Overlook Hospital

Dr. Ajay Goyal is the Director of Bariatric Surgery and Associate Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. With more than 1,000 successful laparoscopic gastric band, gastric bypass, and laparoscopic general surgical procedures completed, Dr. Goyal is a leader in the field of laparoscopic bariatric and general surgery. To ensure the best patient care and weight loss success, he employs a multi-disciplinary team approach, including nutritional, psychological and physical therapy counseling. Although there are risks when undergoing bariatric surgery, with aggressive preoperative evaluations and postoperative follow-up by our multi-disciplinary team, Dr. Goyal has low complication rate, zero leaks and zero mortality rate. Dr. Goyal is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He earned his medical degree at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and completed a five-year surgical residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Afterwards, Dr. Goyal spent a year honing his surgical skills at an American Society of Bariatric Surgery approved fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Bariatric and General Surgery at the Institute for the Minimally Invasive Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York. During his fellowship, he was involved in initial studies that examined the use of robotics in bariatric and general surgery. Dr. Goyal is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (ASBS), the Medical Society of New Jersey, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). He is active in the field of bariatric and general surgery research, and has presented his results at several national conferences on the topics.

Dr. Zimmerman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A., and went on to receive his M.D. degree from New York University. He has been practicing Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine in this community for the past 13 years. He was a close friend of Dr. Enright, and was the founding President of the Foundation. After leaving the Summit Medical Group 3 years ago, Dr. Zimmerman's association with the Foundation has remained strong and he is an active participant on the Foundation's Board of Directors. Dr. Zimmerman is the Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Overlook Hospital, and is the Committee Chairman for Boy Scout Troop 63 in New Providence. He also volunteers his time as a teacher and mentor of young physicians in the training program at Overlook Hospital, where he has been a frequent recipient of teaching awards. He is a member of many professional organizations such as the American College of Physicians, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Barbara Baggstrom is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She graduated from Muhlenberg Hospital School of Nursing in 1984 and started her career as a pediatric nurse at Overlook Hospital Summit, NJ. While continuing to work, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kean University in 1989. She has twenty years experience as a pediatric nurse at Overlook hospital. During her career in pediatric nursing she has worked in the newborn nursery, newborn and pediatric intensive care units, and home care settings. She has also worked in the community as an RN in a summer day camp. She returned to school for her MSN at Rutgers University and graduated January 2005. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and is licensed to practice in NJ. She joined Morristown Pediatric Associates in May 2005. She lives with her husband Rich and three daughters in Califon, NJ.

Dr. Philogene, M.D., earned his medical degree in 1990 and has cared for patients in New Jersey since 1993. He is a board certified internist. A native of Haiti, Dr. Philogene is fluent in English, French and Creole. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Philogene attended the Schwartz College of Pharmacy in Brooklyn, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and becoming a Pharmacist in 1982. After being awarded his medical degree in 1990 from New York University at Syracuse, Dr. Philogene performed his Internship and Residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Brunswick in 1990 and 1991. Along with M. Cappell, M.D., Ph.D., he co-authored the resulting report, which was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in June 1993. Dr. Philogene serves as a Clinical Instructor and Medical Resident at Overlook Hospital. It is our mission and our pride to provide excellent quality primary healthcare to every individual, regardless of differences in cultural background or language.

Elizabeth Van Deusen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been in private practice for 10 years and in the social work field for more than 20 years. She received her MSW from Rutgers University School of Social Work and completed postgraduate training in Family Therapy at the New Jersey Center for Family Studies. Her experience includes working as a medical social worker at Overlook Hospital for 16 years-10 of them as a psychiatric social worker. She also has had extensive experience as a crisis counselor. She has offices in Summit and Springfield where she sees individuals, couples, and families.

Dr. Hurwitz received his Medical Degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at New York University Medical Center and chief residency programs at Bellevue and Manhattan Veteran's Hospital. A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College in biochemistry, he participated in various studies at Berg Cardiovascular Laboratories at N.Y.U. Medical Center and Sydney Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Such studies consisted of laboratory studies of ventricular assist devices in acute myocardial infarction and studies surrounding growth factors and cellular aging as well as clinical studies of ascending thoracic aneurysms.

Dr. Aquino was recognized for academic excellence in his senior year at Temple University School of Medicine with the Mosby Award. Dr. Aquino practices internal, pediatric and adolescent medicine, as well as geriatrics and office gynecology. He is a full attending physician at Overlook Hospital.

Dr. Plotkin received his degree in Podiatric Medicine from New York College and completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at Kensington Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and has authored on a number of topics including, Selected Soft Tissue Malignancies of the Foot in the Journal of Foot Surgery, in addition to lecturing on: Running Injuries and their treatments; Foot problems as related to systematic diseases; and From soup to nuts: foot surgery for the elderly. Dr. Plotkin is also an adjunct professor at New York College of Podiatric Medicine and Barry University. Dr. Plotkin is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society Eastern Division, American Public Health Association, American Diabetic Association, and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine Alumni Association. Dr. Plotkin has private offices located in Rahway and Westfield, NJ (Rahway & Westfield Podiatry Group).

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Dr. Lesko graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in psychology, Harvard University with an M.A. in psychology and social relations, and from New York University with an M.D. degree. Dr. Lesko then served as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force and completed board certification in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass. and Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J. He has been practicing primary care medicine in the community for the past 19 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Summit Medical Group and has held numerous leadership positions in the Department of Internal Medicine. In addition, Dr. Lesko serves on the advisory board of the Global Consulting Group involved in providing continuing medical education for physicians, and is a member of the Primary Care Leadership Council at Overlook Hospital. He was a close friend of Dr.Enright's and recruited him to the practice. He has been an active member of the Foundation's Board of Directors for the past several years.