National Breast Cancer Expert to Speak in Ridgewood
Valley and Susan Love, M.D. Invite You to an Update on Breast Cancer Nationally Known Breast Cancer Expert and Patient Advocate to Speak at the Ridgewood Library
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 8 (12 percent) of women in the US will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
Information is your best weapon in the fight against breast cancer. To learn more, The Valley Hospital invites you to join Susan Love, M.D., nationally known breast cancer author and patient advocate, on Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m. at the Ridgewood Public Library for An Update on Breast Cancer.
Please click here to read a story on Dr. Love that recently appeared in The New York Times’ esteemed Well column.
Dr. Love is one of the founders of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. As Chief Visionary Officer of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, she oversees an active research program centered on breast cancer cause and prevention.
She is best known as a trusted guide to women worldwide through her books, website and social media. The completely revised fifth edition of Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book was referred to by the New York Times as “the bible for women with breast cancer.”
To register for the program, please call 1-800-VALLEY 1 (1-800-825-5391) or visit www.valleyhealth.com/events. Space is limited so please register early to ensure a seat
file photo Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck as Vice President of the Valley Auxiliary
Readers ask One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood?
So who works for who here? Valley pays no taxes, benefits from all of Ridgewood’s municipal services and taxes our infrastructure with patients and employees coming in from surrounding towns. Yet THEY drive the agenda at hearings about THEIR expansion that will use even more municipal services and tax our infrastructure even further. For still no taxes.
While Valley is Ridgewood’s largest employer, less than 10% of its employees live in town. Similarly less than 10% of Valley’s patients are Ridgewood residents. Valley’s plan is clearly to draw from surrounding towns for both employees and patients which is great for surrounding towns but terrible for Ridgewood. We get a 7 year construction project followed by traffic, over taxed infrastructure and a lower quality of life.
Valley does, on the other hand throw a great party so its socialite supporters can see their picture in the Ridgewood News and 201 Magazine.
One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood? Maybe Mrs. Hauck can tweet the answer…
Valley Hospital buying up string of properties near its Ridgewood site
Friday, February 14, 2014 Last updated: Saturday February 15, 2014, 12:40 AM
BY LINDA MOSS AND BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
As The Valley Hospital has struggled for years to expand its campus in Ridgewood, it has been quietly buying real estate in Bergen County, assembling a portfolio that includes a string of properties on North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood and the building that houses the New Jersey Children’s Museum in Paramus.
Over the past two years, the hospital, in some cases through holding companies, has spent at least $54 million to acquire roughly a half-dozen sites in the village and neighboring Paramus as potential future locations for doctors’ offices, along with outpatient and other services that would be moved from its main campus. Some of these newly acquired properties are already operating as off-site hospital facilities.
But the hospital’s plans for some of its other new properties remain unclear, and Valley’s real estate shopping doesn’t appear to be over. Recently, it has been in talks to purchase buildings that the global parcel deliverer UPS will be vacating on Winters Avenue in Paramus, as reported by The Record. If that deal closes, it would add another property to a medical-services cluster that the hospital has been creating in Paramus, near the Fashion Center mall.
Ganepola A.P. Ganepola, MD, Appointed Medical Director of Research for Valley’s Newly Established Okonite Research Center
January 31, 2014 — The Valley Hospital is pleased to announce the naming of noted surgeon Ganepola A. Ganepola, M.D., as Medical Director of Research for its newly centralized research department. The department has recently been named the Okonite Research Center, thanks to a generous donation from The Okonite Company of Ramsey and its Chairman and CEO, Victor A. Viggiano. The Center focuses on developing innovative treatments and therapies to enhance the care of patients undergoing treatment for cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders.
In his new role, Dr. Ganepola, who has been a member of Valley’s Medical Staff since 1977, will be responsible for guiding Valley’s scientific research efforts and establishing and maintaining standards for scientific excellence, responsible conduct of research, research productivity, major research-related investments and resource allocation.
“Dr. Ganepola will lead Valley’s efforts to build a world-class research program dedicated to advancing medicine and discovering novel medical and surgical approaches to diagnosing and treating heart disease and cancer,” said Audrey Meyers, president and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System, “Under his leadership, our continued dedication to research will ultimately advance our already high-quality patient care, offer our patients and their families as yet unheard of treatments and services, and ensure our continued success as a healthcare system of choice for decades to come.”
For the past ten years, Dr. Ganepola has been dedicated to research in Cancer Genomics, making important contributions to understanding Genomic Medicine. He has authored more than 25 peer reviewed articles and presented at international conferences, discussing and sharing his research findings with colleagues around the world. Recently, he, along with Anusak Yiengpruksawan, M.D., Valley’s Director of Robotic Surgery, published a groundbreaking paper in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. The paper documented the success of their work using an identified panel of three microRNA biomarkers as a potential diagnostic tool for early stage pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Ganepola will retain his role as Director of Valley’s Center for Cancer Research and Genomic Medicine, which, along with Valley’s biorepository will move to Valley’s Okonite Medical Research Laboratories and Research Center at the Bolger Medical Arts Building in Paramus. The eventual co-location of Valley’s Okonite Research Center, the Center for Cancer Research and Genomic Medicine, oncology and cardiac research laboratories and the biorepository will allow doctors streamlined access to each other and the vital tissue and specimens that are the foundation of their work.
Robin Goldfischer Named Senior Vice President –& General Counsel, Legal Affairs for Valley Health System
January 27 , 2014 — Valley Health System has announced the promotion of Robin Goldfischer to the position of Senior Vice President & General Counsel– Legal Affairs. Robin, who resides in Englewood, NJ, joined Valley more than 16 years ago as Vice President.
“Throughout her tenure at Valley she has had a tremendous positive impact across the entire Valley Health System, including the implementation of best practices for corporate governance, property acquisition and the development of Valley Medical Group, a multispecialty group practice,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System.
Robin either represents or directs the representation of the System and its subsidiaries in all legal matters. She oversees the work of two in-house staff attorneys, as well as the work of outside counsel. She is well known in the field of healthcare law in New Jersey and her opinions and guidance are often sought out.
Valley Hospital eyeing UPS Paramus site
Monday, January 27, 2014 Last updated: Monday January 27, 2014, 7:00 PM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
The Valley Hospital is in negotiations to buy the site in Paramus that global parcel distributor UPS is vacating, several commercial real estate sources said Monday.
The Ridgewood-based hospital, which has been scouting for land in Bergen County to expand its services, is looking to purchase UPS’ data-processing and software development facility on Winters Avenue, sources said.
The parcel distribution company’s site is at 640, 650 and 670 Winters Ave., not far from Route 17. That location is near a 128,000-square-foot facility Valley Hospital already has in Paramus, the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion at 1 Valley Health Plaza, behind the Fashion Center shopping mall.
Hybrid Procedure Offers New Option for Those with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
January 6, 2014 — For two years, entrepreneur and recreational hockey player Deron Siddons was unable to take to the ice, and even considered quitting his job, because an arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation caused his heart to beat erratically for up to 48 hours every week.
Today, thanks to an innovative minimally invasive hybrid ablation procedure that represents a new treatment option for patients with chronic or difficult-to-treat atrial fibrillation, Deron’s heart is beating normally. He’s also back on the ice, touring with his Hockey North America team and coaching his son’s Montclair (NJ) Hockey Club team.
Deron underwent his innovative procedure at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, the first in New Jersey and one of the few hospitals in the New York metropolitan area to offer this new approach. The hybrid approach combines the skills of a cardiac surgeon and an electrophysiologist, who work side-by-side to block the abnormal electrical signals emanating from the heart’s left atrium. It is a combination of the catheter and surgical approaches to cardiac ablation, and is done through minimally invasive incisions, not open-heart surgery, in the cardiac electrophysiology suite.
“Three other types of ablation procedures had failed to put my heart back into a normal rhythm, so I was almost ready to quit my job” says Deron. “I couldn’t exercise, my quality of life was terrible, and the fear of a stroke loomed over me at all times. Now, I have my life back to enjoy with my wife and four children.”
Cardiac surgeon Jason Sperling, M.D., and electrophysiologist Jonathan Steinberg, M.D., Director of the Valley Arrhythmia Institute (part of The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute) performed Deron’s procedure — called a hybrid ablation — together.
“This is an exciting advancement for the treatment of atrial fibrillation because it targets long-suffering patients who may have failed other forms of treatment,” says Dr. Sperling.
Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. An estimated 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib, according to the American Heart Association.
In most cases, normal heart rhythm can be restored with medication or a standard catheter ablation procedure. But sometimes, the AFib is more persistent and does not respond to these first-line treatments. The persistent AFib interferes with the patient’s quality of life and can even lead to feelings of depression. To date, effective options in these patients have been limited; thus, for many this has meant learning to live a life with AFib.
“Through ongoing clinical research with industry partners and other heart centers, we are working toward best practices to define the correct amount of ablation needed to treat all forms of atrial fibrillation optimally,” notes Suneet Mittal, M.D., Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory at The Valley Hospital.
For more information, or to find out if you are a candidate for the hybrid ablation procedure, please call 201-HEART DR (201-432-7837) in NJ or 212-HEART DR (212-432-7837) in NYC.
Shown here seated, left to right, are: preceptor Lindsay Buldo and infusion fellow Alyssa Duerr Hatler. Shown standing, left to right are: Valerie Quigley, interim clinical shift coordinator, Outpatient Infusion Center; infusion fellow Caree Guzman; Ann Marie Leichman, vice president, Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer; preceptor Veronica Monroy; and Sandy Balentine, director, Clinical Oncology.
New Outpatient Oncology Nursing Fellowship Program Launched
January 15, 2014
Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations to two Valley nurses, who are forging a new path as the hospital’s first outpatient oncology nursing fellows. Caree Guzman, RN, and Alyssa Duerr Hatler, RN, are piloting a new program that offers Valley RNs an opportunity to become trained in oncology care and chemotherapy delivery, and to provide patient care in the Outpatient Infusion Center at the Blumenthal Cancer Center.
The new Outpatient Oncology Nursing Fellowship Program was developed through a collaboration among Valley’s Blumenthal Cancer Center and the departments of Patient Care Services and Education to meet a need for high-quality specialized care for oncology patients, says Sandy Balentine, RN, MSN, OCN, director of Clinical Oncology.
“As our volume of infusion patients grew, we had difficulty in filling positions for experienced infusion nurses who can administer chemotherapy,” she says. “We modeled our new fellowship program after our successful graduate nurses residency program and posted application information internally to Valley Health System RNs. Our nurses are already familiar with our Valley culture and vision, so this program became another avenue to train our own as we meet a need for specialized cancer care.”
The fellowship is a four-month program developed and managed by Sandy as team leader; interim clinical shift coordinator Valerie Quigley, RN, OCN, as unit resource coordinator; and educator Colleen Bardi, RN. Preceptors for Caree and Alyssa are Outpatient Infusion Center nurses Lindsay Buldo, RN, OCN; Veronica Monroy, RN, OCN; and Cheryl Taylor Butcher, RN, OCN. The program’s curriculum includes daily meetings and weekly summations; journal-keeping; education on cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; clinical experiences; and tumor conferences. Competencies must be completed following chemotherapy administration and documentation.
The fellows also visit the Valley pharmacy to watch how chemotherapy medications are compounded, and they spend time shadowing the Cancer Center’s physicians and meeting with oncology social workers and clerical staff. They also observe port placements and other surgical procedures in the OR.
“At the completion of the program, our fellows can take the course for a chemotherapy certificate by the national Oncology Nursing Society,” adds Sandy.
Reader says time to end Mayor’s Monthly Column in the Ridgewood News
Seriously, whether you like our mayor or don’t, Boyd has a very good point. Why should the newspaper provide a forum for Mayor Aronsohn to highlight the accomplishments while ignoring the major problems? This is a non-partisan government, so there cannot be an official reply from those opposed to the leader’s views on things. But we do know that at least one letter in which Mayor Aronsohn was not being portrayed favorably was squelched by the newspaper…….and this was due to the mayor himself interfering.
I wish the Mayor would man-up and address all the issues that have been controversial and have not been resolved. For example……what ever happened to the Graydon Ramp? For example…….what is the resolution on the Christie fundraiser (even The Record wrote an editorial blasting the council’s attendance at this event). For example…..why was a personnel matter (Mr. Riche) discussed in open session when there is a strict policy that individuals are to be discussed in closed session? Lines of people jumped up to protest his actions on this, yet no apology or explanation ever came from him. I am betting that the Hope Street poles will be the same thing, never any official follow-up from him because the outcome is not good.
He sweeps controversy under the carpet and we never get a final report on these matters. The Mayor’s Column in the newspaper enables him to continue to do this, by painting a rosy picture with absolutely no space allocated to controversies and problems.
Valley Well Represented on List of Bergen County’s Top Doctors and Dentists
July 11, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital is proud to announce that 85 members of the hospital’s Medical Staff in 38 specialties were recently included in a special edition of (201) Health Magazine featuring Bergen County’s Top Doctors and Dentists. The selection process was independently conducted by Key Professional Media, Inc., a leading researcher and the publisher of Super Doctors®. Key Professional Media asked doctors in Bergen County to nominate one or more colleagues they would choose in seeking medical care. Candidates were evaluated on 10 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Alternatively, get yourself checked out with the Dentist in South Barrington for a thorough oral appointment.
The Valley doctors included on (201) Health’s list of Bergen County’s Top Doctors, listed by medical specialty, are: Allergy & Imunology: John V. Boss, M.D.; MaLourdes B. De Asis, M.D.; Patricia M. Hicks, M.D.; Jay M. Kashkin, M.D.; and Mary Ann Michelis, M.D. Cardiology: Dennis S. Reison, M.D.; Gerald Sotsky, M.D.; Mark I. Sotsky, M.D.; Janet E. Strain, M.D.; and Mitchell M. Weiser, M.D. Critical Care Medicine: Mark F. Hoerman, M.D.; Steven C. Jacoby, M.D.; and Marc S. Melamed, M.D. Dermatology: Rebecca D. Baxt, M.D.; Karen A. Gordon, M.D.; and Iris H. Kopeloff, M.D. Electrophysiology: Suneet Mittal, M.D.; Mark W. Preminger, M.D.; and Jonathan S. Steinberg, M.D. Endocrinology: Rhoda H. Cobin, M.D. Family Medicine: Mary R. Bello, M.D.; and Mark A. Dombrowski, M.D.
Family Medicine & Geriatrics: Anne-Marie Levan, M.D. Gastroenterology: Stephen J. Margulis, M.D.; and Michael G. Rahmin, M.D. Gynecologic Oncology: William M. Burke, M.D. Hematology: Louise G. Ligresti, M.D. Internal Medicine: Maria Scibetta, M.D. Nephrology: Jeffrey P. Kozlowski, M.D.; and Howard B. Weizman, M.D. Neurology: Reed C. Perron, M.D. Obstetrics & Gynecology: Fred F. Rezvani, M.D. Ophthalmology: Francis E. Cangemi, M.D.; Richard N. Palu, M.D.; and Anne R. Sumers, M.D. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Jason M. Auerbach, D.D.S.; and Manaf Saker, D.M.D. Otolaryngology: David I. Bough, Jr., M.D.; and Jason B. Surow, M.D.
Pain Management: Robert S. Silverman, M.D. Pediatric Otolaryngology: Don S. Respler, M.D. Pediatrics: Maury Buchalter, M.D.; Lorraine M. Liberti, M.D.; David M. Namerow, M.D.; Rona S. Riegelhaupt, M.D.; Darren A. Saks, M.D.; David A. Schaumberger, M.D.; and Lynn M. Sugarman, M.D. Plastic Surgery: William K. Boss, Jr., M.D.; Pedramine (Pedy) Ganchi, M.D.; Sidney Rabinowitz, M.D.; and Robert N. Zubowski, M.D. Psychiatry: Amarjot S. Narula, M.D. Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Medicine: Jeffrey P. Barasch, M.D. Radiation Therapy: Chad M. DeYoung, M.D.; and Michael R. Wesson, M.D. Radiology: Glenn A. Krinsky, M.D.; Elliot J. Lerner, M.D.; and Howard M. Seigerman, M.D.
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility: Ali Nasseri, M.D.; and Daniel Navot, M.D. Rheumatology: Rima G. Kopelman, M.D.; Evan H. Leibowitz, M.D.; Steven M. Rosner, M.D.; and Arik A. Zaider, M.D. Surgery, Colon & Rectal: Joel S. Nizin, M.D.; Steven I. Waxenbaum, M.D.; and Ronald A. White, M.D. Surgery, Breast: Laura A. Klein, M.D. Surgery, General: Joseph J. Licata, M.D. Surgery, Neurological: Duncan B. Carpenter, M.D.; Patrick A. Roth, M.D.; Michael B. Sisti, M.D.; Robert A. Solomon, M.D.; and Roy D. Vingan, M.D. Surgery, Orthopedic: John Lee Berger, M.D.; Frederick F. Fakharzadeh, M.D.; and Roger G. Pollock, M.D. Surgery, Pediatric: Frederick Alexander, M.D.; and Rajinder P. Gandhi, M.D. Surgery, Vascular: John A. Chuback, M.D.; and James W. Geuder, M.D. Urology: Mutahar Ahmed, M.D.; Howard L. Frey, M.D.; and John H. Hajjar, M.D.
Media Contact: The Department of Communications & Marketing, 201-291-6330
Reader says Have Paul and Al learned nothing from the Valley fiasco?
46 emails and mulitple meetings between only two councilmen, meetings that other council people were not aware of despite asking if anyone was meeting with developers does not sound above board, nor ethical given the scope of zoning changes being asked of the village. Have Paul and Al learned nothing from the Valley fiasco.
And the irony of Gwenn “can’t we all just get along” Hauck, blaming Bernie Walsh for the dysfunction on the Council, while Al didn’t even have the courtesy to stay seated while Bernie spoke, (or tried to speak – as Paul gave the floor to everyone but her), was laughable.
Paul and Al are bullies and appear to be in bed with the developers. And I would strongly recommend that the League of Women Voter’s review the tape – because in my view they are misogynists as well.
Valley’s $500K donation to fund health programs for Ridgewood students
MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2012, 9:24 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Valley Hospital will be incrementally donating $500,000 to the Board of Education (BOE) over the next five years to improve student well-being, starting this school year. The half-a-million-dollar donation agreement represents Valley’s largest single donation commitment to the district.
Each year from now through the 2016-17 school year, the hospital will donate $100,000 to the BOE, according to board officials.
According to Valley spokesperson Maureen Curran Kleinman, the donation will be used to support both new and existing initiatives in the areas of health education, fitness and wellness, as well as disease prevention programs aimed at raising awareness and promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to Ridgewood students and their families.
In a statement, Valley’s President and CEO Audrey Meyers promoted the hospital’s longstanding education commitment, including its sponsorship of the Ridgewood Academy for Health Professions (RAHP) program and annual community events.
“As part of its commitment to community benefit, The Valley Hospital has a long history of supporting the students who attend Ridgewood Schools,” said Meyers. “I am very pleased that Valley is able to continue this tradition of support with this donation to the Ridgewood public school system, especially since it will be used to enhance the health and wellness of Ridgewood’s students.”
Valley Hospital named in Becker’s Hospital Review Names 100 Hospitals with Great Orthopedic Programs
Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) July 29, 2012
Valley Hospital of Ridgewood named in Becker’s Hospital Review 100 hospitals with great orthopedic programs across the country.
The editorial staff of Becker’s Hospital Review recognizes these hospitals as leaders in orthopedic treatment and research. To develop this list, the editorial team analyzed data from U.S. News & World Report, HealthGrades and Thomson Reuters, as well as the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet status and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for Blue Distinction status.
After examining rankings and accolades, the team performed additional research into each hospital and analyzed the list with industry experts. The final result is a list of 100 hospitals from across the country that have demonstrated continual innovation in orthopedic treatments and services. Additionally, the hospitals included emphasize patient-centered care and forward-thinking research.
About Becker’s Hospital Review Becker’s Hospital Review is a bimonthly publication offering up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. Our content is geared toward high level hospital leaders, and we work to provide valuable content, including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance specifically for these decision makers. Each issue of Becker’s Hospital Review reaches more than 18,000 people, primarily acute-care hospital CEOs and CFOs.
>Ridgewood News editorial: Hitting the restart button
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Ridgewood News
The scene at Tuesday night’s Village Council meeting to formalize the governing body’s opposition to The Valley Hospital’s “Renewal” plan was far from the raucous display at last year’s Planning Board meeting, when an amendment to the Master Plan was approved.
>The Whitestone Associates report is critical as to why the scale of the expansion of the hospital should not go ahead
The Whitestone Associates report is critical as to why the scale of the expansion of the hospital should not go ahead – 12 trucks an hour for 8 hours a day and the foundations of local homes been damaged, these are just some of the real issues that the village as a whole will face. Together with the noise, the increased level of traffic and the general dangers posed by such an undertaking, the Village needs to look carefully as to why this project is something that we must not undertake. A legal remedy that the hospital will seek, should its plans be quashed, will amount to nothing based on the findings of this report.
We must be mindful that the Village has a duty to care for its tax-paying citizens and most importantly, for the children that will be caught in the crosshairs of this massive project – regardless of what side of town they live on and regardless of their numbers. Endangering the welfare or life of just one child is something that can not be tolerated.
Another important factor that needs to be touched on is the companies that will be potentially hired by Valley for this supposedly massive project – will the Village get an opportunity to review the track records of these companies as those records relate to health and safety history, employment history (most construction companies that undertake these sized projects have in the past been found guilty of hiring illegal immigrants and paying them below average wages off their books). What recourse will the Village have against Valley and the companies should anything untoward happen?
It’s important to remember that the issue of the expansion plan comes with numerous sub-issues that all need to be addressed and I am of the opinion that that most of those sub-issues have not been addressed or even placed on the radar.
![deron-siddons[2]](https://i0.wp.com/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/deron-siddons2.jpg?ssl=1 "Hybrid Procedure Offers New Option for Those with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation")
