Top Doctors lists have been trusted resources for health care consumers searching for a primary care physician, oncologists or other specialists. The lists consist only of doctors who have been nominated by a peer physician and who have undergone a detailed review of their qualifications and expertise.   

Castle Connolly, a nationally recognized leader in health care research, each year asks physicians across the United States for Top Doctors nominations. When considering which colleagues to nominate, participating physicians ask themselves: “If I or a family member needed care, which doctor would I choose?”    

Thus, recognition as a Top Doctor is a mark of excellence in the profession. And for patients, the Top Doctors list helps them quickly pinpoint a doctor who can best meet their needs.

That is why — as a service to people battling cancer and their families — Jersey’s Best once again has partnered with Castle Connolly to provide information on dozens of New Jersey-based oncologists who are recognized as “Top Doctors.”  

Why choose a ‘Top Doctor’?  

Unlike other doctor-search sites that simply list physicians by city or region — or list only doctors who pay to be included — each Top Doctor is nominated by a peer, then undergoes a rigorous vetting process by a medical review board consisting of expert physicians from the nation’s leading teaching hospitals.  

Doctors cannot nominate themselves, nor can a doctor pay to be on the list. And, once nominated, a doctor is accepted for inclusion only after approval by Castle Connolly’s review board, chief medical officer, chief research officer and research staff. 

Not every doctor reaches the Castle Connolly Top Doctors list: Of the more than 850,000 practicing doctors in the United States, about 60,000 — only 7% — are hand-selected each year. So, patients will know they are perusing a list of top-level providers. 

How the List is Developed 

Each year, Castle Connolly sends a survey to tens of thousands of medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathy (DOs), asking them to nominate a peer to the list. The survey process is anonymous and confidential: Each survey recipient is assigned a unique access code to the nomination website to keep the process confidential and to ensure that doctors do not nominate themselves. Castle Connolly also seeks Top Doctor nominations from leading specialists, clinical department chairs and medical affairs executives at hospitals nationwide.  

Once a doctor is nominated, Castle Connolly’s physician-led research teams evaluate the candidate’s: 

• Current and valid board certification in his or her specialty 

• Experience within the specialty; the doctor must have worked a minimum number of years in practice, depending on the specialty 

• Medical education and training 

• Hospital staff appointments 

• Administrative posts held 

• Professional achievements 

• Disciplinary/malpractice history 

• Access to the latest treatment technologies 

• Participation in research   

• Outcomes history and procedure volume, to the extent available   

Importantly, Castle Connolly’s medical board also considers a physician nominee’s interpersonal skills such as listening, communication, empathy and patient confidence. While these skills are necessary in any specialty, extensive research shows that trust between oncologist and patient is especially critical to the patient’s day-to-day cancer battle.  

Once selected and approved, each Top Doctor submits a comprehensive professional biography for inclusion with the listing. 

The Top Doctors list is updated annually and can be modified between yearly updates if key information in the physician’s biography changes, or if the doctor’s status changes. Castle Connolly also continually reviews and modifies its Top Doctors review process based on changing health care trends and emerging research.    

But, while the oncologists on Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors list are among the best in the field, the list is not an exhaustive directory of top-level doctors. Many excellent oncologists in New Jersey and elsewhere are not included on the list. 

Also, while the Top Doctors inclusion criteria are rigorous and thorough, they are not the only metrics that should figure into choice of physician. When choosing an oncologist, patients also should consider insurance plan participation, practice location and ease of access; first impression of doctor and facility; recommendations from a primary care provider for specialist care; and recommendations from family, friends and colleagues. 

Following is the complete list of Top Cancer Doctors in New Jersey for 2022.

Atlantic County

Naim Nazha, Medical Oncology

Adam Saad, Plastic Surgery

Stephen Dudick, Plastic Surgery

Matthew Finnegan, Surgery

Bergen County

Anna Serur, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Farshad Mansouri, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Gregory Gallina, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Howard Ross, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Peter Kaye, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Ronald White, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Steven Waxenbaum, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Alan Andrews, Dermatology

Camila Janniger, Dermatology

Jeffrey Rapaport, Dermatology

Jonathan Blume, Dermatology

Martha Maso, Dermatology

Martin Reichel, Dermatology

Michael Molinaro, Dermatology

Robin Ashinoff, Dermatology

Sharon Fried, Dermatology

Stephen Nychay, Dermatology

David Panush, Diagnostic Radiology

Edward Lubat, Diagnostic Radiology

Glenn Krinsky, Diagnostic Radiology

Jaclyn Calem-Grunat, Diagnostic Radiology

Joel Rakow, Diagnostic Radiology

Joshua Gross, Diagnostic Radiology

Mark Shapiro, Diagnostic Radiology

Melissa Liebling, Diagnostic Radiology

Mindy Goldfischer, Diagnostic Radiology

Patrick Toth, Diagnostic Radiology

Regina Chu, Diagnostic Radiology

Ronald Arams, Diagnostic Radiology

Aditi Chhada, Gastroenterology

Barry Zingler, Gastroenterology

Jonathan Resnick, Gastroenterology

Michael Meininger, Gastroenterology

Philip Micale, Gastroenterology

Richard Lin, Gastroenterology

Walter Klein, Gastroenterology

Lisa Tank, Geriatric Medicine

Ami Vaidya, Gynecologic Oncology

Marie Welshinger, Gynecologic Oncology

Sharyn Lewin, Gynecologic Oncology

Scott Rowley, Hematology

Richard Rosenbluth, Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Jose Contreras, Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Cristina Cicogna, Infectious Disease

Rani Sebti, Infectious Disease

Alan Israel, Medical Oncology

Andre Goy, Medical Oncology

Andrew Jennis, Medical Oncology

Andrew Pecora, Medical Oncology

Ephraim Casper, Medical Oncology

Harry Harper, Medical Oncology

Jill Morrison, Medical Oncology

Mark Pascal, Medical Oncology

Maxwell Janosky, Medical Oncology

Michael Schleider, Medical Oncology

Michele Donato, Medical Oncology

Minaxi Jhawer, Medical Oncology

Stanley Waintraub, Medical Oncology

Tatyana Feldman, Medical Oncology

Yadyra Rivera, Medical Oncology

Alfred Steinberger, Neurological Surgery

Arno Fried, Neurological Surgery

Duncan Carpenter, Neurological Surgery

Frank Moore, Neurological Surgery

Kevin Yao, Neurological Surgery

Omar Syed, Neurological Surgery

Richard Anderson, Neurological Surgery

Elliot Lerner, Neuroradiology

Sean Pierce, Neuroradiology

David Freilich, Ophthalmology

Francis Patterson, Orthopaedic Surgery

Arie Rosen, Otolaryngology

Christopher Shaari, Otolaryngology

Masayuki Inouye, Otolaryngology

Sherif Hassan, Otolaryngology

Kenneth Park, Pain Medicine

Samyadev Datta, Pain Medicine

Drew Olsen, Pathology

Pritish Bhattacharyya, Pathology

Alfred Gillio, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Burton Appel, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Stacey Rifkin-Zenenberg, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Steven Diamond, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Gary Breslow, Plastic Surgery

John Cozzone, Plastic Surgery

Luis Zapiach, Plastic Surgery

Patrick Greaney, Plastic Surgery

Richard Winters, Plastic Surgery

Shwetambara Parakh, Plastic Surgery

Stephanie Cohen, Plastic Surgery

Clifford Simon, Pulmonary Disease

Glenn Brauntuch, Pulmonary Disease

Jeffrey Barasch, Pulmonary Disease

Joseph Grizzanti, Pulmonary Disease

Selwyn Levine, Pulmonary Disease

Anthony Ingenito, Radiation Oncology

Benjamin Rosenbluth, Radiation Oncology

Boris Mueller, Radiation Oncology

Chad DeYoung, Radiation Oncology

David Dubin, Radiation Oncology

Glen Gejerman, Radiation Oncology

Michael Wesson, Radiation Oncology

Inna Berin, Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

Philip Lesorgen, Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

Donald McCain, Surgery

Joseph Licata, Surgery

Laura Klein, Surgery

Leslie Montgomery, Surgery

Marson Davidson, Surgery

Steven Brower, Surgery

Sung Kwon, Surgery

Thomas Ahlborn, Surgery

Christos Stavropoulos, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Gary Kline, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Ignatios Zairis, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Nabil Rizk, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Robert Korst, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Daniel Lowe, Urology

Eric Margolis, Urology

Gregory Lovallo, Urology

Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, Urology

Martin Goldstein, Urology

Michael Esposito, Urology

Michael Degen, Urology

Michael Stifelman, Urology

Mutahar Ahmed, Urology

Raul Parra, Urology

Ravi Munver, Urology

Saurabh Agarwal, Urology

Thomas Christiano, Urology

Thomas Chun, Urology

Vincent Lanteri, Urology

Wayne DeTorres, Urology

Burlington County

Stephen Pilipshen, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Naomi Lawrence, Dermatology

Joseph Slawek, Diagnostic Radiology

Michael Kaufman, Diagnostic Radiology

William Morgan, Diagnostic Radiology

Adam Elfant, Gastroenterology

Christopher Deitch, Gastroenterology

Steven Peikin, Gastroenterology

Martin Topiel, Infectious Disease

James Lee, Medical Oncology

Maurice Cairoli, Medical Oncology

Seth Berk, Medical Oncology

Stephen Wallace, Medical Oncology

Martha Matthews, Plastic Surgery

Deborah Butzbach, Radiation Oncology

Adam Perzin, Urology

Camden County

Avi Galler, Colon & Rectal Surgery

Steven McClane, Colon and Rectal Surgery

William Cody, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Sandra Kopp, Dermatology

Catherine Piccoli, Diagnostic Radiology

David Roberts, Diagnostic Radiology

Jerry Apple, Diagnostic Radiology

William Muhr, Diagnostic Radiology

Raman Battish, Gastroenterology

David Warshal, Gynecologic Oncology

Meredith Crisp Duffy, Gynecologic Oncology

Alexandre Hageboutros, Medical Oncology

Christina Clay, Medical Oncology

Faith Young, Medical Oncology

Gamil Hanna, Medical Oncology

Generosa Grana, Medical Oncology

Kevin Callahan, Medical Oncology

Pallav Mehta, Medical Oncology

Priya Gor, Medical Oncology

Richard Greenberg, Medical Oncology

Robert Somer, Medical Oncology

Jamil Mohsin, Nuclear Medicine

Tae Won Kim, Orthopaedic Surgery

Nadir Ahmad, Otolaryngology

Nicholas Evageliou, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Debrah Meislich, Pediatric Infectious Disease

Matthew Moront, Pediatric Surgery

A Leilani Fahey, Plastic Surgery

Anthony Dragun, Radiation Oncology

Catherine Kim, Radiation Oncology

Stuti Ahlawat, Radiation Oncology

Diane Gillum, Surgery

Francis Spitz, Surgery

Michele Fantazzio, Surgery

Umur Atabek, Surgery

Christopher Derivaux, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Jeffrey Tomaszewski, Urology

Thomas Mueller, Urology

Cape May County

Kaleem Ahmad, Medical Oncology

Richard Sterling, Otolaryngology

David Cho, Radiation Oncology

Cumberland County

David Shields, Gastroenterology

Shailja Roy, Hematology

Essex County

Debra Tarantino, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Mark Gilder, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Richard Moskowitz, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Adrian Connolly, Dermatology

Amy Freeman, Dermatology

Jeanine Downie, Dermatology

Marc Glashofer, Dermatology

Daniel Levy, Diagnostic Radiology

Linda Sanders, Diagnostic Radiology

Patrick Anderson, Gynecologic Oncology

Thad Denehy, Gynecologic Oncology

Indu Sabnani, Hematology

Daniel Hart, Infectious Disease

Charles Sagorin, Medical Oncology

Delia Radovich, Medical Oncology

Elan Diamond, Medical Oncology

John Conti, Medical Oncology

Michael Scoppetuolo, Medical Oncology

Said Saleh, Medical Oncology

Stuart Leitner, Medical Oncology

Joseph Koziol, Neurological Surgery

Stephen Crane, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Paul Langer, Ophthalmology

Roger Turbin, Ophthalmology

Joseph Benevenia, Orthopaedic Surgery

Andrew Kaufman, Pain Medicine

Michael Stubblefield, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Edward Lee, Plastic Surgery

Alison Grann, Radiation Oncology

Raquel Wagman, Radiation Oncology

Serena Chen, Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

M. Michele Blackwood, Surgery

Marcie Hertz, Surgery

Nancy Elliott, Surgery

Vivek Maheshwari, Surgery

Bruce Goldenberg, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Joanna Sesti, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Justin Sambol, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Subroto Paul, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Robert Caruso, Urology

Robert Weiss, Urology

Salvatore Lombardo, Urology

Gloucester County

Kehua Li, Dermatology

Mark Baum, Diagnostic Radiology

Aarati Malliah, Gastroenterology

Jorge Prieto, Gastroenterology

Michael DiMarino, Gastroenterology

Carl Minniti, Medical Oncology

Eduardo Fernandez, Medical Oncology

Erev Tubb, Medical Oncology

Stephen Zrada, Medical Oncology

Denise Scaringe-Dietrich, Pain Medicine

Sean Bidic, Plastic Surgery

Thomas Steffe, Plastic Surgery

Alexis Harvey, Radiation Oncology

David Lowther, Radiation Oncology

Tamara LaCouture, Radiation Oncology

Charles Shieh, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Hudson County

Kenneth Garay, Otolaryngology

Ronald Sultan, Surgery

Hunterdon County

Carter Abel, Dermatology

Christopher Cassetty, Dermatology

Michael Sisack, Dermatology

Mercer County

Gerard Compito, Diagnostic Radiology

Robert Meirowitz, Gastroenterology

John Sierocki, Medical Oncology

Peter Yi, Medical Oncology

Yaakov Applbaum, Neuroradiology

Eric Wimmers, Plastic Surgery

Gary Tuma, Plastic Surgery

Marc Drimmer, Plastic Surgery

Michael McKenna, Radiation Oncology

Rachel Dultz, Surgery

Alexander Vukasin, Urology

Barry Rossman, Urology

Ajay Choudhri, Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Middlesex County

Daniel Feingold, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Brian Keegan, Dermatology

David Wrone, Dermatology

John Vine, Dermatology

Santiago Centurion, Dermatology

Murray Becker, Diagnostic Radiology

Robert Epstein, Diagnostic Radiology

James Aikins, Gynecologic Oncology

Andrew Evens, Hematology

Roger Strair, Hematology

Biren Saraiya, Medical Oncology

Bruno Fang, Medical Oncology

Deborah Toppmeyer, Medical Oncology

Gregory Shypula, Medical Oncology

Howard Hochster, Medical Oncology

Michael Nissenblatt, Medical Oncology

Gregory Przybylski, Neurological Surgery

Gabriel Pivawer, Neuroradiology

William Grubb, Pain Medicine

Nicola Barnard, Pathology

Margaret Masterson, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Richard Drachtman, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Philip Wey, Plastic Surgery

Richard Agag, Plastic Surgery

Robert Herbstman, Plastic Surgery

Steven Shoen, Plastic Surgery

Bruce Haffty, Radiation Oncology

Edward Soffen, Radiation Oncology

John Baumann, Radiation Oncology

Mark Macher, Radiation Oncology

Robert Cardinale, Radiation Oncology

Ronald Ennis, Radiation Oncology

Adam Berger, Surgery

David August, Surgery

Kumar Dasmahapatra, Surgery

Lawrence Jordan, Surgery

Lisa Hopkins, Surgery

Susan McManus, Surgery

John Nosher, Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Michael Censullo, Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Monmouth County

Michael Arvanitis, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Thomas Lake, Colon and Rectal Surgery

David Picascia, Dermatology

Jason Miller, Dermatology

Kenneth Grossman, Dermatology

Harriet Borofsky, Diagnostic Radiology

Stephen McManus, Diagnostic Radiology

Mark Borowsky, Gynecologic Oncology

Thomas Hackett, Gynecologic Oncology

Denis Fitzgerald, Medical Oncology

William Rafelson, Medical Oncology

Ty Olson, Neurological Surgery

William Maggio, Neurological Surgery

Stanley Lu, Neuroradiology

Darsit Shah, Otolaryngology

Kenneth Newkirk, Otolaryngology

Arvind Prabhat, Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery

Brian Erler, Pathology

Andrew Elkwood, Plastic Surgery

Caroline Glicksman, Plastic Surgery

Michael Nagy, Plastic Surgery

Michael Rose, Plastic Surgery

Peter Hetzler, Plastic Surgery

Stephen Chidyllo, Plastic Surgery

Tushar Patel, Plastic Surgery

John Gibbs, Surgery

Emad Rizkala, Urology

Morris County

Bernard Maria, Child Neurology

Brian Machler, Dermatology

Eric Huang, Dermatology

Laila Almeida, Dermatology

Lauren Cooper, Dermatology

Christel Bauer, Diagnostic Radiology

Robyn Murphy, Diagnostic Radiology

Simon Ryoo, Diagnostic Radiology

Isaac Galandauer, Gastroenterology

John Dalena, Gastroenterology

Daniel Tobias, Gynecologic Oncology

Kenneth Adler, Medical Oncology

Muhammed Abbasi, Medical Oncology

Sarada Gurubhagavatula, Medical Oncology

Steven Papish, Medical Oncology

Catherine Mazzola, Neurological Surgery

John Knightly, Neurological Surgery

Louis Noce, Neurological Surgery

James Wittig, Orthopaedic Surgery

Erik Cohen, Otolaryngology

Tom Thomas, Otolaryngology

Marcello Sammarone, Pain Medicine

Steven Halpern, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Farhad Rafizadeh, Plastic Surgery

Francisco Colon, Plastic Surgery

Hakan Kutlu, Plastic Surgery

Isaac Starker, Plastic Surgery

Renee Comizio, Plastic Surgery

James Wong, Radiation Oncology

Eric Whitman, Surgery

Federico Steiner, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Ayal Kaynan, Urology

Rahuldev Bhalla, Urology

Ocean County

Lynne Einbinder, Cardiovascular Disease

Apurv Agrawal, Medical Oncology

Evan Naylor, Medical Oncology

Girish Amin, Medical Oncology

Jatin Desani, Medical Oncology

Jayne Pavlak-Schenk, Medical Oncology

Paul Chung, Medical Oncology

Tricia Morino, Medical Oncology

Christopher Godek, Plastic Surgery

Russell Ashinoff, Plastic Surgery

Passaic County

Jonathan Gold, Dermatology

Neelam Todi, Medical Oncology

Paul Figlia, Plastic Surgery

Timothy O’Donnell, Pulmonary Disease

Arvin Adler, Radiation Oncology

Somerset County

Amy Pappert, Dermatology

Monib Zirvi, Dermatology

Richard Eisenberg, Dermatology

Jeannete Greer, Diagnostic Radiology

Roger Yang, Diagnostic Radiology

Charles Accurso, Gastroenterology

Audrey Hamilton, Medical Oncology

Ellen Ronnen, Medical Oncology

James Salwitz, Medical Oncology

Kathleen Toomey, Medical Oncology

Henry Tsai, Radiation Oncology

Joel Braver, Radiation Oncology

Paul Bergh, Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

James Gervasoni, Surgery

Anthony Catanese, Urology

Sussex County

Jumana Chatiwala, Medical Oncology

May Abdo-Matkiwsky, Medical Oncology

Union County

Bertram Chinn, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Farshad Abir, Colon and Rectal Surgery

Michael Rokhsar, Diagnostic Radiology

Sue Jane Grosso-Rivas, Diagnostic Radiology

Adam Barrison, Gastroenterology

Amber Khan, Gastroenterology

Pradeep Mahal, Gastroenterology

Tamir Ben-Menachem, Gastroenterology

Nana Tchabo, Gynecologic Oncology

William Kessler, Hematology

Barry Levinson, Medical Oncology

Bonni Guerin, Medical Oncology

Dennis Lowenthal, Medical Oncology

Gerardo Capo, Medical Oncology

Lisa Mills, Medical Oncology

Michelle Cholankeril, Medical Oncology

Robert Aiken, Neurology

Heidi Hullinger, Orthopaedic Surgery

Richard Scharf, Otol

William Drake, Otolaryngology

Paul Carniol, Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery

Eric Chang, Plastic Surgery

James Gardner, Plastic Surgery

Jerrold Zeitels, Plastic Surgery

Reza Momeni, Plastic Surgery

Robert Sussman, Pulmonary Disease

Julia DiGioia, Surgery

Marc Mandel, Surgery

Margaret Sacco, Surgery

Rebecca Yang, Surgery

Andrew Bernstein, Urology

Bernard Lehrhoff, Urology

Domenico Savatta, Urology

Kenneth Ring, Urology

Mark Miller, Urology

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.